REPORTED SPECIFIC CONSTRUCTIONS

Direct speech Reported speech Verb pattern

verb + (object) +
preposition + gerund/noun
‘Sharon, you lied to me!’ Paul accused Sharon of lying accuse someone of doing
said Paul. to him. sth/sth
” Well done for winning the They congratulated me on congratulate someone on
prize!” they said. winning the prize. doing sth/sth
”I’ll pay for the meal”, he He insisted on paying for the *insist on
said. meal.
”Yes, I gave away your He admitted (to) giving *admit (to)
secret.” he said away my secret.
’I’m sorry I’m late’, he said. He apologised for being late. apologise for
’I’m the best student in my He boasted about/of being *boast about/of
class’ he said. the best student in his class.
’I have noisy neighbours’ he He complained of having *complain to someone of
said. noisy neighbours.
blame someone for
warn someone
against/about
verb + gerund
’No, I didn’t use your He denied using my *deny
computer’ he said. computer.
’Why don’t we pay in cash?’ He suggested paying in cash. *suggest
he said.
verb + (object) + to-
infinitive
’Yes, I’ll lend you the He agreed to lend me the agree
money’ he said. money.
’I saw the robbers’ he said. He claimed to have seen the *claim
robbers.
’Would you like me to help He offered to help me. offer
you?’ he said.
’I’ll return the book to you He promised to return the *promise
soon’ he said. book to me soon.
’No, I won’t call her’ he He refused to call her. refuse
said.
’Stop shouting or I’ll punish He threatened to punish me *threaten
you’ he said. if I didn’t stop shouting.
’You should eat more fruit’ He advised me to eat more advise someone to
he said. fruit.
’Please, please don’t hurt He begged me not to hurt beg someone to
me!’ he said. him.
’You mustn’t stay out late’ He forbade me to stay out forbid someone to
he said. late.
’Don’t forget to buy some He reminded me to buy *remind someone to
milk’ he said. some milk.
’Don’t touch the iron’ he He warned me not to touch warn someone to
 said. the iron.

The verbs marked with an asterisk can also be followed by a that-clause in reported speech.

He claimed that he had seen the robbers.

He promised that he would return the book to me soon.
He threatened that he would punish me if I didn’t stop shouting.
He admitted that he had given away my secret.
He boasted that he was the best in his class.
He denied that he had used my computer.
He insisted that he (should) pay for the meal.
He suggested that they (should) pay in cash.