Reported speech: reporting verbs

Do you know how to tell someone what another person said using reporting verbs? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how reporting verbs are used.

direct speech: 'You should come, it's going to be a lot of fun,' she said.
indirect speech: She persuaded me to come.

direct speech: 'Wait here,' he said.
indirect speech: He told us to wait there.

direct speech: 'It wasn't me who finished the coffee,' he said.
indirect speech: He denied finishing the coffee.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1: Reported speech 3 – reporting verbs: 1

Grammar explanation

When we tell someone what another person said, we often use the verbs say, tell or ask. These are called 'reporting verbs'. However, we can also use other reporting verbs. Many reporting verbs can be followed by another verb in either an infinitive or an -ing form.

Reporting verb + infinitive

Verbs like advise, agree, challenge, claim, decide, demand, encourage, invite, offer, persuade, promise, refuse and remind can follow an infinitive pattern.

'Let's see. I'll have the risotto, please.'

He decided to have the risotto.

'I'll do the report by Friday, for sure.'

She promised to do the report by Friday.

'It's not a good idea to write your passwords down.'

They advised us not to write our passwords down.

We can also use an infinitive to report imperatives, with a reporting verb like tell, order, instruct, direct or warn.

'Please wait for me in reception.'

The guide told us to wait for her in reception.

'Don't go in there!'

The police officer warned us not to go in there.

**Reporting verb + -ing form**

Verbs like admit, apologise for, complain about, deny, insist on, mention and suggest can follow an -ing form pattern.

'I broke the window.'

She admitted breaking the window.

'I'm really sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.'

He apologised for not getting back to me sooner.

'Let's take a break.'

She suggested taking a break.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2: Reported speech 3 – reporting verbs: 2

Try another grammar lesson

Language level

B1 Intermediate

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Hello ngoc.mai.mindfulness,

It can be difficult to give enough context to fully explain the choice of a verb tense, and often textbooks choose simpler explanations because more complex ones can be more confusing. I'm not sure if that's the case here or not, but this sort of thing is not at all uncommon.

Part of what's confusing for me is the word 'missed' in 'My mom didn't like it at first, but she never missed a game now'. I'd expect 'misses' there, because of the word 'now'. Perhaps that is an error in the book, or perhaps it's intended, but I think most of the time 'misses' would be the best form there. If that's what the direct speech is, then for the indirect I'd say 'Holly said that her mother hadn't liked/didn't like watching soccer at first, but that now she never misses a game' (either form would be OK though in more formal situations the past perfect is better).

Anyway, I hope that helps. It sounds to me as if you're making good choices in what you're teaching. Well done!

All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team

Hello Kirk Moore,

I'm so sorry for my mistake, the direct speech is "My mom didn't like it at first, but she never misses a game now".
And the answer the book gives me for the indirect speech "Holly explained that her mom didn't like it at first, but then she never missed a game".

Thanks for reminding me for "missed", and your help as well.
Kind regards,
Mai

I read a grammar book which tells that 'come' will be changed into 'go' in reported speech, and I am confused because of that. Could you please explain that to me?

Hi MayJane123,

I can't be sure but I guess the book imagines the speaker of the reported speech and the original speaker are in different places.

For example, imagine that my boss at work says "Come with me". Then later that day, I go home and I tell my family, using reported speech: "My boss told me to go with her". We can change "come" to "go" because I'm no longer in the office (i.e., the place where my boss said that to me).

Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team

In the explanation 2 sets of reporting verbs have been used, 1 w/ infinitive and the other w/ -ing form. I need to understand how to categorize between 2 sets. Appreciate any help.

Hello abhijithhr,

These are verb patterns which really just need to be memorised. There's no rule which allows you to identify on sight which verb is in which category, and there's no rule of meaning to identify them either. These are just categories to memorise.

Peter
The LearnEnglish Team

"I'll be more careful" said Daniel. 1)Daniel said that he would be more careful. 2)Daniel promised to be more careful. What is the difference between 1 and 2.

Hello DaniWeebKage,

I think promise has a stronger meaning in terms of obligation. You are not just reporting the speech but adding a layer of interpretation. If you use the term promise then there is no question of Daniel speaking ironically or joking, for example; it makes it clear that his words should be taken seriously.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hola Yolanda,

I'm afraid that's not correct. There are lots of good examples of how 'talk' can be used in the Longman Dictionary entry -- just thought I'd mention this in case it's helpful.

All the best,

Kirk