English Grammar - Reporting verbs

Form, functions and examples

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.

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.

Teaching reporting verbs

quote After having introduced the basic reported verbs: ask, say and tell, I ask my students to write about 10 personal questions they will be able to ask me. Students love asking personal questions to their teachers! I put the questions on the board and then divide the class into 2 groups and make the first group leave and wait outside. The first group members take turns in asking me the prepared questions and write down my answers. Now, they leave and the second group does the same thing. However, what they do not know is that I am honest with one group and give correct answers, but lie to the other. It's a good idea not to tell them beforehand. When the second group is ready I ask the group outside in and tell the students to pair off as 1st and 2nd group partners. The activity goes like this and one of the students tells his partner "I asked the teacher how old she was and she told me she was 16." Then the other partner goes "I asked the same question, but she told me she was 36." etc...until all the questions are reported. Here they have to pay attention to the usage of the reporting verbs and have fun in finding which group the teacher lied to.
Begem Tonyali