Reporting speech that used the imperative in French

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Reporting speech that used the imperative

Reminder: when reporting words or thoughts, we generally keep the same conjugated verb.

Est-ce que vous irez à l’anniversaire de Victor ? → Je vous demande si vous irez à l’anniversaire de Victor. Will you go to Victor's birthday? → I'm asking whether you will go to Victor's birthday.
J’ai perdu mes clés. → Gérard dit qu’il a perdu ses clés. I've lost my keys. → Gérard says he's lost his keys.

However, when the words or thoughts are originally in the imperative (used to give instructions or commands), we use 'de' followed by the infinitive.

Laissez-moi tranquille ! → Il nous demande de le laisser tranquille. Leave me alone! → He is asking us to leave him alone. 
Ne reviens jamais ! → Il m’a prié de ne jamais revenir. Never come back! → He asked me never to come back.
Asseyez-vous ! → Il vous dit de vous asseoir. Sit down! → He is telling you to sit down. 

Note: We can also use the infinitive to avoid repeating the subject of the verb.

Je suis malade. → Il affirme être malade/qu'il est malade.  I'm sick. → He maintains that he is sick. 
J’ai attendu trois heures. → Elle dit avoir attendu/qu'elle a attendu trois heures. I'm sick. → He maintains that he is sick. 

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