Reporting verbs-0

D

F

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A

B

C

Reporting verbs-1

• accuseto accuse someone of doing something

• "It was you who ate my chocolate, Elvira, wasn't it?“He accused Elvira of eating his chocolate.

• admitto admit doing somethingto admit that...

• "OK, it was me. I ate your chocolate“Elvira admitted eating the chocolate.Elvira admitted that she had eaten the chocolate.

• adviseto advise someone to do something

• "Well, if I were you I'd start saving for my retirement.“He advised me to start saving for my retirement

Reporting verbs-2

• agreeto agree that...

• "Yes, you're right, it's a terrible problem.“She agreed that it was a terrible problem.

• announceto announce that...

• "I'm afraid I've got some bad news. The company's closing.“The manager announced that the company was closing.

• apologiseto apologise (to someone) for doing something

• "I'm sorry I didn't get to the meeting.“He apologised for not going to the meeting.

Reporting verbs-3

• askto ask someone to do something

• "It's very hot in here. Would you mind opening the window?“She asked him to open the window.

• blameto blame someone for doing something

• "We lost the match because you didn't save that penalty.“He blamed the goalkeeper for losing the match.

• complainto complain about something

• "The electrician said he was coming at ten o'clock so I took time off work and waited in all morning....“She complained about the electrician.

Reporting verbs-4• congratulate

to congratulate someone on doing something• "Well done! I knew you'd pass your driving test this time.“

She congratulated him on passing his driving test.• deny

to deny doing somethingto deny that...

• "It most certainly wasn't me that left the front door open.“He denied leaving the front door open.He denied that he had left the front door open.

• explainto explain why...to explain that...

• "Sorry I'm late. The traffic was bad and then I couldn't find a parking space.“He explained why he was late.He explained that the traffic was bad.

Reporting verbs-5

• forgetto forget to do something

• "Oh no, I haven't got any money. I didn't go to the bank.“He forgot to go to the bank.

• inviteto invite someone to do something

• "Would you like to come to our house for dinner on Friday?He invited them to come to dinner on Friday.

• offerto offer to do something for someone

• "Those bags must be heavy, John. Shall I take one?“She offered to carry a bag for him.

Reporting verbs-6

• promiseto promise to do something

• "Yes, honest, I'll be there on time. I won't be late.“He promised not to be late.

• refuseto refuse to do something

• "Well I'm not washing up. I did it last time.“He refused to do the washing-up.

• remindto remind someone to do something

• "Remember you have to go to the bank. You forgot yesterday.“She reminded me to go to the bank.

Reporting verbs-7

• suggestto suggest that someone should do somethingto suggest that someone do/did something

• "Why don't you go to the dentist if your tooth hurts?“She suggested that he should go to the dentist.She suggested that he went to the dentist.

• threatento threaten to do something

• "If you're late again we'll start without you.“They threatened to start without him.

• warnto warn someone about somethingto warn someone (not) to do something

• "Don't drive too quickly. The streets are very icy.“He warned him about the ice.He warned him not to drive too quickly.

Reporting verbs-8

• Other reporting verbs used in this way are: recommend, demand, propose. (for suggest)Examples:

a. "It would be a good idea to see the dentist", said my mother.

• My mother suggested I see the dentist.

b. The dentist said, "I think you should use a different toothbrush".

• The dentist recommended that I should use a different toothbrush.

c. My manager said, "I think we should examine the budget carefully at this meeting."

• My manager proposed that we examine the budget carefully at the meeting.

Test on Reporting Verbs1.  The teacher ________________ that wine came from

grapes. a)  protested  b) promised  c) explained

2.  Monica ________________ to give us a lift to the station.

    a)  protested  b) offered  c) apologized

3.  He ________________ never to take her CDs again without asking first.a) admitted  b)  explained  c) promised

4. Mike ________________ eating the last chocolate biscuit.a)  protested  b)  added  c) admitted

explained

offered

promised

admitted

5. He ________________ for being late.a) apologized  b)  admitted  c) offered

6. Our scoutmaster ________________ at the end of his speech that we mustn't forget to bring torches on the camping trip.a) added  b)   begged  c) protested

7. Cinderella ________________ to be allowed to go to the ball.a) begged  b) apologized  c) admitted

8. Cecilia ________________ that she couldn't help with the shopping because she had already arranged to meet Caroline.a) protested  b) promised  c) offered

apologized

added

begged

protested

He ____________ that he had stolen the car.a)  described   b) admitted   c) reminded   d)

commented

Mary finally ____________ why she had been late.a)  answered b) explained c)   refused d)

  maintained

He ____________ to most of my questions.a) responded b)   refused c)   answered d)   denied

She ____________ that I had already told her the answer.a) directed b)  recalled c)   assured d)  notified

They ____________ to come on time.a)  instructed b)  suggested c)  mentioned d)  promised

admitted

promised

explained

responded

recalled

They ____________ that they had also been to London.

a) assured b)  added c)   directed d)   suggested

He ____________ that I was wrong.

a)  suggested b)   notified c)   taught d)   instructed

He ____________ to tell my father about it.

a) assured b)   threatened c)   directed d)  notified

They ____________ him to lie down.

a)  mentioned b)  suggested c)  instructed d)  promised

The teacher simply ____________ the class to do it.a)  ordered b)  stated c)   ruled d)   explained

ordered

instructed

threatened

suggested

added

Reporting verbs.

1. "I didn't do it!" He denied that he had done it / He denied doing it.

2. "I'll bring the book back tomorrow." She promised to bring the book back the following day.

3. "Please will you think about it some more?“He begged me to think about it some more.

4. "First you should put the money in the slot and then you should press the button." She explained what I should do.

1 "I didn't do it," she said.

She denied doing it.

2 "Have lunch with me," she said.

She invited me to have lunch with her.

3 "Why don't you buy one?" said Tom.

Tom suggested I buy one.

4 "I promise I'll take you to Prague," said Mary.

Mary promised to take me to Prague.

5 "I hope Andy phones tonight," said Clare.

Clare hoped Andy would phone that night.

6 "Please, please don't tell anyone!" he said.

He begged me not to tell anyone.

7 "I won't do it," he said.He refused to do it.

8 "You should have lessons," she said.She advised me to have lessons.

9 "We really must go with you," they said.They insisted on going with me.

10 "Don't forget to phone Granny," said Mum.Mum reminded me to phone Granny.

11 "If you wear my T-shirt again, I'll pinch you very hard," said Maggy.Maggie threatened to pinch me very hard if I wore her T-shirt again.

12 "Don't fly kites near electric overhead cables," said my father.My father warned me not to fly kites near electric overhead cables. 

Reporting verbs.

(1)  "It was your fault."The cyclist the bus driver causing the accident.

(2)  "You caused it."The cyclist the bus driver causing the accident.

(3)  "It's a really good idea. You'll meet lots of people."New students are always to join social clubs when they first go to university.

(4)  "It's not true."The politician having an affair with his research assistant – they were just working late.

(5)  "Why don't we go to Italy?"I going to Italy for our holidays, but everyone else wanted to go to Portugal.

blamed for

accused of

encouraged

denied

suggested

• (6)  "Well done!"Students generally each other passing their exams.

• (7)  "We're getting engaged."Christine and Harry at the party that they were getting engaged.

• (8)  "You should see a solicitor."The landlord of my neighbour's flat wanted to double the rent, so I her to see a solicitor.

• (9)  "You won't see him alive again."The kidnapper to kill their son if they informed the police.

• (10)  "OK."The union to call off the strike if safety measures were introduced.

congratulate on

announced

adviced

threatened

agreed