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1 Reporting Verbs and Their Functions Key

The document discusses different verb patterns used for reporting speech and verbs commonly used for each pattern. It provides examples of reporting verbs and sample sentences showing how to transform direct speech into reported speech using these verbs. It then provides a key with reporting verbs to use to transform a series of direct speech sentences into reported speech.

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clarasatoka
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185 views

1 Reporting Verbs and Their Functions Key

The document discusses different verb patterns used for reporting speech and verbs commonly used for each pattern. It provides examples of reporting verbs and sample sentences showing how to transform direct speech into reported speech using these verbs. It then provides a key with reporting verbs to use to transform a series of direct speech sentences into reported speech.

Uploaded by

clarasatoka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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REPORTING VERBS 

Verb pattern 1:
Reporting verb + object +inf. Verb
Examples of verbs:
TELL/ REMIND/ FORBID/ PERSUADE/ WARN/ ORDER/ COMMAND/ INVITE/
ENCOURAGE/ URGE/ BEG

“You should give up smoking.”


Michael ENCOURAGED his sister to give up smoking

Verb pattern 2:
Reporting verb + inf. Verb
Examples of verbs:
REFUSE/ THREATEN/ PROMISE/ WANT/ WISH/ OFFER

“Shall I take you to the station?”


She OFFERED to take me to the station.

Verb pattern 3:
Reporting verb + that + subject + verb
Examples of verbs:
COMPLAIN/ DOUBT/ DENY/ ADMIT/ EXCLAIM/ HOPE/ THINK/ EXPECT/
FEEL/ ADD/ POINT OUT/ AGREE/ REPLY/ ANSWER

*that is sometimes omitted with common reporting verbs – sometimes that cannot be
dropped after certain verbs e.g. reply, shout
“The Queen will be arriving on Tuesday.”
He THOUGHT (that) the Queen would be arriving the following Tuesday/that
Tuesday.

Verb pattern 4:
Reporting verb + preposition + ing + verb
Examples of verbs:
APOLOGISE FOR/ CONGRATULATE SOMEONE ON/ THANK SOMEONE
FOR/ ACCUSE SOMEONE OF

“You stole the money!”


They ACCUSED HIM OF stealing the money.
Transform the following sentences from direct speech into reported speech. Instead 
of say or tell use suitable reporting verbs from the box.

deny suggest promise doubt invite


warn advise threaten  refuse persuade
admit complain offer remind announce

e.g.   ‘You really should give up smoking, Roger,’ said Chris.
Chris advised  Roger to give up smoking.

‘How about going to the Lake District for the weekend?’ said Marta

‘I’m not sure if I can come to the party,’ said Raymond.

‘We’re getting married next year,’ said Marilyn.

 ‘Oh come on, Bill! Come for a swim with us!’ said Charlie (and Bill went)

‘I didn’t kill Terry Morton!’ said Sid.

‘Don’t forget to pay the phone bill, Norman,’ said Grace.

‘I really will clean the car tomorrow,’ said David.

‘The food is disgusting!’ said Walter.

‘Yes, it’s true: I have been rather careless,’ said Perry.

‘If you touch my bike again, I’ll punch you on the nose!’ said Roy.

‘Don’t touch these wires!’ said Antony.

‘I won’t lend you any money!’ said Maggie.

‘Shall I bring you a cup of tea?’ said Gordon.

‘Would you like to come round for lunch on Sunday?’ said Geraldine.
KEY:

‘How about going to the Lake District for the weekend?’ said Marta
Martha suggested going /that they went to the Lake District for the weekend.

‘I’m not sure if I can come to the party,’ said Raymond.
Raymond doubted that he could go to the party.

‘We’re getting married next year,’ said Marilyn.
Marilyn announced that they were getting married the following year.

‘Oh come on, Bill! Come for a swim with us!’ said Charlie (and Bill went)
Charlie persuaded Bill to go for a swim with them.

‘I didn’t kill Terry Morton!’ said Sid.
Sid denied killing/having killed Terry Morton.

‘Don’t forget to pay the phone bill, Norman,’ said Grace.
Grace reminded Norman to pay the phone bill.

‘I really will clean the car tomorrow,’ said David.
David promised to clean the car the next day.

‘The food is disgusting!’ said Walter.
Walter complained that the food was disgusting.
(Walter complained about the disgusting food.)

‘Yes, it’s true: I have been rather careless,’ said Perry.
Perry admitted that he had been rather careless/Perry admitted to having been …)

‘If you touch my bike again, I’ll punch you on the nose!’ said Roy.
Roy threatened to punch Martin on the nose if he touched his bike again.

‘Don’t touch these wires!’ said Antony.
Antony warned me not to touch the/those wires.

‘I won’t lend you any money!’ said Maggie.
Maggie refused to lend her sister any money

‘Shall I bring you a cup of tea?’ said Gordon.
Gordon offered to bring me a cup of tea.

‘Would you like to come round for lunch on Sunday?’ said Geraldine.
Geraldine invited her parents round to Sunday lunch/lunch the following Sunday.

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