Reporting verbs
Use verbs like suggest, advise, remind to report more precisely.
Use verbs like suggest, advise, remind to report more precisely.
Unit 58 – Reporting verbs (B2)
Introduction
When we report what someone said, we often rely on a small set of verbs such as say and tell. At B2 level, however, effective communication depends on precision. Reporting verbs allow you to show the speaker’s intention: giving advice, making a promise, offering help, warning someone, or denying responsibility. This unit will help you report messages more accurately and sound more professional and natural in both spoken and written English.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: (1) choose accurate reporting verbs (e.g., suggest, advise, remind, warn, promise, refuse, deny), (2) use the most common grammar patterns after reporting verbs, and (3) avoid frequent errors with verb forms and prepositions when reporting speech.
1) Why reporting verbs matter
Imagine two summaries of the same conversation:
A) She said I should take a break.
B) She advised me to take a break.
Both are correct, but version B communicates the relationship and intention more clearly: it sounds like guidance, not just information. Reporting verbs are not “advanced vocabulary for decoration”; they are tools for meaning.
Important concept
A reporting verb often tells you what kind of speech act happened: advice, suggestion, warning, apology, refusal, admission, etc. The grammar pattern that follows depends on the verb.
2) Core patterns you must control
Reporting verbs typically follow one of these patterns. The key is to learn the verb together with its structure.
2.1 Verb + (that) + clause
Common verbs: admit, agree, announce, claim, complain, confirm, deny, explain, insist, promise, recommend, regret, suggest.
Examples:
He admitted (that) he had made a mistake.
They denied (that) they had leaked the information.
She insisted (that) she was telling the truth.
I suggested (that) we (should) leave early.
2.2 Verb + object + to-infinitive
Common verbs: advise, encourage, invite, persuade, remind, warn.
Examples:
She advised me to speak to the manager.
They reminded us to submit the form by Friday.
The doctor warned him not to drive for 24 hours.
2.3 Verb + -ing form
Common verbs: admit, deny, recommend, suggest.
Examples:
He denied taking the documents.
I suggested meeting after work.
They recommended visiting the museum early.
2.4 Verb + object + preposition + -ing
Common verbs: accuse (of), blame (for), congratulate (on), criticise (for), apologise (for), thank (for).
Examples:
She accused him of lying.
They congratulated us on winning the contract.
He apologised for arriving late.
3) Focus verbs: suggest, advise, remind
3.1 Suggest
Suggest is used when you propose an idea. It does not mean “tell someone what to do” with authority; it is often collaborative.
Correct patterns:
suggest + -ing: She suggested taking a taxi.
suggest + that + clause: She suggested (that) we (should) take a taxi.
Warning
Avoid: “She suggested me to take a taxi.” This pattern is not standard. Use suggested that I (should) take or suggested taking.
3.2 Advise
Advise is stronger than suggest. It implies expertise, responsibility, or genuine concern.
Correct patterns:
advise + object + to-infinitive: The lawyer advised him to remain silent.
advise + that + clause (more formal): The lawyer advised that he (should) remain silent.
3.3 Remind
Remind brings something back to someone’s attention. It often refers to duties, deadlines, or previously known information.
Correct patterns:
remind + object + to-infinitive: Please remind me to call her.
remind + object + that + clause: He reminded us that the meeting started at 9.
4) Meaning contrasts: choose the right verb
At B2, accuracy is not only grammar; it is also choosing the verb that matches the intention.
recommend (strong suggestion, often based on experience): The guide recommended visiting at sunset.
urge (strong pressure, often because it is important): They urged us to leave immediately.
warn (danger or negative consequence): She warned me not to trust him.
refuse (say “no”): He refused to apologise.
promise (commitment): She promised to call the next day.
admit (accept responsibility or truth): He admitted that he had lied.
deny (say something is not true): He denied that he had lied.
5) Mini toolkit: reporting with precision
When you report, ask yourself:
1) Was it advice, a suggestion, a warning, a promise, a refusal, or an admission?
2) Does the verb require that + clause, object + to-infinitive, -ing, or a preposition + -ing structure?
3) Do you need to show responsibility or emotion (e.g., apologise for, congratulate on)?
Practice
Practice section
Rewrite each sentence using the reporting verb in brackets. Keep the meaning as close as possible.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) “Let’s take a short break,” Marta said. (suggest) | Marta suggested taking a short break. |
| 2) “You should back up your files regularly,” the IT manager told us. (advise) | The IT manager advised us to back up our files regularly. |
| 3) “Don’t forget to lock the door,” my flatmate said to me. (remind) | My flatmate reminded me to lock the door. |
| 4) “I didn’t break the vase,” he said. (deny) | He denied breaking the vase. |
| 5) “Yes, I took the wrong train,” she said. (admit) | She admitted that she had taken the wrong train. |
| 6) “If you touch that wire, you might get a shock,” the electrician said. (warn) | The electrician warned us that we might get a shock if we touched that wire. |
| 7) “I’ll send you the report by 5 p.m.,” Daniel said. (promise) | Daniel promised to send me the report by 5 p.m. |
| 8) “I’m sorry I spoke so abruptly,” she said. (apologise for) | She apologised for speaking so abruptly. |
| 9) “You won the scholarship—well done!” the teacher told her. (congratulate on) | The teacher congratulated her on winning the scholarship. |
| 10) “You must not share your password with anyone,” the trainer told the new staff. (insist) | The trainer insisted that the new staff must not share their passwords with anyone. |
Unit 58 – Reporting verbs (B2)
Introduction
When we report what someone said, we often rely on a small set of verbs such as say and tell. At B2 level, however, effective communication depends on precision. Reporting verbs allow you to show the speaker’s intention: giving advice, making a promise, offering help, warning someone, or denying responsibility. This unit will help you report messages more accurately and sound more professional and natural in both spoken and written English.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: (1) choose accurate reporting verbs (e.g., suggest, advise, remind, warn, promise, refuse, deny), (2) use the most common grammar patterns after reporting verbs, and (3) avoid frequent errors with verb forms and prepositions when reporting speech.
