What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to report orders, requests and advice with told / asked / ordered + someone + infinitive.
When do I use it?
To report an instruction or request, use tell / ask / order + person + to + verb:
- Direct: "Open the door!" → Reported: "She told me to open the door."
- Direct: "Please wait." → Reported: "He asked me to wait."
For the negative, put not before to:
- "Don't be late!" → "They told us not to be late."
How do I form it?
tell / ask / order + person + (not) to + verb
- The teacher told us to be quiet.
- My boss told me not to send the email.
- She asked him to help her.
- The police ordered everyone to leave the building.
Use told for commands, asked for polite requests and ordered for strong instructions.
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish reported commands often use the subjunctive ("me dijo que abriera la puerta"), which speakers translate as "told me that I opened the door". English uses the infinitive: "told me to open the door". Never put the person between "to" and the verb ("told to me open"), and remember the negative is "not to do", not "don't do": "me pidió que no fumara" is "he asked me not to smoke".
Command = tell/ask + person + to + verb. Negative = person + not to + verb.
Practice
Multiple Choice
B1Which sentence is correct?
Fill in the Blank
B1The doctor told me rest for a week.
Hint: tell + person + to + verb
Find the Error
B1Sentence Transformation
B1Task: Report the request (He asked...)
Hint: Negative request → asked + person + not to + verb.
Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: B1