转述指令和要求
当我们想要转述一个指令或要求时，可以用 tell 之类的动词并接 to 子句：he told me to go away. 句型是动词 间接受词 to 子句。间接受词是指说话者的谈话对象。而其他用来转述指令和要求的动词有：command丶order丶warn丶ask丶advise丶invite丶beg丶teach 和 forbid。
举例
| 直述句 | 转述句 |
|---|---|
| the doctor said to me, "stop smoking!". | the doctor told me to stop smoking. |
| "get out of the car!" said the policeman. | the policeman ordered him to get out of the car. |
| "could you please be quiet," she said. | she asked me to be quiet. |
| the man with the gun said to us, "don't move!" | the man with the gun warned us not to move. |
要求某物
在要求某物时，转述句会用 "asked for" 物体之句型。
举例
| 直述句 | 转述句 |
|---|---|
| "can i have an apple?", she asked. | she asked for an apple. |
| "can i have the newspaper, please?" | he asked for the newspaper. |
| "may i have a glass of water?" he said. | he asked for a glass of water. |
| "sugar, please." | she asked for the sugar. |
| "could i have three kilos of onions?" | he asked for three kilos of onions. |
建议
在转述建议时，会使用动词 suggest丶insist丶recommend丶demand丶request 和 propose，并接 that 子句。而在这些子句中，that 和 should 可以省略，如下面前两个例子所示。要注意，如果要去掉动词的间接受词（也就是听取建议的人），suggest丶recommend 和 propose 后可接动名词。如此会让建议的语气更有礼貌。这种动名词的用法在下面第四和第五个例子有示范。
举例
| 直述句 | 转述句 |
|---|---|
| she said, "why don't you get a mechanic to look at the car?" |
she suggested that i should get a mechanic to look at the car. 或 she suggested i should get a mechanic to look at the car. 或 she suggested that i get a mechanic to look at the car. 或 she suggested i get a mechanic to look at the car. |
| "why don't you go to the doctor?" he said. |
he suggested i go to the doctor. 或 he suggested that i go to the doctor. 或 he suggested i should go to the doctor.或 he suggested that i should go to the doctor. |
| "it would be a good idea to see the dentist", said my mother. | my mother suggested i see the dentist. |
| the dentist said, "i think you should use a different toothbrush". | the dentist recommended using a different toothbrush. |
| you said, "i don't think you have time to see the dentist this week." | you suggested postponing my visit to the dentist. |
| i said, "i don't think you should see the dentist this week." | i suggested postponing your visit to the dentist. |
| my manager said, "i think we should examine the budget carefully at this meeting." | my manager proposed that we examine the budget carefully at the meeting. |
| "why don't you sleep overnight at my house?" she said. | she suggested that i sleep overnight at her house. |