Level: intermediate
Reporting verbs with that clauses
When we want to report what people say or think, we can use a reporting verb and a clause with that:
He said that I had to see a doctor.
I thought that he was being silly.
We can leave out the word that:
He said I had to see a doctor.
I thought he was being silly.
These verbs have the pattern:
Noun + Verb + (that) + Clause
With some verbs, we can mention the hearer as the object of the verb:
She reminded him that it was time to go.
He told me he was a friend of yours.
These verbs have the pattern:
Noun + Verb + Noun + (that) + Clause
Reporting verbs with wh- and if clauses
Some reporting verbs introduce a wh- clause or an if clause:
She explained what we had to do.
I didn't know where to go.He asked if I was ready.
I wonder if they're at home.
These verbs have the pattern:
Noun + Verb + wh- word + Clause
or
Noun + Verb + if + Clause
With some verbs, we can mention the hearer as the object of the verb:
He told me what I had to do.
He asked them if they were ready.
These verbs have the pattern:
Noun + Verb + Noun + wh- word + Clause
or
Noun + Verb + Noun + if + Clause
- Reporting verbs 1
- Reporting verbs 2
Hello Ahmed Imam
As you suspected, that sentence is not idiomatic. I'd suggest 'that we wear' (or perhaps 'that we should wear', though I prefer the former) instead.
All the best
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello Ahmed Imam,
Suggest has more than one meaning. In my examples below I will change 'we' to 'they' for clarity, since certain meanings (speculation and uncertainty past events, for example) are hard to express about yourself.
When we want to make a proposal, we usually use the present subjunctive:
[Why don't you have a picnic?]
It is possible to use the past form. However, there is some ambiguity as to the the meaning of 'suggest'. It may have the same meaning as in the first example, but it can also meanssomething like 'offer an explanation':
[Why don't you have a picnic?]
or
[My explanation was that they must have had a picnic]
I hope that helps to clarify it for you.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi ihsan_qwerty,
There is no reason reported speech cannot be used in conversation. It depends entirely on what you are talking about and what you want to say.
YouTube is not an accredited school by any means. Remember that anyone can create a video and put it on the site, and make any claims they wish.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team