REPORTING VERBS

1. VERB + THAT-CLAUSE
Reporting verbs used with a that-clause
add claim deny insist say
admit complain doubt mention suggest
agree confess explain promise
answer confirm feel repeat
believe decide hope reply
1.Employee: ... and so far I haven't received a negative response to my work.
The employee added that up to that point he hadn't received a negative response to his work.

2. George: Well, I had difficulty answering some of the questions.

George admitted that he had difficulty answering some of the questions.

3. Chris: Yes, it was a great film.

Chris agreed that the film was great.

4. Matthew: Do you want to have a cup of coffee sometime?

Joanna: Sorry, but you're not my type.
When Matthew asked her out, Joanna answered/replied that he was not her type.

5. Rev. Johansson: All humans are born equal.

Reverend Johansson believes that all humans are born equal.

6. Julie to her neighbour's wife: You may not believe me, but I saw your husband with a
blonde girl in the disco on Saturday.
Julie claimed that she had seen her neighbour with a blonde girl in the disco on Saturday.

7. Student to his friend: I hate having to write tons of essays every semester.
The student complained that he had to write a lot of essays.

8. Julie to her neighbour: Yes, it was me who started that ugly rumour about you. I'm sorry.
Julie confessed that she had started an ugly rumour about her neighbour.

9. Secretary to a colleague: That's right, the meeting is on Tuesday.

The secretary confirmed that the meeting was on Tuesday.

10. Customer: I don't think I'll buy this notebook after all.
The customer decided that he wouldn't buy the notebook.

11. Francesco: No, I didn't bump your car.

Francesco denied that he had bumped my car.

12. Student: I don't think that we could convince the professor that this is not plagiarism.
The student doubted that they could convince the professor that it was not plagiarism.
13. I can make fire with a stick. My father taught me how to do it when I was a child.
Jill explained that her father had taught her how to make fire with a stick when she was a
child.

14. Alex: Well, I think we should back her up in this terrible situation.
Alex felt that they should back her up in that terrible situation.

15. Chef: I hope nobody will notice that this is not turkey but pork.
The chef was hoping that nobody would notice that it was not turkey but pork.

16. Secretary to boss: I'm absolutely sure that I shredded those documents.
The secretary insisted that she had shredded the documents.

17. Tom: Once I get back to school, I'm going to take up swimming again.
Tom mentioned that he was going to take up swimming again.

18. David: I will be on time, I promise.

David promised that he would be on time.

19. Wife to husband: As I've told you before, I'd like to invite Dan and Margaret as well.
The wife repeated that she wanted to invite Dan and Margaret as well.

20. Camila: It may have been Mario who bumped your car.
Camila suggested that it might have been Mario who had bumped my car.

2. VERB + TO-INFINITIVE
Reporting verbs used with the to-infinitive
agree offer
claim prefer
decide promise
demand refuse
hope threaten
1. Jim: All right, I'll do it.
Jim agreed to do it.

2. Al-Qaida: We have captured two US marines.

Al-Qaida claims to have captured two US marines.

3. Customer: I don't think I'll buy this notebook after all.

The customer decided not to buy the notebook.

4. Judge: I want to see the documents.

The judge demanded to see the documents.

5. Susan: I hope I'll get to the airport in time.

 Susan was hoping to get to the airport in time.

6. Ben: I can take you home if you want.

Ben offered to take me home.
7. Spokesman: Well, I would rather not say anything at this point.
The spokesman preferred not to say anything.

8. Jill: I will be on time, I promise.

Jill promised to be on time.

9. Sportsman: No, I won't answer any questions about my private life.

The sportsman refused to answer questions concerning his private life.
10. Young man on the bridge: Don't come any closer or I'll jump.
The disturbed young man threatened to jump off the bridge.

3. VERB + OBJECT + TO-INFINITIVE

Reporting verbs used with an object and the to-infinitive
ask encourage permit request
advise forbid persuade tell
allow instruct prefer urge
beg invite recommend warn
command order remind want

1. Customs officer: Please empty your pockets, madam.

The officer asked the woman to empty her pockets.

2. Carlos: I think you should visit a specialist.

Carlos advised me to visit a specialist.

3. Professor: You mustn't use a dictionary while writing the test.

The professor did not allow us to use a dictionary while writing the test.

4. Chris: Please tell me what really happened.

Chris begged her to tell him what had happened.

5. Sergeant: Fire! The sergeant commanded the firing squad to shoot.

6. Uncle Joe: Have you ever thought of starting scuba diving? I guess you'd love it.
My uncle Joe encouraged me to take up scuba diving.

7. Mother to Luke: You must not talk to Ellie again.

Luke's mother forbade him to talk to Ellie again.

8. Doctor to patient: You must exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

The doctor instructed the patient to exercise at least 30 minutes a day.
9. I: Why don't you come in for a coffee?
I invited him to come inside and have a cup of coffee.

