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🏰 A2 Grammar Lesson

Ask, Tell, Want + Object + To

Learn how to report requests, commands, and wishes in fairytale stories.

TEACHER

For the Teacher (12 Minutes)

• Use this 12-minute grammar module to present reported requests and complete interactive checks.

• Student answers are graded automatically so you can review class scores instantly.

LEARNER

For the Student

• First, read the 4 grammar rule cards and look at the fairytale examples.

• Next, complete the 12 practice exercises below from easy to hard.

📖

Grammar Rules

RULE 1

Verb + Person + To + Action

After words like ask, tell, want, need, and would like, put the person first and then to + base verb.
Do not put "to" before the person, and do not skip "to" before the action.

✅ CORRECT

1. The witch told the girl to stay inside.
2. The queen wanted the servant to clean the palace.

❌ AVOID

1. The witch told to the girl stay inside.
2. The queen wanted to the servant clean the palace.

RULE 2

Negative Sentences: NOT + TO

For negative sentences, put not right before to.
Do not use "don't" after the person word.

✅ CORRECT

1. The mother told the children not to open the door.
2. She asked him not to cry in the forest.

❌ AVOID

1. The mother told the children don't open the door.
2. She told him don't cry in the forest.

RULE 3

Object Pronouns & Base Verbs

The person after the verb changes to an object word (me, you, him, her, it, us, them). The action after to stays in its base form.
Use "them" (not "they") and "leave" (never "leaves" or "left").

✅ CORRECT

1. The giant wanted them to leave the village.
2. The prince asked her to wear the magic cloak.

❌ AVOID

1. The giant wanted they to leave the village.
2. The prince asked her to wears the magic cloak.

RULE 4

Tell vs. Say

Use tell + person + to + action to give an order or advice. The word say cannot use this pattern.
Say "She told me to go", never "She said me to go".

✅ CORRECT

1. The old woman told us to follow the path.
2. The queen told the servant to hide the broom.

❌ AVOID

1. The old woman said us to follow the path.
2. The queen said the servant to hide the broom.

⚠️ REMEMBER THIS DIFFERENCE

We say: "She told me to leave."
We NEVER say: "She said me to leave."

✏️

Practice Exercises

Part 1: Choose the correct sentence

Question 1 (object)

Which sentence is correct?

____ a. The witch asked him to make a potion. ____ b. The witch asked he to make a potion. ____ c. The witch asked to him make a potion.

Question 2 (negative)

Which sentence is correct?

____ a. The prince told the servant don't break the mirror. ____ b. The prince told the servant not to break the mirror. ____ c. The prince told to the servant not break the mirror.

Question 3 (verb)

Which sentence is correct?

____ a. The queen said me to leave the palace. ____ b. The queen told to me to leave the palace. ____ c. The queen told me to leave the palace.

Part 2: Rewrite speech as sentences

Question 4 (object)

Rewrite the speech as one sentence.

The queen says: "Clean the floor, servant." Use told.

____

Question 5 (negative)

Rewrite the speech as one sentence.

The prince says: "Don't touch the broom, witch." Use asked.

____

Question 6 (object)

Rewrite the speech as one sentence.

The king says: "Sing, Anna." Use told.

____

Part 3: Fill in the gaps

Question 7 (object)

Fill in the blank with the correct words.

The wizard asked [___] to bring the magic cloak. (Words to use: they / bring)

____

Question 8 (negative)

Fill in the blank with the correct words.

The king told the knights [___] the dangerous cave. (Words to use: not / enter)

____

Question 9 (verb)

Fill in the blank with the correct words.

The prince would like [___] in the palace. (Words to use: she / stay)

____

Part 4: Correct the error in a short message

Question 10 (verb)

Correct the underlined phrase in this message to a friend.

"In the story, the hero said the knight to break the curse."

____

Question 11 (negative)

Correct the underlined phrase in this message to a friend.

"The queen told the guards don't drop the magic potion!"

____

Question 12 (object)

Correct the underlined phrase in this message to a friend.

"The witch wanted he to clean her broom before sunset."

____

Ask, Tell, Want + Object + To

Ask, Tell, Want + Object + To

For the Teacher (12 Minutes)

For the Student

Grammar Rules

Verb + Person + To + Action

Negative Sentences: NOT + TO

Object Pronouns & Base Verbs

Tell vs. Say

Practice Exercises

Part 1: Choose the correct sentence

Part 2: Rewrite speech as sentences

Part 3: Fill in the gaps

Part 4: Correct the error in a short message

Related lessons

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IELTS Speaking: Fairy Tales and Folk Stories

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Writing: Fairy Tales and Folk Stories

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Must, Mustn't and Have To