Lesson Plan: English Grammar – Primary 5 First Term

General Information

• Subject: English Grammar
• Class: Primary 5
• Term: First Term
• Week: 8
• Age: 9 years
• Topic: Structure: Making Reported Commands and Reported Questions
• Sub-topic: Changing Direct Commands and Questions to Reported Commands and Questions
• Duration: 60 minutes

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Behavioral Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Identify and use command and interrogative statements.
2. Change direct commands and questions to reported commands and questions.
3. Analyze the sentence structure of direct and reported commands and questions.

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Keywords

• Direct command
• Reported command
• Direct question
• Reported question
• Reporting verb
• Sentence structure

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Set Induction (Introduction)

The teacher will write two sentences on the board:

1. The teacher said, “Sit down.”
2. The teacher told us to sit down.

Then, the teacher will ask:

• What is different between these two sentences?
• Why does the second sentence not have quotation marks?

The teacher will explain that the first sentence is a direct command, while the second sentence is a reported command.

Similarly, the teacher will write:

1. She asked, “Where are you going?”
2. She asked where I was going.

Pupils will discuss the difference between direct and reported questions.

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Entry Behavior

Pupils have learned about direct and indirect speech in previous lessons.

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Learning Resources and Materials

• Flashcards with examples of direct and reported commands/questions
• Charts showing conversion rules
• Whiteboard and marker

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Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher will remind students about direct and indirect speech, as this lesson builds on that concept.

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Embedded Core Skills

• Listening and Speaking
• Reading and Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Communication

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Learning Materials

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• New Oxford Primary English Book 5

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Instructional Materials

• Flashcards with command and question examples
• Charts showing conversion rules
• Sentence strips for practice

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Lesson Content

1. Definition of Direct and Reported Commands & Questions

• Direct command: When an order or request is given in the exact words of the speaker, usually with an imperative verb.
  • Example: “Close the door,” she said.
• Reported command: When the order or request is reported in another sentence.
  • Example: She told me to close the door.
• Direct question: When a question is asked using the exact words of the speaker, enclosed in quotation marks.
  • Example: He asked, “What are you doing?”
• Reported question: When a question is reported in another sentence, without quotation marks.
  • Example: He asked what I was doing.

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2. Rules for Changing Direct Commands to Reported Commands

Rule 1: Use “to” or “not to” Instead of Quotation Marks

• Direct: The teacher said, “Stand up.”
• Reported: The teacher told us to stand up.
• Direct: She said, “Do not run.”
• Reported: She told me not to run.

Rule 2: Change the Reporting Verb if Necessary

• Direct: The mother said, “Please eat your food.”
• Reported: The mother requested me to eat my food.
• Direct: The officer said, “Stop talking!”
• Reported: The officer ordered them to stop talking.

Direct Command	Reported Command
“Sit down,” she said.	She told me to sit down.
“Don’t touch that,” he said.	He warned me not to touch that.
“Please help me,” she said.	She requested me to help her.

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3. Rules for Changing Direct Questions to Reported Questions

Rule 1: Remove Quotation Marks and Use Reporting Verbs (“asked,” “wanted to know”)

• Direct: She said, “Where do you live?”
• Reported: She asked where I lived.

Rule 2: Change the Tense (Backshift Rule)

• Direct: He asked, “What are you doing?”
• Reported: He asked what I was doing.

Rule 3: Remove “Do,” “Does,” or “Did” from the Question

• Direct: He said, “Where does she live?”
• Reported: He asked where she lived.

Direct Question	Reported Question
“What is your name?” she asked.	She asked what my name was.
“Where are you going?” he said.	He asked where I was going.
“Did you see the movie?” she asked.	She asked if I had seen the movie.

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Evaluation (Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Speech Form)

Choose the correct direct or reported form.

1. “Close the window,” said the teacher. (Change to reported command)
   • The teacher told us _______ the window.
     a) closing
     b) to close
     c) closed
     d) closing
2. She said, “Do not touch the fire.” (Change to reported command)
   • She warned us _______ the fire.
     a) not to touch
     b) to not touch
     c) not touch
     d) do not touch
3. He asked, “Where are my books?” (Change to reported question)
   • He asked where his books _______.
     a) were
     b) are
     c) is
     d) was
4. “Did she finish her work?” he asked. (Change to reported question)
   • He asked if she _______ her work.
     a) finishes
     b) had finished
     c) has finished
     d) finishing
5. The doctor said, “Take your medicine daily.” (Change to reported command)
   • The doctor advised me _______ my medicine daily.
     a) take
     b) to take
     c) taking
     d) took

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Class Activity (Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs)

1. What is a reported command?
   • A reported command is when an order is reported in another sentence without quotation marks.
2. What is a reported question?
   • A reported question is when a question is reported without using quotation marks.
3. How do we change direct commands into reported commands?
   • Remove quotation marks and use “to” or “not to” before the verb.
4. How do we change direct questions into reported questions?
   • Remove quotation marks and adjust the verb tense.
5. Convert: “Help me,” she said.
   • She asked me to help her.
6. Convert: “Do you like apples?” he asked.
   • He asked if I liked apples.

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Presentation Steps

1. Teacher’s Activities:
   • Explains direct and reported commands/questions with examples.
   • Writes conversion rules on the board.
   • Asks students to practice changing sentences.
2. Learners’ Activities:
   • Read and identify direct and reported speech.
   • Convert sentences between the two forms.
   • Answer evaluation questions.

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Assessment

1. Define reported command.
2. Define reported question.
3. Convert: “Stand up,” the teacher said.
4. Convert: She said, “Where are you going?”
5. Convert: He told me not to be late. (Change to direct speech)

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Conclusion

The teacher summarizes the lesson and corrects any mistakes in students’ exercises.

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More Useful Links

• Building Strong Sentences: A Guide to Simple Sentence Structure English Grammar Primary 5 First Term Lesson Notes Week 9
• Understanding and Using the Present Perfect Tense Structure English Grammar Primary 5 First Term Lesson Notes Week 10
• Revision and Review Structure English Grammar Primary 5 First Term Lesson Notes Week 11