Say and tell are commonly used reporting verbs that have similar but distinct meanings. Say is used without an indirect object, as in "I said I'd meet my roommate at seven." Tell requires an indirect object indicating who was told, such as "Someone told my roommate that Joey wasn't coming." Reporting verbs beyond say and tell can provide important context about attitude and feelings. Verbs like argue, complain, point out, and others express perspective when used in reported speech, for example "My friend pointed out that I had forgotten to turn on the electricity." Wonder and want to know can report questions rather than statements.

1. Section A

2. In reported speech, two of the most common
reporting verbs are say and tell. They are similar in
meaning, but we use them in different ways. We
don’t usually include an indirect object with say.
For example:
I (that) I’d meet my roommate at seven.said
I (that) I was sorry.said
(NOT: I said Mary I was sorry.)
Someone he wasn’t coming.said
(NOT: Someone said me...)

3. With tell, we usually include an indirect object:
the hearer. For example:
Someone (that) I’d meet her at seven.told
(NOT: Someone told that Joey wasn’t coming.)
my roommate
I (that) I was sorry.told Mary
Someone (that) Joey wasn’t coming.told me

4. Section B

5. We can also use other reporting verbs. These verbs
can add important information about our attitude or
feelings. For example:
In a 2012 study, Smith
that long-term treatment was ineffective.
argued

6. that it’s too hot.He’s always complaining
My friend that I had
forgotten to turn on the electricity.
pointed out

7. admit
agree
Some verbs that can add important information
about our attitude or feelings are:
announce
answer
argue
claim
complain
confess
demand
explain
hint
joke
point out
propose
recall
repeat
reply
report
respond
shout
state
whisper

8. We may also use wonder or want to know to report a
question. For example:
The officials if they’d made a mistake.wondered
They what happened.wanted to know