Reporting Verbs

Different ways to report: say, tell, ask, suggest, admit, promise, warn

intermediate

When to Use

•Say: report words. She said (that) she was tired.
•Tell: report to someone. She told me (that) she was tired.
•Ask: questions/requests. He asked if I was coming. She asked me to help.
•Suggest: recommendations. He suggested going out. She suggested that we leave.
•Promise/Warn/Admit: specific meanings. He promised to call. She warned me not to go.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Verb + (that) clause; Verb + object + to-infinitive; Verb + -ing

Negative (-)

Verb + not + to-infinitive; Verb + that + negative clause

Question (?)

Verb + if/whether clause (for reported questions)

💡 Different verbs take different patterns. Check verb patterns carefully.

Examples

✓She told me to wait.

✗She said me to wait.

Tell + object + to; say doesn't take object before 'to'.

✓He suggested going home.

✗He suggested to go home.

Suggest + -ing (not to + verb).

✓She admitted stealing it.

✗She admitted to steal it.

Admit + -ing.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Say + (that) clause: She said she was tired.
• Tell + person + (that) clause: She told me she was tired.
• Suggest/recommend + -ing: He suggested going out.
• Promise/offer/refuse + to: She promised to help.

reported-speech reported-questions-commands verb-patterns 📝 reported-speech-intermediate 📝 reporting-verbs-quiz

Reporting Verbs

Different ways to report: say, tell, ask, suggest, admit, promise, warn

intermediate

When to Use

•Say: report words. She said (that) she was tired.
•Tell: report to someone. She told me (that) she was tired.
•Ask: questions/requests. He asked if I was coming. She asked me to help.
•Suggest: recommendations. He suggested going out. She suggested that we leave.
•Promise/Warn/Admit: specific meanings. He promised to call. She warned me not to go.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Verb + (that) clause; Verb + object + to-infinitive; Verb + -ing

Negative (-)

Verb + not + to-infinitive; Verb + that + negative clause

Question (?)

Verb + if/whether clause (for reported questions)

💡 Different verbs take different patterns. Check verb patterns carefully.

Examples

✓She told me to wait.

✗She said me to wait.

Tell + object + to; say doesn't take object before 'to'.

✓He suggested going home.

✗He suggested to go home.

Suggest + -ing (not to + verb).

✓She admitted stealing it.

✗She admitted to steal it.

Admit + -ing.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Say + (that) clause: She said she was tired.
• Tell + person + (that) clause: She told me she was tired.
• Suggest/recommend + -ing: He suggested going out.
• Promise/offer/refuse + to: She promised to help.

reported-speech reported-questions-commands verb-patterns 📝 reported-speech-intermediate 📝 reporting-verbs-quiz

Reporting Verbs

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Reporting Verbs

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗She said me that...

✗He suggested to leave.

✗She promised coming.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗She said me that...

✗He suggested to leave.

✗She promised coming.

💡 Practice Tips

Related