Learning English

The grammar of reporting verbs

Knowing how to use reporting verbs correctly in a sentence is important. In our examples so far, you may have noticed that some verbs are followed by 'that' + clause, some are followed by verb-ing (a gerund), and some are followed by a preposition.

We're now going to look at what comes after reporting verbs. Some verbs appear more than once because they can be used in different ways.

1) Reporting verb + 'that' + clause: admit, deny, insist, suggest.

• He admitted that he was mean.
• The suspect denied that he was at the scene of the crime.
• We insist that you join us for dinner. 
• I suggest that you arrive early.

Note: People often leave out the that in spoken English. The meaning is the same:

• I suggest you arrive early.
• We insist you join us for dinner.

2) Reporting verb + verb-ing: deny, suggest

• Lucia denied meeting the businessman last week.
• Mark suggested buying stocks in the IT firm.

3) Reporting verb + preposition + verb-ing: apologise, insist

• She apologised for forgetting my birthday.
• We insisted on sharing the cost of the meal

Note: You can also apologise to someone (apologise + to + object)

• Baz apologised to Lucia for forgetting her birthday.

4) Reporting verb + 'to' + infinitive: demand, offer

• Barry demanded to know the answer.
• Brutus offered to pay for the damage.

5) Reporting verb + indirect object + infinitive: advise

• I advised him to apply.

6) Reporting verb + indirect object + 'that' + clause: advise

• I advised him that he should apply.

Read the text and complete the activity

To do

First, read this short story. Then you're going to use reporting verbs to make sentences about it. As we said, people don't always say the that before a clause, but in this game you need to include that to show you understand the full form. And as you can see, the verbs advise, insist, deny, suggest and apologise, can be followed by different words. In questions with one of these verbs, the words you are given will allow you to make only one correct form.

The story

Lucian and Martina were deeply in love, but they argued a lot. Martina was unhappy because Lucian never arrived anywhere on time, and because he never said sorry. Lucian thought Martina should be more generous and buy him presents. Martina disagreed. A friend said they should separate for a short time. Neither of them wanted to, but they did in the end. After a week apart, they got back together and started arguing again.

End of Session 1

Well done. If you'd like to practise these again, we suggest you go back to Activity 1 and listen to 6 Minute Vocabulary! If not, we'll see you in Session 2.