10. Police to photographers at an accident scene: No pictures!

The police ordered the photographers not to take any pictures of the accident scene.
11. School regulation: Teachers are not to use corporal punishment in the classroom.
The rules don't permit teachers to beat students at this school.

12. Matt: Be a vegetarian; it's better for your health.

Victoria: But I like bacon!
Matt: You don't know what those pigs have been eating.
Victoria: Yuck! You're right. I've never thought about it that way. I won't eat meat any
more. Matt persuaded Victoria to become a vegetarian.

13. Health specialist: I think it would be better if people consumed much less fat and sugar.
The health specialist would prefer people not to consume so much fat and sugar.

14. Thesis consultant to student: You should read the Thesis Guide before you start your
research.
The thesis consultant recommended the student to read the Thesis Guide before starting the
research. (the to-infinitive after recommend is less common in everyday contexts)

15. David: Don't forget to buy some milk.

David reminded me to buy some milk.

16. Sign: Do not take photographs, please

Visitors are requested not to take photographs.

17. Teacher to pupils: Open your books to page 10.

The teacher told the pupils to open their books to page 10.

18. Mother to child: Don't tease that dog! It will bite you!
The mother warned her child not to tease the dog.

19. Green activists: The nuclear plant must be shut down immediately.
Green activists urged the government to shut down the nuclear plant.

20. Boss to secretary: Will you rewrite this letter ? There are far too many mistakes in it.
The boss wanted her secretary to rewrite the letter.

4. VERB (+ PREPOSITION) + GERUND

Reporting verbs used with a gerund
accuse somebody of deny
admit (to) insist on
apologise for prohibit
confess (to) suggest
complain about
1. Angela: I think it was you who told my secret.
Angela accused me of telling her secret.

2. Mario: Yes, I bumped your car.

Mario admitted (to) bumping my car.

3. Student to professor: I am sorry for being late.

The student apologised (to the professor) for being late.

4. Julie to her neighbour: Yes, it was me who started that ugly rumour about you. I'm sorry.
Julie confessed (to) starting an ugly rumour about her neighbour.

5. Student to his friend: I hate having to write tons of essays every semester.
The student complained (to his friend) about having to write a lot of essays.

6. Francesco: No, I didn't bump your car.

Francesco denied bumping my car.

7. Wife to husband: I do want to invite Dan and Margaret as well.

The wife insisted on inviting Dan and Margaret as well.

8. Museum sign: No smoking

They prohibit smoking in the museum.

9. Jill: What about going to the sauna tonight?

Jill suggested going to the sauna.

5. VERB + THAT-CLAUSE WITH SHOULD + INFINITIVE

Reporting verbs used with a that-clause with should
advise propose
agree recommend
demand request
insist suggest
prefer urge
1. Carlos: I think you should visit a specialist.
Carlos advised that I should visit a specialist.

2. Susan: Yes, you are right, Harry. You'd better accept that offer.
Susan agreed that Harry should accept the offer.

3. Customer: I want you to give me a full refund.

The customer demanded that the company should give him a full refund.

4. Mike: You really must try my new muffin recipe.

Mike insisted that I should try his new muffin recipe.
5. Howard: I'd rather you came to my party, and not to Ryan's.
Howard preferred that I should go to his party.

6. Jill: How about going to the sauna tonight?

Jill proposed/recommended/suggested that we should go to the sauna.

7. Employees: Could we have the staff meeting on Tuesday instead?

The employees requested that the staff meeting should be on Tuesday.

8. Green activists: The nuclear plant must immediately be shut down.

Green activists urged that the nuclear plant should be shut down.

The present subjunctive can replace should + infinitive in a that-clause in formal and
literary styles:

Carlos: I think you should visit a specialist.Carlos advised that I visit a specialist.

6. VERB + THAT-CLAUSE WITH PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

The present subjunctive can be used in a that-clause instead of should + infinitive in formal
and literary styles.

Reporting verbs used with a that-clause with the present subjunctive

advise propose
agree recommend
demand request
insist suggest
prefer urge
1. Carlos: I think you should visit a specialist.
Carlos advised that I visit a specialist.

2. Susan: Yes, you are right, Harry. You'd better accept that offer.
Susan agreed that Harry accept the offer.

3. Customer: I want you to give me a full refund.

The customer demanded that the company give him a full refund.

4. Mike: You really must try my new muffin recipe.

Mike insisted that I try his new muffin recipe.

5. Howard: I'd rather you came to my party, and not to Ryan's.

Howard preferred that I go to his party.

6. Jill: How about going to the sauna tonight?

 Jill proposed/recommended/suggested that we go to the sauna.

7. Employees: Could we have the staff meeting on Tuesday instead?

The employees requested that the staff meeting be on Tuesday.

8. Green activists: The nuclear plant must immediately be shut down.

Green activists urged that the nuclear plant be shut down.