Reporting Verbs
Reporting Verbs
Reporting Verbs
“If you are too busy, I can pick Sally up Dave said (that) he could pick Sally up
from school,” said Dave. from school if I was too busy.
Now, as you can see, the above reporting verb offer has a different structure to
the reported statement when using said:
Let’s look at some other common and useful reporting verbs and their
particular structures…
1. Reporting verbs with the same structure as say:
“Why don’t you go cycling in the Ellen suggested (that) I went cycling in
countryside tomorrow,” Ellen said. the country side the following day.
“You must turn the power off first, and The electrician explained (that) I had to
then remove the faulty power outlet,” turn the power off first, and then
the electrician said. remove the faulty power outlet.
2. Reporting verbs with the same structure as tell:
“Don’t pull it again, or you’ll break it,” The father warned his son not to pull it
said the farther to his son. again or he would break it.
“Don’t worry, I’m absolutely certain My wife assured me (that) she had
that I locked the front door,” said my locked the front door.
wife.
“I’ll punch you in the nose,” shouted Ben threatened to punch me in the
Ben. nose.
direct object
“If I were you, I wouldn’t invest in that She advised/warned me not to invest
company,” she said. in that company. infinitive
“It wasn’t me who stole the bag,” cried Billy denied stealing the bag.
Billy. *(Billy denied having stolen the bag.)
*these reported structures are correct, but are usually taught at C1 level.
Take note:
All of the above listed reporting verbs can also fit into structure 1:
rep. verb (+that) + clause
Billy denied (that) he had stolen the bag.
She admitted (that) she had left the freezer door open.
4B. Reporting verbs followed by a gerund:
“I’m sorry for arriving so late this Naomi apologised for arriving so late
morning,”said Naomi. that morning.
“Ok, I’ll see another doctor before I She agreed to seeing another doctor
make a final decision,” she said. before making a final decision.
4C. Reporting verbs followed by a gerund:
“Harry should never have made such a The teacher criticised Harry for
careless mistake,” said the teacher. making such a careless mistake.
1. Greg: “You’re right, I also think the water should have been warmer last week.”
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2. Miss Jones: “Ok everyone, stop writing, put your pens down, and close your books.”
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3. James: “I can help you transport this sofa next week.”
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4. He said, “There is no way I’m paying that bill. I’m not doing it.”
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5. Dave: “I didn’t use that laptop yesterday.”
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6. Daisy: “It’s completely your fault that the carpet is burnt Harry.”
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7. “Don’t forget to take your medication while you are on holiday next week,” said his mother.
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8. “Stan, I don’t think driving for fourteen hours continuously is a good idea.” said Beryl.
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Exercise 1
Use reporting verbs to transform the following sentences from direct speech into reported
speech (there may be some alternative answers for some questions):
1. Greg: “You’re right, I also think the water should have been warmer last week.”
Greg agreed (with me) that the water should have been warmer the week before.
2. Miss Jones: “Ok everyone, stop writing, put your pens down, and close your books.”
Miss Jones told everyone to stop writing, put their pens down, and close their books.
3. James: “I can help you transport this sofa next week.”
James offered to help (me) transport that sofa the following week.
4. He said, “There is no way I’m paying that bill. I’m not doing it.”
He refused to pay that bill.
5. Dave: “I didn’t use that laptop yesterday.”
Dave denied using that laptop the day before.
6. Daisy: “It’s completely your fault that the carpet is burnt Harry.”
Daisy blamed Harry for burning the carpet.
7. “Don’t forget to take your medication while you are on holiday next week,” said his mother.
His mother reminded him to take his medication while he was on holiday the following week.
8. “Stan, I don’t think driving for fourteen hours continuously is a good idea.” said Beryl.
Beryl discouraged Stan from driving for fourteen hours continuously.
Reported questions Questions words:
who
1. If it is a yes/no question we are reporting, we use if or whether:
when
Direct Speech Reported Speech where
why
“Are you going to buy that shirt?” The shop assistant asked if I was what
asked the shop assistant. going to buy that shirt. (this shirt) which
how
*They are sometimes called
“Did you pass your French exam Laura asked whether Jack had -wh words
Jack?” Laura asked. passed his French exam. *CAUTION: Do/does/can/
have etc. are NOT question
2. If the direct question contains a question word, we include that question words! (they are auxiliary
word in the reported speech, but we do not include the auxiliary verb in verbs)
the reported speech:
“Where are you going this He asked (me) where I was He asked me where was I
summer?” he asked. going the following summer. NOT going the following summer.
“What did you buy at the store He asked me what I had He asked me what I did
yesterday?” he asked me. bought at the store the day NOT buy at the store the day
before. before.
Exercise 2
Transform the following questions from direct speech into reported speech (there
may be some alternative answers for some questions):