The document provides examples of reporting verbs used to report speech and actions indirectly, including accused, advised, apologized, begged, blamed, complained, congratulated, criticized, denied, offered, promised, proposed, recommended, reminded, suggested, threatened, warned. These reporting verbs are used to report what someone said or did in a more objective way than using direct speech.

1. Reporting verbs

2. • You did it! You took the last cookie from the
cookie jar!
• She accused me of taking the last cookie from
the cookie jar.

3. • You did really well in the test. I’m proud of
you, son.
• Mom praised me for doing well in my maths
test.

4. • You’d better not go there. It’s dangerous.
• They advised/warned me not to go there.

5. • I’ll do it first thing tomorrow.
• He promised to do it next thing tomorrow.

6. • You really should see a doctor. It might be
something serious.
• She advised me/tried to persuade me to see a
doctor.

7. • Why don’t we go to the movies?
• He suggested going to the movies.

8. • I really must leave now.
• She insisted on leaving.

9. • I won’t go in there. I hate caves.
• She refused to go inside the cave.

10. • You’ve got the wrong guy. I didn’t kill her!
• He denied killing her.

11. • Please, please, teacher, don’t tell my mom!
• The pupil begged the teacher not to tell his
mom.

12. • Can’t you learn anything, man? You’ve made
a terrible mistake. Again.
• He criticized his friend for making the same
mistake again.

13. • I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening.
• He apologized for not listening to the teacher.

14. • Say that again and I’ll shoot you!
• The robber threatened to shoot me.

15. • Will you please, put the kettle on, hon?
• I asked my husband to put the kettle on.

16. • Let me carry those bags for you, ma’am.
• He offered to carry some heavy bags for his
elderly neighbour.

17. • Yes, I did it. It was me who took the money.
• She admitted to taking the money.

18. • You really must read the Adrian Mole series.
It’s hilarious.
• Our English teacher recommended the Adrian
Mole series to us.

19. • It’s all your fault! You wanted us to go there!
• He blamed his girlfriend for the accident.

20. • Yeah, you are totally right. Let’s stay in
tonight.
• He agreed to stay in that night.

21. • What took you so long? I’ve been waiting for
an hour!
• She complained about her boyfriend arriving
late.

22. • Good job, son! I knew you’d pass the test this
time.
• Dad congratulated me on passing my driving
test.

23. • Will you have dinner with me tonight?
• He invited me to dinner tonight.

24. • Don’t forget to feed the dog before you
leave.
• Mom reminded me to feed the dog.

25. • Hey, watch out! It’s slippery in here. I’ve just
mopped the floor.
• She warned me about the floor being slippery.

26. • Kate, will you marry me?
• Kate’s boyfriend proposed to her.

27. • You’ve got goose bumps. Shall I get you a
blanket?
• He offered to get me a blanket.