Reporting verbs

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reporting verbs

We use reporting verbs to report what someone said more accurately than using say and tell.

verb + infinitive
agree
decide
offer
promise
refuse
threaten
They agreed to meet on Friday.
He refused to take his coat off.

verb + object + infinitive
advise
encourage
invite
remind
warn
Tom advised me to go home early.
She reminded me to telephone my mother.

verb + gerund
deny
recommend
suggest
They recommended taking the bus.
She suggested meeting a little earlier.

verb + object + preposition (+ gerund)
accuse
blame
congratulate
He accused me of taking the money.
They congratulated me on passing all my exams.
My brother blamed me for the accident.

verb + preposition + gerund
apologize
insist
They apologized for not coming.
He insisted on having dinner.

verb + (that)
admit
agree
decide
deny
explain
insist
promise
recommend
suggest
Sarah decided (that) the house needed cleaning.
They recommended (that) we take the bus.

See also  Reported speech  |  Reported questions
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