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REPORTING
VERBS EXERCISE 1
PERFECT ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Review how to use reporting verbs here.

Download this exercise in PDF here.

Reporting Verbs 1
Make a new sentence with the same
meaning using the reporting verb in
brackets.
1) "You shouldn't go
into the water," said
CHECK
the coast guard.
(advise against)

The coast guard advised against going into the water.

SHOW

[.]
2) "I'll go to France on
holiday," said John.
(decide, using
CHECK
infinitive)

decide

SHOW
[ John decided to go
to France on holiday.
]
3) "I think you should
go to the dentist,"
Julie said to Tom. CHECK
(advise, using
infinitive)

Julie advised Tom to go to the dentist

SHOW

[.]
4) "Watch out for the
weak bridge!" he said. CHECK
(warn, using 'about')

He warned about the weak bridge

SHOW

[.]

5) "You should apply

for the job," said Jack CHECK
to Stella. (encourage)

Jack encouraged Stella to apply for the job

SHOW

[.]
6) "Okay, Keiko can go
to the party," said
CHECK
Keiko's mum. (agree,
using clause)

Keiko’s mum agreed that Keiko could go to the party

SHOW

[.]
7) "The class will start
later on Tuesdays,"
CHECK
said the teacher.
(explain + clause)

The teacher explained that the class would start later on Tu

SHOW

[.]
8) "It's a great idea to
go to the beach," said
CHECK
Maria. (recommend +
verb-ing)

Maria recommended going to the beach

SHOW

[.]
9) "Don't cross the
road there," she said
CHECK
to the children. (warn,
using infinitive)

She warned the children not to cross the road there

SHOW

[.]
10) "I'll make the
coffee!" said David. CHECK
(insist + on)

David insisted on making the coffee

SHOW

[.]
11) "I'll study really hard
for the exam," said
CHECK
Luke. (promise + to +
infinitive)

SHOW

[.]
12) "This is where the
station is," said Klara.
(explain, using CHECK
question word +
clause)

Klara explained where the station was.

SHOW

[.]
13) "Right, let's buy the
car in the morning!"
CHECK
we said. (agree +
infinitive)

We agreed to buy the car in the morning.

SHOW

[.]
14) "Don't forget that
Lucy needs to go to
the dentist," she said CHECK
to me. (remind, using
clause)

she reminded me that Lucy needed to go to the dentist

SHOW

[.]
15) "How about having
Indian food?" I said.
CHECK
(suggest, using verb-
ing)

i suggested having indian food

SHOW

[.]
16) "I'll be early," I said
to my mother. CHECK
(promise + clause)

i promised my mother that i would be early

SHOW

[.]
17) "I'm sorry I forgot
your birthday," said
CHECK
Amanda to me.
(apologise)

Amanda apologised for forgetting my birthday

SHOW

[.]
18) "I'll leave at six pm!"
John said. (decide + CHECK
clause)

John decided that he would leave at six pm.

SHOW

[.]
19) "This is how we use
the present perfect,"
said Amy. (explain + CHECK
question word +
infinitive)

Amy explained how to use the present perfect.

SHOW

[.]
20) "Don't forget to
buy milk!" said
Antonio to Lucia. CHECK
(remind, using
infinitive)

Antonio reminded Lucia to buy milk

SHOW

[.]
See all reported speech exercises here

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