Reporting Agent Academy

Incoming Transmission from Headquarters!

"Welcome, Agent! In the field, we intercept direct commands, whispers of requests, and urgent advice. If you repeat them verbatim, you'll blow your cover. Your mission is to master Reported Orders, Requests, and Advice so we can securely transmit intel to HQ without raising suspicion. Study the dossier below, practice in the Simulator, and complete the field trial to earn your Master Agent Credentials!"

Intel Dossier 01

The Law of Command Control (Orders)

The Key formula: verb + person + to + infinitive

When someone gives an direct order (command), they use imperatives (e.g., "Stop!", "Put down your weapon!"). To report this, you must change the tone from demand to narrative using reporting verbs like told, ordered, commanded, instructed.

Direct Command

"Freeze! Drop your device!"

Reported Command

The guard ordered me to drop my device.

No "that" needed for command clauses.

Negative command? Use not + to + verb.

Pronouns & times must shift contextually.

Quick Rule Visualizer (Negative Commands)

The Officer told / ordered the agent NOT TO touch the red wire.

Intel Dossier 02

The Diplomatic Infiltration (Requests)

The Key formula: ask/request + person + to + verb

Requests are polite orders. They usually contain the diplomatic keyword "Please" or arrive as questions (e.g., "Could you please help me find the files?"). When reporting them, we drop the "please" and the interrogative helper verbs, switching to asked, requested, pleaded, begged.

Direct Polite Request

"Could you sign here, please?"

Reported Request

She asked me to sign there.

Erase "please" and "could/would you".

Merge directly to the infinitive: "to verb".

Note: Shift "here" to "there".

Intel Dossier 03

The Wisdom Council (Advice)

The Key formula: advise + person + to + verb

Advice often utilizes modal helpers like "should", "ought to", "had better", or suggestions (e.g., "If I were you, I would leave the building."). When reporting advice, you must summarize the essence of the warning or suggestion using verbs such as advised, recommended, warned, suggested.

Direct Advice / Warning

"You should lock the file backup."

Reported Advice

She advised me to lock the file backup.

Discard helper modems like "should" or conditional "If I were you".

Note on "suggest": It usually takes a gerund (e.g., "suggested escaping") or a "that" clause, NOT a "to-infinitive".

Interactive Lab Mode

Code-Breaker Practice Sandbox

Create dynamic reported speech constructions step-by-step. Select options to visualize how grammar variables align.

1. Agent/Subject

2. Reporting Action Order

3. Targeted Receiver

4. Negative or Positive Action?

5. Base Objective (Verb Phrase)

LIVE GENERATION TELEMETRY

The Commander ordered the agent to destroy the mainframe files immediately.

Status: Valid syntax decoded

MISSION: LIVE TEST

STAGE 1/5

Intercepted Audio COMMAND

Direct Message:

"Clean up this mess right now!"

The supervisor said...

Academy Instructor Guide

🧑‍🏫 Pro-Tip for Agents: Always remember that direct and reported speech occur in completely different environments. Direct speech is in 1st/2nd person ("You", "I"), while reported speech converts to 3rd person narration ("He", "They").

💡 Avoid the "Please" trap: In requests, never carry "please" into the reported clause. It is duplicate reporting! *The reporting verb "asked" already captures the request's polite form.*

🚀 Rule of Negative Reporting: "Don't" transitions cleanly into "not to". For example: "Don't worry" becomes "...advised me not to worry".