REPORTING VERBS

A) Complete the sentences below with one of these reporting verbs in the correct form
explain deny warn confess answer insist persuade inquire

1. Tom ________ to his mother that he had told some lies about his cousins.
2. Martha ________ she would come with me as soon as she was ready.
3. In the courtroom the man ________ the charge of stealing $850 from the woman´s handbag.
4. Even though I had seen the film before, my friends, ________ me to go with them.
5. I ________ to my friend that I couldn´t have that dog as a pet. My flat is too small.
6. The customs officer ________ where I had come from and whether I was staying for more than a week.
7. Emma ________ me not to drive too fast because the road was icy.
8. George ________ that he had never see the woman before.

B) Change the sentences below from the direct to reported speech, using one of the reporting verbs in the list. Begin
the sentences with the words given.
inquire suggest threaten ask promise hope remind refuse

1. “ If you don´t leave the room immediately, I´ll call the police.”
Mrs. Davidson ____________________________________________
2. “ I´ll phone you as soon as I have news about Richard´s state of health.”
Paul _____________________________________________________
3. “No, I will not speak to Tom.”
Laura ____________________________________________________
4. “You might catch the 8 o´clock train if you hurry.”
Steve ____________________________________________________
5. “Would you mind not smoking in the room?”
Sally _____________________________________________________
6. “ Don´t forget to buy the tickets for next Saturday´s concert.”
Melissa ___________________________________________________
7. “ Why did you replace our director?”
Mr. Williams _______________________________________________
8. “ I´d like to spend a couple of days in a charming little hotel in the countryside”
Rebecca ___________________________________________________

1) Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a request, a statement or a question.
1.
He said, "Speak louder! "
→ He told me _______________________
"Where is your sister?" she asked me.
→ She asked me ___________________
"I don't speak Italian," she said.
→ She said _______________________
"The film began at seven o'clock," he said.
→ He said _______________________
"I never make mistakes," he said.
→ He said _______________________
"Don't play on the grass, boys," she said.
→ She told the boys _________________________
"Where have you spent your money?" she asked him.
→ She asked him ___________________________
"Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know.
→ He wanted to know ________________________
"Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the
audience.
→ The stuntman advised the audience 
_______________________________________
 Answer Key
A
1. confessed
2. answered
3. denied
4. persuaded
5. explained
6. inquired
7. warned
8. insisted

1. Mrs Davidson threatened to call the police if the man didn´t leave the room immediately.
2. Paul promised her that he would phone as soon as he had news about Richard´s state of heath.
3. Laura refused to speak to Tom.
4. Steve suggested that I might catch the 8 o´clock bus if I hurried.
5. Sally asked people not to smoke in the room.
6. Melissa reminded him to buy the tickets for the following Saturday´s concert.
7. Mr. Williams inquired why they had replaced their director.
8. Rebecca hopes to spend a couple of days in charming little hotel in the country side.