Reported Commands – JSS 2 English Lesson

Grammar: Reported Commands

Subject: English Language
Class: JSS 2
Term: Second Term
Week: 4
Age: 11 – 13 years
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioral Objectives

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

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

Keywords

• Direct command
• Reported command
• Reporting verb
• Imperative
• Instruction

Set Induction

The teacher gives a direct command:

• “Stand up!”
• “Close the door!”

Then asks students: How do we report what I just said?

Expected response:

• “The teacher told us to stand up.”
• “The teacher told us to close the door.”

Entry Behavior

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

Learning Resources and Materials

• Flashcards with direct commands
• 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 command 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 Commands

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

Example:

• Direct: “Sit down!”
• Reported: She told me to sit down.

Differences Between Direct and Reported Commands

How to Convert Direct Commands to Reported Commands

1. Remove quotation marks.
2. Use a reporting verb (e.g., tell, order, command, instruct).
3. Use “to” before the verb.

Examples:

Negative Reported Commands

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

Examples:

Examples of Reported Commands in Sentences

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

2. She said, “Don’t be late.”
   → She told me not to be late.

3. My mother said, “Clean your room.”
   → My mother told me to clean my room.

4. The officer said, “Stop talking!”
   → The officer ordered us to stop talking.

5. The doctor said, “Take your medicine.”
   → The doctor instructed me to take my medicine.

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

1. The teacher said, “Sit down!”
   a) The teacher told us to sit down.
   b) The teacher told us sit down.
   c) The teacher told us sitting down.
   d) The teacher told us sat down.

2. The man said, “Don’t run!”
   a) The man told us to run.
   b) The man told us not to run.
   c) The man told us run.
   d) The man told us not run.

3. She said, “Finish your work.”
   a) She told me finishing my work.
   b) She told me to finish my work.
   c) She told me finish my work.
   d) She told me finished my work.

4. The police officer said, “Drive carefully.”
   a) The police officer told us to drive carefully.
   b) The police officer told us driving carefully.
   c) The police officer told us drive carefully.
   d) The police officer told us not to drive carefully.

5. The mother said, “Don’t make noise!”
   a) The mother told the children not to make noise.
   b) The mother told the children to make noise.
   c) The mother told the children making noise.
   d) The mother told the children not make noise.

Class Activity Discussion (FAQs and Answers)

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

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

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

4. What is the reported form of “Open the door”?
   He told me to open the door.

5. What happens when we report a negative command?
   We use “not to” + verb (e.g., “Don’t go” → “She told me not to go”).

6. Can reported commands be used in everyday conversations?
   Yes, especially when reporting instructions from others.

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

8. Why do we use reporting verbs in reported commands?
   To show who gave the instruction (e.g., told, ordered, instructed).

9. Can we use “ask” in reported commands?
   Yes, e.g., He asked me to help him.

10. How do we report “Don’t touch the stove”?
    She warned me not to touch the stove.

Presentation Structure

1. Revision of the previous topic.
2. Introduction of reported commands with examples.
3. Students give examples of reported commands.
4. Teacher corrects mistakes and explains key points.

Assessment (Evaluation Questions)

1. Convert the following commands into reported commands:
   a) “Turn off the light!”
   b) “Don’t be late!”
   c) “Bring your books!”
   d) “Do not touch the painting!”
   e) “Speak clearly!”

Conclusion

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