1) Why reporting verbs matter
Imagine two summaries of the same conversation:
A) She said I should take a break.
B) She advised me to take a break.
Both are correct, but version B communicates the relationship and intention more clearly: it sounds like guidance, not just information. Reporting verbs are not “advanced vocabulary for decoration”; they are tools for meaning.
Important concept
A reporting verb often tells you what kind of speech act happened: advice, suggestion, warning, apology, refusal, admission, etc. The grammar pattern that follows depends on the verb.
2) Core patterns you must control
Reporting verbs typically follow one of these patterns. The key is to learn the verb together with its structure.
2.1 Verb + (that) + clause
Common verbs: admit, agree, announce, claim, complain, confirm, deny, explain, insist, promise, recommend, regret, suggest.
Examples:
He admitted (that) he had made a mistake.
They denied (that) they had leaked the information.
She insisted (that) she was telling the truth.
I suggested (that) we (should) leave early.
2.2 Verb + object + to-infinitive
Common verbs: advise, encourage, invite, persuade, remind, warn.
Examples:
She advised me to speak to the manager.
They reminded us to submit the form by Friday.
The doctor warned him not to drive for 24 hours.
2.3 Verb + -ing form
Common verbs: admit, deny, recommend, suggest.
Examples:
He denied taking the documents.
I suggested meeting after work.
They recommended visiting the museum early.
2.4 Verb + object + preposition + -ing
Common verbs: accuse (of), blame (for), congratulate (on), criticise (for), apologise (for), thank (for).
Examples:
She accused him of lying.
They congratulated us on winning the contract.
He apologised for arriving late.
3) Focus verbs: suggest, advise, remind
3.1 Suggest
Suggest is used when you propose an idea. It does not mean “tell someone what to do” with authority; it is often collaborative.
Correct patterns:
suggest + -ing: She suggested taking a taxi.
suggest + that + clause: She suggested (that) we (should) take a taxi.
Warning
Avoid: “She suggested me to take a taxi.” This pattern is not standard. Use suggested that I (should) take or suggested taking.
3.2 Advise
Advise is stronger than suggest. It implies expertise, responsibility, or genuine concern.
Correct patterns:
advise + object + to-infinitive: The lawyer advised him to remain silent.
advise + that + clause (more formal): The lawyer advised that he (should) remain silent.
3.3 Remind
Remind brings something back to someone’s attention. It often refers to duties, deadlines, or previously known information.
Correct patterns:
remind + object + to-infinitive: Please remind me to call her.
remind + object + that + clause: He reminded us that the meeting started at 9.
4) Meaning contrasts: choose the right verb
At B2, accuracy is not only grammar; it is also choosing the verb that matches the intention.
recommend (strong suggestion, often based on experience): The guide recommended visiting at sunset.
urge (strong pressure, often because it is important): They urged us to leave immediately.
warn (danger or negative consequence): She warned me not to trust him.
refuse (say “no”): He refused to apologise.
promise (commitment): She promised to call the next day.
admit (accept responsibility or truth): He admitted that he had lied.
deny (say something is not true): He denied that he had lied.
5) Mini toolkit: reporting with precision
When you report, ask yourself:
1) Was it advice, a suggestion, a warning, a promise, a refusal, or an admission?
2) Does the verb require that + clause, object + to-infinitive, -ing, or a preposition + -ing structure?
3) Do you need to show responsibility or emotion (e.g., apologise for, congratulate on)?
Practice
Practice section
Rewrite each sentence using the reporting verb in brackets. Keep the meaning as close as possible.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) “Let’s take a short break,” Marta said. (suggest) | Marta suggested taking a short break. |
| 2) “You should back up your files regularly,” the IT manager told us. (advise) | The IT manager advised us to back up our files regularly. |
| 3) “Don’t forget to lock the door,” my flatmate said to me. (remind) | My flatmate reminded me to lock the door. |
| 4) “I didn’t break the vase,” he said. (deny) | He denied breaking the vase. |
| 5) “Yes, I took the wrong train,” she said. (admit) | She admitted that she had taken the wrong train. |
| 6) “If you touch that wire, you might get a shock,” the electrician said. (warn) | The electrician warned us that we might get a shock if we touched that wire. |
| 7) “I’ll send you the report by 5 p.m.,” Daniel said. (promise) | Daniel promised to send me the report by 5 p.m. |
| 8) “I’m sorry I spoke so abruptly,” she said. (apologise for) | She apologised for speaking so abruptly. |
| 9) “You won the scholarship—well done!” the teacher told her. (congratulate on) | The teacher congratulated her on winning the scholarship. |
| 10) “You must not share your password with anyone,” the trainer told the new staff. (insist) | The trainer insisted that the new staff must not share their passwords with anyone. |
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