Reporting Verbs

Reporting Verbs

The most usual verbs are SAY or TELL but there are a lot more that you need to learn.

TELL

SAY

"I felt nervous when we had the exam", he said. He said (to me) (that) he had felt nervous when they had had the exam.

"I felt nervous when we had the exam", he told me. He told me (that) he had felt nervous when they had had the exam.

VS

Verbs without a direct object

• verb + (that)

[add, admit, agree, claim, complain, deny, explain, insist, promise, propose, recommend, regret, suggest]" I wasted a lot of money, " Sarah said.

Verbs without a direct object

• verb + (that)

[add, admit, agree, claim, complain, deny, explain, insist, promise, propose, recommend, regret, suggest]" I wasted a lot of money, " Sarah said. Sarah complained (that) she had wasted a lot of money.

Verbs without a direct object

• verb + to-infinitive

[agree, claim, decide, offer, promise, refuse, threaten]" I'll hire two new employees, " the manager said.

Verbs without a direct object

• verb + to-infinitive

[agree, claim, decide, offer, promise, refuse, threaten]" I'll hire two new employees, " the manager said. The manager decided to hire two new employees.

Verbs without a direct object

• verb + -ing form

[admit, deny, propose, recommend, regret, suggest]" I didn't take the money, " the cashier said.

Verbs without a direct object

• verb + -ing form

[admit, deny, propose, recommend, regret, suggest]" I didn't take the money, " the cashier said. The cashier denied taking the money.

Verbs without a direct object

• verb + preposition + -ing form

[apologise for, insist on, object to]" I'm sorry I was rude, " he said.

Verbs without a direct object

• verb + preposition + -ing form

[apologise for, insist on, object to]" I'm sorry I was rude, " he said. He apologised for being rude.

Verbs with a direct object

• verb + object + (that)

[advise, assure, convince, inform, persuade, promise, remind, tell, warn]" The meeting will start in an hour, " the secretary told them.

Verbs with a direct object

• verb + object + (that)

[advise, assure, convince, inform, persuade, promise, remind, tell, warn]" The meeting will start in an hour, " the secretary told them. The secretary reminded them (that) the meeting would start in an hour.

Verbs with a direct object

• verb + object + to infinitive

[advise, ask, beg, convince, encourage, invite, order, persuade, remind, tell, warn, urge]" You really should apply for this job, " everybody told me.

Verbs with a direct object

• verb + object + to infinitive

[advise, ask, beg, convince, encourage, invite, order, persuade, remind, tell, warn, urge]" You really should apply for this job, " everybody told me.Everybody encouraged me to apply for that job.

Verbs with a direct object

• verb + object + preposition + -ing form

[accuse sb of, blame sb for, criticise sb for, congratulate sb on, praise sb for, suspect sb of, thank sb for]" It was your fault that the car was damaged, " Joe's boss told him.

Verbs with a direct object

• verb + object + preposition + -ing form

[accuse sb of, blame sb for, criticise sb for, congratulate sb on, praise sb for, suspect sb of, thank sb for]" It was your fault that the car was damaged, " Joe's boss told him.Joe's boss blamed him for damaging the car.