Reported Requests – JSS 2 English Lesson

Grammar: Reported Requests

Subject: English Language
Class: JSS 2
Term: Second Term
Week: 5
Age: 11 – 13 years
Duration: 40 minutes

---

Behavioral Objectives

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

1. Define reported requests.
2. Differentiate between direct and reported requests.
3. Identify the structure of reported requests.
4. Convert direct requests into reported requests correctly.
5. Use reported requests in sentences.

---

Keywords

• Direct request
• Reported request
• Reporting verb
• Politeness
• Indirect speech

---

Set Induction

The teacher makes a request:

• “Please, help me carry this bag.”
• “Can you open the window?”

Then asks: How can we report what I just said?

Expected response:

• “The teacher asked me to help carry the bag.”
• “The teacher requested me to open the window.”

---

Entry Behavior

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

---

Learning Resources and Materials

• Flashcards with direct requests
• Sentence transformation charts
• Whiteboard and marker

---

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher reminds students that in indirect speech, we report what someone else said using different words.

---

Embedded Core Skills

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Sentence construction
• Writing

---

Learning Materials

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• English Language textbook
• Sample request transformation exercises

---

Reference Books

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• New Oxford English for JSS 2
• Effective English for JSS 2

---

Lesson Content

Definition of Reported Requests

A reported request is a polite request that is reported in indirect speech. It does not use quotation marks and usually includes the verbs ask or request followed by “to” + verb.

Example:

• Direct: “Please, sit down.”
• Reported: She asked me to sit down.

---

Differences Between Direct and Reported Requests

Direct Request	Reported Request
Uses quotation marks	No quotation marks
Uses polite expressions like “please” or modal verbs	Uses “to” + verb
Example: “Can you help me?”	Example: She asked me to help her.

---

How to Convert Direct Requests to Reported Requests

1. Remove quotation marks.
2. Use a reporting verb (e.g., ask, request, beg, urge).
3. Use “to” before the verb.
4. Omit “please” since the politeness is implied in “ask” or “request”.

Examples:

Direct Request	Reported Request
“Can you help me?”	She asked me to help her.
“Please close the door.”	He asked me to close the door.
“Would you lend me your book?”	She requested me to lend her my book.
“Could you pass the salt?”	He asked me to pass the salt.
“Please be quiet.”	The teacher asked us to be quiet.

---

Negative Reported Requests

For negative requests, we use “not to” + verb.

Examples:

Direct Request	Reported Request
“Please don’t make noise.”	She asked us not to make noise.
“Could you not touch the painting?”	He requested me not to touch the painting.
“Don’t talk in class, please.”	The teacher asked us not to talk in class.

---

Examples of Reported Requests in Sentences

1. The teacher said, “Please, write your name.”
   → The teacher asked us to write our names.

2. She said, “Would you mind helping me?”
   → She requested me to help her.

3. My mother said, “Can you clean your room?”
   → My mother asked me to clean my room.

4. The officer said, “Please follow the instructions.”
   → The officer asked us to follow the instructions.

5. The doctor said, “Could you take your medicine?”
   → The doctor requested me to take my medicine.

---

Evaluation (Fill in the blanks with the correct reported request)

1. The teacher said, “Please be quiet!”
   a) The teacher asked us to be quiet.
   b) The teacher asked us being quiet.
   c) The teacher asked us be quiet.
   d) The teacher asked us quiet.

2. The woman said, “Can you help me with my bags?”
   a) The woman asked me to help her with her bags.
   b) The woman asked me help her with her bags.
   c) The woman asked me helping her with her bags.
   d) The woman asked me helped her with her bags.

3. He said, “Could you not touch my phone?”
   a) He asked me to touch his phone.
   b) He asked me not to touch his phone.
   c) He asked me touching his phone.
   d) He asked me not touch his phone.

4. The student said, “Please lend me your pen.”
   a) The student requested me to lend him my pen.
   b) The student requested me lend him my pen.
   c) The student requested me lending him my pen.
   d) The student requested me lent him my pen.

5. The officer said, “Would you mind stepping aside?”
   a) The officer asked me to step aside.
   b) The officer asked me step aside.
   c) The officer asked me stepping aside.
   d) The officer asked me stepped aside.

---

Class Activity Discussion (FAQs and Answers)

1. What is a reported request?
   A reported request is a polite request that is reported in indirect speech.

2. How do you form a reported request?
   By using a reporting verb (ask, request) and “to” + verb.

3. What is the difference between direct and reported requests?
   Direct requests use quotation marks and modal verbs, while reported requests use “to” + verb.

4. What is the reported form of “Can you open the door?”
   He asked me to open the door.

5. How do we report a negative request?
   We use “not to” + verb (e.g., “Please don’t go” → “She asked me not to go”).

6. Can we use “request” instead of “ask” in reported requests?
   Yes, but “request” is more formal.

7. What is the reported form of “Please do your homework”?
   The teacher asked me to do my homework.

8. Why do we use reporting verbs in reported requests?
   To show who made the request.

9. Can we use “beg” in reported requests?
   Yes, e.g., He begged me to forgive him.

10. How do we report “Please don’t disturb me”?
    She asked me not to disturb her.

---

Assessment (Evaluation Questions)

1. Convert the following requests into reported requests:
   a) “Could you help me?”
   b) “Please bring your books.”
   c) “Would you mind not making noise?”
   d) “Can you sit down?”
   e) “Please don’t shout!”

---

Conclusion

The teacher marks students’ work, provides feedback, and gives homework on converting five direct requests into reported requests.

---