speaker + told + person + to + verbUse told for direct orders and firm instructions. Name the person who received the command.
Reported Commands
B1Report commands with told/asked + person + to + verb. For negative commands, use not to + verb.
What you'll learn
- Report an order with told + person + to + verb.
- Report a request with asked + person + to + verb.
- Report a negative command with not to + verb.
- Choose told for orders and asked for requests.
- Keep the receiver after told or asked.
Structure
speaker + asked + person + to + verbUse asked for requests and polite instructions. Keep the receiver before to + verb.
speaker + told/asked + person + not to + verbFor negative commands, put not before to. Do not move not after to.
Build a sentence
Person
Verb
Annatoldmetowait
Anna told me to wait outside.
Use told + person + to + verb for an order or instruction.
When to use
Orders and instructions
Use this form to report what someone ordered, instructed, or warned another person to do. The action becomes to + verb.
Requests and favors
Use asked when the speaker wanted help, a favor, or polite action from someone. The receiver stays after asked.
Negative instructions
If the original message was Don't..., report it with not to + verb. Keep the negative meaning in the new sentence.
Markers
toldaskedtonot tomeus
Common mistakes
Wrong
Anna told me wait outside.
Correct
Anna told me to wait outside.
After told + person, use to + base verb.
Wrong
The coach told us that we should run faster.
Correct
The coach told us to run faster.
Reported commands use to + verb, not a that-clause, in this pattern.
Wrong
Maria asked to close the window.
Correct
Maria asked me to close the window.
If Maria made a request to another person, include that person after asked.
Wrong
The teacher told us to not talk during the test.
Correct
The teacher told us not to talk during the test.
In reported negative commands, not comes before to.
Wrong
Nina told me to carry one of her bags.
Correct
Nina asked me to carry one of her bags.
Use asked when the speaker is requesting help, not giving a strong order.
Wrong
The officer told to move the car.
Correct
The officer told me to move the car.
After told, include the person who must do the action.
Common misconceptions
❝ When I report a command, I should keep the original imperative form exactly. ❞
Reported commands change shape. Stop! becomes told me to stop, not told me stop.
❝ I can always use told because it means the same as asked. ❞
Told and asked are different choices. Told reports orders; asked reports requests.
Skills in this rule (5)
USE_TOLD_SOMEONE_TOw5Use told + person + to + verb to report a command
When you report an order or instruction, name the person who received it and use to + base verb. This pattern turns direct words into reported speech.
USE_ASKED_SOMEONE_TOw5Use asked + person + to + verb to report a request
For polite requests, use asked instead of told. Keep the receiver of the request before to + base verb.
NEGATIVE_COMMAND_WITH_NOT_TOw5Use not to + verb for negative commands
If the original command is negative, keep the negative before the infinitive: not to + base verb. This works after told and asked.
PICK_TOLD_OR_ASKEDw4Choose told for strong commands and asked for requests
Use told for orders, rules, and firm instructions. Use asked for requests, polite instructions, and favors.
KEEP_OBJECT_AFTER_REPORTING_VERBw4Keep the person after told or asked
After told or asked, include the person who must do the action: me, him, us, them, Anna. Do not jump straight to to + verb when the receiver is part of the meaning.