REPORTING VERBS

By: Marta Gonzalvo Ariadna Puig

When do we use the Reporting verbs?

Say

Tell

Reporting verbs

Which are the Reporting Verbs?

• ACCUSE: object + preposition + gerund- They accused the boy of cheating on the exam.

• ADMIT: that + indirect speech- Tom admitted that he had tried to leave early.

• ADVISE: object + to + infinitive- She advised me to leave early.

• AGREE: with someone- I agree with you that they shouldn’t do that.

: on/ about something- I don’t agree on several points of the resolution.

: that + indirect speech- She agreed that we needed to reconsider our plan.

• ANNOUNCE: that + indirect speech- Peter announced that he had voted for Obama.

• ANSWER: that + indirect speech- He answered he didn’t want to go.

• APOLOGIZE: for + gerund- James apologized for being late.

: to someone for something- You must apologize to her for being so rude.

• COMPLAIN: to someone that + indirect speech- Marc complained to the teacher that his mark was wrong.

: of/about something- He’s always complaining about your behaviour.

• DENY: that + indirect speech- The president denied that this was a political decision.

: gerund- He denied having anything to do with the victim.

• EXPLAIN: (to + object)+ that + indirect speech- The tour guide explained to the tourists that they needed the passport.

• INSIST: on + gerund- He insisted on doing the revision.

: that + indirect speech- She insisted that I had done it.

• MENTION: that + indirect speech- My brother mentioned that he wanted to buy that motorbike.

• OFFER: to + infinitive- Martha offered me to work with her.

• ORDER: object + to + infinitive- The officer ordered them to fire.

• PROMISE: that + indirect speech- She promised me that she would do it.

: to + infinitive- His boyfriend promised her to buy her a ring.

: someone something- Mike promised me a bike.

• REFUSE: to + infinitive - My uncle refused to do that.

• RECOMMEND: that + subject + infinitive without to- The doctor recommended me to rest.

: subject + should + verb- My mum recommended me I shouldn’t were this dress.

• REMIND: object + to + infinitiveRemind me to buy some apples.

• SUGEST: to + object + that + subject + should + verb- She suggested to us that we should wait.

ClassExercices

Obama’s Speech

• “And you must know that whatever measure of comfort we can provide, we will provide”

• Mr. Obama …………….. to provide any measure of comfort they can provide.

promised

• “We know that there were other teachers who barricaded themselves inside classroms and kept steady through it all and reassured their students by saying, <<Wait for the good guys, they are coming. Show me your smile>>”

• He …………….. how some teachers acted during the tragedy.

• “Can we say that we’re truly doing enough (…)? I’ve been reflecting on this the last few days, and if we’re honest with ourselves, the answer’s no.”

• The president …………….. to not be doing enough .

explained

admitted

ON AIR FM (93.3)• 10:00-10:03 Political debate

• 10:03-10:06 Love affairs

• 10:06-10:09 Sports life

Please pay special attention to REPORTING SPEECH and REPORTING VERBS

Reporting verbs’ exercices

1. Choose the correct reporting verb

from this list and finish the reported

speech for each example.Told Said Advised Warned SuggestedAsked Offered Ordered• 1. "I'd go and see a doctor if I were you," Julie said to

me.• Julie me to go and see a doctor.• 2. "Can you come and help me with this box?"• John me to help him with the box.• 3. "This is an exam Mr. Jenkins!! Shut up now!!!"• The headmaster Mr. Jenkins to shut up.• 4. "That road is very dangerous so just be very careful!"• His mother him that the road was very

dangerous and to be careful.

1. Choose the correct reporting verb

from this list and finish the reported

speech for each example• 5. "Liverpool won the match last night." • The journalist that Liverpool had won the

match the previous night.• 6. "Why don't we go and see that new film at the

cinema."• Bill going to see the new film at the cinema.• 7. "I can come and look after the children tomorrow

night."• Jane to come and look after the children the

following day.• 8. "The lesson starts at six o'clock in the evening."• The teacher us that the lesson started at six

in the evening.

2. Fill the gaps using the verbs in the box. Use each

verb once only.Advise hope promise suggest beg insist remind threaten deny invite refuse warn• 1. "I didn't do it," she said.• She ________________ doing it.• 2. "Have lunch with me," she said.• She ________________ me to have lunch with her.• 3. "Why don't you buy one?" said Tom.• Tom ________________ I buy one.• 4. "I promise I'll take you to Prague," said Mary.• Mary ________________ to take me to Prague.• 5. "I hope Andy phones tonight," said Clare.• Clare ________________ Andy would phone that night.• 6. "Please, please don't tell anyone!" he said.• He ________________ me not to tell anyone.

• 7. "I won't do it," he said.• He ________________ to do it.• 8. "You should have lessons," she said.• She ________________ me to have lessons.• 9. "We really must go with you," they said.• They ________________ on going with me.• 10. "Don't forget to phone Granny," said Mum.• Mum ________________ me to phone Granny.• 11. "If you wear my T-shirt again, I'll pinch you very hard," said

Maggy.• Maggie ________________ to pinch me very hard if I wore her T-shirt

again.• 12. "Don't fly kites near electric overhead cables," said my father.• My father ________________ me not to fly kites near electric overhead

cables.

2. Fill the gaps using the verbs in the box. Use each

verb once only.

3. Change into reporting speech:

• 1. " I won´t help you with your homework", Mark said to Martha.

• Mark . . . . . .• 2. "This exercise is too difficult", Paul said.• Paul . . . . . .• 3. "OK, I´ll go with you to the concert", Lola said to Mario.• Lola . . . . . . . • 4. Sara said to Tom, "Do you want to go to the cinema?“.• Sara . . . . . . . • 5. "Sara, stay in your house", her mum said.• Her mum . . . . . . .• 6. "I took the money", the thief said.• The thief . . . . . . .

Answers to the exercises

1. Choose the correct reporting

verb from this list and finish the

reported speech for each example.• 1. advised.• 2. asked.• 3. ordered.• 4. warned.• 5. said.• 6. suggested.• 7. offered.• 8. told.

2. Fill the gaps using the verbs in

the box. Use each verb once only.• 1. She denied doing it.• 2. She invited me to have lunch with her.• 3. Tom suggested I buy one.• 4. Mary promised to take me to Prague.• 5. Clare hoped Andy would phone that night.• 6. He begged me not to tell anyone.• 7. He refused to do it.• 8. She advised me to have lessons.• 9. They insisted on going with me.• 10. Mum reminded me to phone Granny.• 11. Maggie threatened to pinch me very hard if I wore her T-

shirt again.• 12. My father warned me not to fly kites near electric overhead

cables.

3. Change into reporting

speech:

• 1. refused • 2. complained • 3. agreed • 4. invited • 5. told• 6. admitted

Bibliography• http://

ies.garciamarquez.madrid.educa.madrid.org/index.php/ingles/ingles-4o-eso/528.html

• http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/4g11-reporting-verbs-exercise.php

• http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/gr.report2.p.htm