Indirect command

Indirect commands are one of the three basic structures of reported indirect speech. They are simply the way in which an order, or imperative sentence, is written down without directly transcribing the speaker's words. When the speaker's words are written down as spoken, inside speech marks, it is also reported speech - but direct speech.

An indirect coomand is the Object of a reporting clause, usually with a verb such as 'ordered', 'told' or 'commanded'. The structure of the reported command is usually a 'to- infinitive', as in

• The general ordered the troops to attack; Their boss told them to be ready.

It may also be a clause beginning with that. Here the Verb is either in the subjunctive mood, or is a verb phrase constructed with a Modal verb such as 'should', 'must', 'ought to' etc:

• His mother told him that he must clean his teeth; He insisted that they leave at once;