Reporting Verbs and Verb Patterns
Some reporting verbs simply report the speaker's word (say, tell, state, answer, reply). Other reporting verbs tell us something about the speaker's intention. The choice of verb sometimes depends on how we interpret what the person was saying.
He persuaded me that he wanted to give me something.
Other reporting verbs include: admit, advise, claim, convince, feel, insist, persuade, suggest, think, urge, warn.
1. verb + full infinitive: agree, ask, offer, promise, refuse, threaten (+ to see her)
He refused to see her.
2. verb + object + full infinitive: tell, advise, ask, invite, order, persuade, remind (+ her to come)
I told her to come. (NOT I told to her to come.)
3. Verb + gerund: admit, deny, report (+ being/having been there)
He denied having been there.
suggest, recommended (+ doing something)
They suggested trying the new Chinese restaurant.
4. verb + object + that: tell, advise, convince, persuade, promise, remind + me that...
They told me that I should come back later. (NOT They told to me that...)
5. verb + object + preposition + gerund:
congratulate + him on passing the exam
accuse + her of cheating
blame + us for breaking it
discourage + you from going to the concert
apologise to + object + for + gerund
I apologised to her for being late.
insist on + gerund
We insisted on seeing the manager.
6. verb (+ preposition + object) + that: say, admit, complain, explain, mention, suggest + (to him) + that...
Ann said (to him) that she felt tired. (NOT Ann said him that...)
He persuaded me that he wanted to give me something.
Other reporting verbs include: admit, advise, claim, convince, feel, insist, persuade, suggest, think, urge, warn.
1. verb + full infinitive: agree, ask, offer, promise, refuse, threaten (+ to see her)
He refused to see her.
2. verb + object + full infinitive: tell, advise, ask, invite, order, persuade, remind (+ her to come)
I told her to come. (NOT I told to her to come.)
3. Verb + gerund: admit, deny, report (+ being/having been there)
He denied having been there.
suggest, recommended (+ doing something)
They suggested trying the new Chinese restaurant.
4. verb + object + that: tell, advise, convince, persuade, promise, remind + me that...
They told me that I should come back later. (NOT They told to me that...)
5. verb + object + preposition + gerund:
congratulate + him on passing the exam
accuse + her of cheating
blame + us for breaking it
discourage + you from going to the concert
apologise to + object + for + gerund
I apologised to her for being late.
insist on + gerund
We insisted on seeing the manager.
6. verb (+ preposition + object) + that: say, admit, complain, explain, mention, suggest + (to him) + that...
Ann said (to him) that she felt tired. (NOT Ann said him that...)
Exercise 7
Reported Speech 5
Gap-fill exercise
Complete the sentences.
Used resources:
Bell J., Gower R. 2008. Firs Certificate Expert. Pearson Longman
Elsworth, S., Walker, E. 2002. Grammar Pratice for Upper-Intermediate Students with key. Pearson Education Limited
http://pc.parnu.ee/~kat3z/
Bell J., Gower R. 2008. Firs Certificate Expert. Pearson Longman
Elsworth, S., Walker, E. 2002. Grammar Pratice for Upper-Intermediate Students with key. Pearson Education Limited
http://pc.parnu.ee/~kat3z/