REPORTING VERBS
We use a great variety of verbs to summarise what people say. Some of them have more than one pattern.
• Verb + (that) + clause
(explain, admit, deny, agree, complain, insist, promise, recommend, suggest, regret...)
1. He explained (that) tickets for the concert were sold out.
2. She admitted (that) she had given her friend the wrong advice
3. The company admitted (that) it had made a mistake in hiring her.
4. She denied (that) she had bullied me.
5. Helen agreed (that) Mohammed was discriminated against.
6. The students complained that the examination was too hard.
7. Qassim insisted that we come to the talk the following week.
8. Yousef promised (me) that he would always remember me.
9. I recommend that you get some professional advice.
10. Issam suggested that Hiba should get more exercise.
11. I regret that I will be unable to attend / I regret that I can not come.
• Verb + object + (that) + clause
advise, persuade, warn, promise, remind, tell......)
1. My doctor advised me that eating red meat increased the risk of cancer.
2. He eventually managed to persuade me that the documents were genuine.
3. He warned him (that) he was wasting his time.
4. I promised (him) that I would help with his sign.
5. Please remind him that we are leaving at six tomorrow morning.
6. I didn't have the heart to tell her that her beautiful vase was broken.
• Verb + (not) infinitive
(after, promise, agree, decide, refuse, threaten, regret)
1. He offered to pay them $10 an hour for weekend work.
2. The publishers promised to look at her book again.
3. But they agreed to give her the job in the first place, didn't they?
4. She decided to give these old clothes away.
5. Ali said a bad word to me when I refused to lend him money.
6. The school refused to let them wear shorts in a heat wave, didn't they?
7. He threatened to humiliate me.
• Verb + object + (not) infinitive
(encourage, ask, invite, order, persuade, remind, tell, warn, advise
1. They encouraged him to try again.
2. The police asked her to describe the two men.
3. I thought it appropriate to invite her to speak at the meeting.
4. The doctor ordered him to remain in bed for a few days.
5. Well, I heard that they successfully persuaded the school to change the uniform policy.
6. Can you remind me to buy a bottle of water?
7. The doctor prescribed some pills and told her to get/have a week's rest.
8. We warned her not to post the photo.
9. She advised him not to drop out of college.
•Verb + (not) gerund
(suggest, regret, admit, advise, deny, recommend....)
1. She suggested getting a job as a secretary.
2. The salesmen regretted not making a better deal.
3. Maybe they regretted giving her the job.
4. She admitted breaking / having broken the school rules.
5. The doctor advised getting much more exercise.
6. Omar hotly denied having taken the money.
• Verb + preposition + (not) gerund
(apologise for insist on, object to)
1. They apologised for not listening to her.
2. They insisted on going on the rally.
3. They insisted on them wearing really hot trousers.
4. I's not surprising that the boys objected to doing that, is it?
• verb + preposition + gerund, eg. apologise for, object to
• verb + preposition (+ object) + gerund, e.g. insist on
• Verb + object + preposition + (not) gerund
(accuse somebody of, blame somebody/ something for, congratulate somebody on, praise somebody for, suspect somebody of, warn sb against/about, criticise sb for)
1. Doa'a accused the man of stealing the money.
2. He's only two - you can scarcely blame him for behaving badly.
3. I congratulate him on securing this debate today.
4. Police praised teenager for saving the man's life.
5. What made you suspect her of having taken the money?
6. Her teachers criticised her for being loo short.
7. How can they then criticised her for being young?
• We use that + should clause to provide information about the object. We use it with verbs that express the idea that an action is necessary, e g. demand. Insist, propose, recommended.
1. He insisted that we should make a fresh start.
2. He proposed that (we) should have a meeting.
3. They recommended that she should speak to her boss about the problem.
4. His boss suggested that he should take a holiday.
• We can also use these verbs with that + Present/Past Simple clause.
1. He insisted that they take/took the money.
2. She proposed that he take/took a computer course.
3. I demanded that (she) delete the malicious post.
More than one pattern is possible with these verbs. admit, deny, advise, agree,, insist, promise, recommend, regret, remind, suggest, warn.
1. She admitted (that) she had given her friend the wrong advice.
2. She admitted breaking / having broken the school rules.
1. She denied (that) she had bullied me.
2. Omar hotly denied having taken the money.
1. Issam suggested that Hiba should get more exercise.
2. She suggested getting a job as a secretary.
1. My doctor advised me that eating red meat increased the risk of cancer.
2. The doctor advised getting much more exercise.
1. Helen agreed (that) Mohammed was discriminated against.
2. But they agreed to give her the job in the first place, didn't they?
1. Yousef promised (me) that he would always remember me.
2. The publishers promised to look at her book again.
1. He eventually managed to persuade me that the documents were genuine.
2. Well, I heard that they successfully persuade the school to change the uniform policy.
1. Please remind him that we are leaving al six tomorrow morning.
2. Can you remind me to buy a bottle of waler?
1. He wearned him (that) he was wasting his time.
2. We wearned her not to post the photo.
1. I regret that I will be unable to attend. / regret that I cannot come
2. We regret to inform you that your application has not been successful.
3. The salesmen regreted not making a better deal.
4. Maybe they regreted giving her the job.
1. Qassim insisted that we come to the talk the following week.
2. They instated on going on the rally.
3. They insisted on them wearing really hot trousers.
4. He insisted that we should make a fresh start.
5. He insisted that they take/took the money.
