Mastering Reporting Verbs in English Indirect Speech

Core Reporting Verbs: Say, Tell, Wonder, Explain

These verbs are fundamental for transforming direct speech into indirect speech, often requiring tense and pronoun shifts.

• Say (something, optionally to someone):

  Direct: "I am ill."

  Reported: She said she was ill.

• Tell (someone):

  Direct: "You are late, Dad."

  Reported: She told her father he was late.

• Tell (someone to do / not to do something):

  Direct: "Don't come back, Josh."

  Reported: She told Josh not to go back.

• Wonder (used for reported questions/thoughts):

  Direct: "Why are they looking at me?"

  Reported: She wondered why they were looking at her.

• Explain (optionally to someone):

  Direct: "I'm angry because I missed the train."

  Reported: She explained (to me) she was angry because she had missed the train.

Reporting Commands and Advice: Verb + Object + To-Infinitive

This structure is used when reporting instructions, requests, or warnings directed at a specific person.

• Advise (someone to do something):

  Direct: "You should read this book, Anne."

  Reported: She advised Anne to read that book.

• Beg (someone to do something):

  Direct: "Please, Mum, take me to Disneyland."

  Reported: She begged her mother to take her to Disneyland.

• Forbid (someone to do something):

  Direct: "You mustn't see that girl again."

  Reported: She forbade him to see that girl again.

• Invite (someone to something):

  Direct: "Why don't you come over for dinner?"

  Reported: She invited her friend over for dinner.

• Remind (someone to do something):

  Direct: "Remember to post the card."

  Reported: She reminded me to post the card.

• Warn (someone to / not to do something):

  Direct: "Don't touch it: it's dangerous."

  Reported: She warned us not to touch it because it was dangerous.

Reporting Intentions: Verb + To-Infinitive Structure

These verbs report promises, agreements, or threats.

• Agree (to do something / that clause):

  Direct: "OK, I will lend you my car, Bill."

  Reported: She agreed to lend Bill her car.

• Offer (to do something):

  Direct: "Shall I carry that for you, Gran?"

  Reported: She offered to carry it for her grandmother.

• Promise (to do something / that clause):

  Direct: "I will call you soon."

  Reported: She promised to call me soon. (Note: The original text included a misplaced example: She refused to help me again.)

• Threaten (to do something):

  Direct: "I will tell Mum if you don't do your homework."

  Reported: She threatened to tell Mum if I didn't do my homework.

Reporting Actions: Verb + Gerund (-ing) Structures

These verbs are followed directly by the gerund form of the verb.

• Confess to (that clause / Gerund):

  Direct: "OK, I cheated during the test."

  Reported: She confessed to cheating during the test.

• Complain about (that clause):

  Direct: "The clothes are so expensive here."

  Reported: She complained that the clothes were so expensive there.

• Deny or Regret (Gerund):

  Example: SHE DENIED STEALING MY MONEY.

• Admit (to) (that clause / Gerund):

  Direct: "Well, I am a bit lazy."

  Reported: She admitted that she was a bit lazy.

• Recommend (Gerund):

  Direct: "Visit the museum in the morning."

  Reported: She recommended visiting the museum.

• Suggest (Gerund):

  Direct: "Let's go for a walk, shall we?"

  Reported: She suggested going for a walk.

Reporting with Prepositions: Verb + Preposition + Gerund

These verbs require a specific preposition before the gerund.

• Apologise (to someone) for (Gerund):

  Example: She apologised to Charles for hurting him.

• Accuse (someone) of (Gerund):

  Example: She accused me of lying to her.

• Blame (someone) for (Gerund):

  Example: She blamed me for making her do it.

• Congratulate (someone) on (Gerund):

  Example: She congratulated me on passing the test.

• Discourage (someone) from (Gerund):

  Example: She discouraged me from talking to him.

Alternative Structure: Suggest + That + Subjunctive

This structure is often used for formal recommendations or proposals.

• Suggest that + Subject + (Should) + Base Verb:

  Direct: "You should read this book, Anne."

  Reported: She suggested that Anne (should) read that book.