An order or a request in indirect speech is expressed by an infinitive:
| Shesaid to him, "Open the window (do not open the window)."
| Shetold him to open the window (not to open the window).
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| Shesaid to him, "Please, open the window (do not open the window)."
| Sheasked him to open the window (not to open the window).
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The choice of the verb is determined by the character of the order (request).
The verb most commonly used to introduce indirect orders is the verb to tell; the verb to order is frequently used, occasionally also the verb to command.
The verb to tell corresponds to the Russian сказать, чтобы and велеть; to order and to command correspond to приказать.
| Mr. Bumblesaid to Oliver, "Bow to the board."
| Mr. Bumbleordered Oliver to bow to the board.
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| The officersaid to the soldiers, "Stop!"
| The officercommanded the soldiers to stop.
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The verb to request is used in official style, chiefly in the Passive Voice. It is best rendered in Russian by предложить.
The verb to request introduces rather a veiled order than a request.
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The ticket collectorsaid to the passenger, "Produce your ticket."
| The ticket collectorrequested(предложил) the passenger to produce his ticket.
or:
The passengerwas requested to produce his ticket.
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Unemotional requests are usually introduced by the verb to ask.
| Hesaid to a passer-by, "Will you show me the way to the theatre?"
| Heasked a passer-by to show him the way to the theatre.
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The verb to beg introduces a request somewhat more emotional.
| The childsaid to his mother, "Do take
me to the circus!"
| The childbegged his mother to take
him to the circus.
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Very often, however, it is used in the same meaning as the verb to ask, only it is more polite:
| Hesaid to the visitor, "Will you walk in?"
| Hebegged the visitor to walk in.
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Emotional (emphatic) requests are introduced by the verbs to implore, to entreat, to beseech (умолять).
| Elizasaid to the stranger, "Do save my child!"
| Elizaimplored the stranger to save her child.
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The verb to urge introduces a request made with great insistence. It corresponds to the Russian настаивать, уговаривать.
| The mothersaid to her son," Do take care of yourself!"
| The motherurged her son to take care of himself.
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As is seen from the above examples, in converting requests beginning with the emphatic do, we use the verbs to implore, to entreat, to beseech, to urge.
