Keep Smiling English Reporting Verbs Grammar

1. Reporting verbs followed by “(s.o.) + (preposition) + verb-ing”

accuse s.o. of blame s.o. for forbid s.o. from recommend

admit (to) consider insist on regret

advise s.o. against criticise s.o. for justify suggest

apologise (to s.o.) for deny propose warn s.o. about / of

Examples:
Direct Speech: “You should really avoid driving through the city centre.” he said.
Reported Speech: He advised me against driving through the city centre.

Direct Speech: “Come on, man! We really ought to go the party.” he insisted.
Reported Speech: My friend insisted on going to the party.

2. Reporting verbs followed by “to + infinitive”

agree demand promise

ask forget refuse

decide offer threaten

Examples:
Direct Speech: “Let me give you a hand with those bags.” he said.
Reported Speech: He offered to give me a hand with the bags.

Direct Speech: “We will not be cutting back on education or healthcare.” the
president said.
Reported Speech: The president promised not to cut back on education or
healthcare.

3. Reporting verbs followed by “(s.o.) that + clause”

add consider imply reckon suppose

admit decide insist remark tell s.o.

agree deny mean repeat think

announce doubt mention reply threaten

argue estimate object report warn s.o.

believe expect s.o. persuade regret

claim explain predict say

complain feel promise (s.o.) state

confirm hope reassure s.o. suggest

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Keep Smiling English Reporting Verbs Grammar
Examples:
Direct Speech: “Oh hell! I’ll have to put up with this nonsense all year!” she said.
Reported Speech: She complained that she would have to put up with this
nonsense all year.

Direct Speech: “Don´t worry. I will have a word with him, I promise.” my boss told
me.
Reported Speech: My boss promised me that he would have a word with him.

4. Reporting verbs followed by “s.o. + to + infinitive”

advise s.o. forbid s.o. order s.o. remind s.o. urge s.o.

ask s.o. instruct s.o. persuade s.o. request s.o. warn s.o.

encouraged s.o. invite s.o. prefer s.o. tell s.o.

Examples:
Direct Speech: “Please, put us up for the weekend, will you?” they asked.
Reported Speech: They persuaded me to put them up for the weekend.

Direct Speech: “You will do as I say, or else!” he said.

Reported Speech: He warned me to do as he said.

5. Reporting verbs followed by “that + (past) subjunctive” or “that + should”

advise insist recommend urge

agree prefer request

demand propose suggest

Examples:
Direct Speech: “We believe you should apply again.” my parents told me.
Reported Speech: My parents suggested that I should apply again.

Direct Speech: “That restaurant is awesome. You should give it a try.” my friends
said.
Reported Speech: My friends recommended that I give/gave that restaurant a try.

Note: “that” is always optional.

Source:

Adapted from Vince, M. & Sunderland, P. (2003). Advanced Language Practice. Oxford: Macmillan

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