Grammar: Using reported speech and reporting verbs

1. RUMOURS
(Reported speech & Reporting verbs)
B2, EOI CARTAGENA
Isabel Bastida & Ana Mena

2. 1. REPORTED SPEECH

3. 1. REPORTED SPEECH

4. 1. REPORTED SPEECH

5. CHECK WHAT YOU KNOW
Reproduce someone’s words applying the necessary changes to tenses, time
expressions, pronouns, determiners and expressions of place.
STATEMENTS She added that he had tricked her and she would make him
pay for that.
QUESTIONS The woman asked him if he thought they would be in love
forever.
FUNCTIONS Susie told him to make her happy or else.

6. TENSES

7. OTHER CHANGES
/ the previous day
/ the previous week
/ the day after

8. REPORTING VERBS
The most common reporting verbs are say,
tell and ask.
However, there are many others that can help
us be more precise in the information we
want to report.
These verbs take a variety of structures. Note
that some of them may take more than one
structure.

9. REPORTING VERBS
Verb+ object
+infinitive
verb + infinitive
verb (that)+
sentence
verb + gerund
verb + object +
Preposition+
gerund
Verb +
Preposition+
gerund
advise
ask
beg
consider
encourage
expect
invite
persuade
remind
request
warn
want
agree
claim
demand
decide
expect
guarantee
long
offer
promise
refuse
threaten
admit
agree
announce
answer
boast
claim
complain
decide
deny
explain
guarantee
insist
promise
reassure (sb)
recommend
remind (sb)
request
reply
shout
suggest
whisper
admit
deny
mention
recommend
regret
report
suggest
Accuse (of)
Blame (for)
Congratulate (on)
Thank (for)
Apologize for
Insist on
Jack encouraged me
to look for a new
job.
They invited all
their friends to
attend the
presentation.
She offered to
give him a lift to
work.
My brother
refused to take no
for an answer.
Tom admitted (that)
he had tried to leave
early.
She agreed (that) we
needed to reconsider
our plans.
He denied having
anything to do
with her.
Ken suggested
studying early in
the morning.
They accused the
boys of cheating on
the exam.
She blamed her
husband for missing
the train.
He apologized
for being late.
She insisted on
doing the
washing up.

10. REPORTING VERBS
IT IS TERRIBLE.WE CAN
HEAR THEM
SHOUTING FROM
ACROSS THE
STREET.
THE NEIGHBOURS
COMPLAINED THAT THEY
COULD HEAR THEM
SHOUTING FROM ACROSS
THE STREET

12. YOU HAVE BEEN
WASTING OUR
MONEY ON
COMPUTER
GAMES AGAIN.
MRS BRADLEY
ACCUSED HER
HUSBAND OF
WASTING
MONEY ON
COMPUTER
GAMES.

13. WE
DIDN’T
THROW
THE
CHAIR.
THEY
DENIED
THROWING
THE CHAIR

14. REMEMBER
THAT YOU HAVE
ALREADY HAD
TWO
WARNINGS
FROM THE
POLICE.
THE JUDGE
REMINDED THAT
THEY HAD ALREADY
HAD TWO
WARNINGS FROM
THE POLICE.

15. I THINK YOU
SHOULD SEE A
MARRIAGE
GUIDANCE
COUNSELLOR.
SHE ADVISED US
TO SEE / CONSULT
A MARRIAGE
COUNSELLOR.