Using a variety of reporting verbs makes your English sound more natural, precise, and advanced. Here are some of the most common reporting verbs, grouped by function, with clear examples and key grammar patterns.
1. Reporting Verbs by Function
🔹 Statements (neutral / factual)
said, told, explained, stated, mentioned, added
Use these when simply reporting information.
He said that he was tired.
She explained that the problem was difficult.
They mentioned that they were leaving early.
🔹 Agreement / Disagreement
agreed, disagreed, refused
These verbs show whether someone accepts or rejects something.
He agreed to help me.
She refused to answer the question.
They disagreed with the decision.
🔹 Truth / Lies / Responsibility
admitted, denied, confessed
Use these when talking about honesty, guilt, or responsibility.
He admitted stealing the money.
She denied breaking the window.
He confessed to lying.
👉 These verbs are especially important because they often use -ing forms: admitted doing · denied doing · confessed to doing
🔹 Opinions / Feelings
claimed, insisted, argued, complained
These verbs express opinions, arguments, or complaints.
He claimed that he was innocent.
She insisted that she was right.
They complained about the noise.
🔹 Promises / Decisions
promised, offered, decided
Use these for intentions, plans, and decisions.
He promised to call me.
She offered to help.
They decided to leave early.
👉 These usually follow verb + to-infinitive.
🔹 Orders / Requests (extra variety)
begged, warned, reminded, encouraged
These verbs add nuance to commands and requests.
She begged him to stay.
He warned us not to go there.
She reminded me to call her.
They encouraged us to try again.
2. Key Patterns (Very Important)
Here is a quick summary you can use as a reference:
Verb Type
Structure
Example
admit / deny
verb + -ing
He admitted stealing the money.
promise / offer
verb + to-infinitive
She offered to help.
suggest / recommend
-ing OR that + clause
He suggested going. / He suggested that we should go.
tell / order
object + to-infinitive
He told me to wait.
say / claim
that + clause
She said that she was tired.
Quick tip: if you learn the verb together with its pattern, reported speech becomes much easier. For example, do not just learn admit — learn admit + -ing.
Change each suggestion into reported speech. Use structures like suggest + -ing or suggest/advise/recommend + that + subject + (should). Pay attention to time, place, demonstratives, and possessives.
Shifts: now → then | today → that day | tomorrow → the next day | here → there | this → that | these → those | my → his/her | our → their
1
She suggested: “Let’s start this project today.”
She suggested starting that project that day. / She suggested that we should start that project that day.
2
He recommended: “Let’s meet here tomorrow.”
He recommended meeting there the next day. / He recommended that we should meet there the next day.
3
The teacher advised us: “Let’s review these exercises now.”
The teacher advised us to review those exercises then.
4
She proposed: “Let’s finish our homework tonight.”
She proposed finishing their homework that night.
5
He suggested to me: “Let’s visit this place today.”
He suggested visiting that place that day.
6
They recommended: “Let’s bring these documents tomorrow.”
They recommended bringing those documents the next day. / They recommended that we should bring those documents the next day.
7
My friend advised me: “Let’s study here now.”
My friend advised me to study there then.
8
The guide suggested: “Let’s take this route today.”
The guide suggested taking that route that day. / The guide suggested that we should take that route that day.
9
She recommended: “Let’s use our notes tomorrow.”
She recommended using their notes the next day. / She recommended that we should use their notes the next day.
10
He proposed: “Let’s solve these problems now.”
He proposed solving those problems then. / He proposed that we should solve those problems then.
11
She suggested: “Let’s not go there today.”
She suggested not going there that day. / She suggested that we should not go there that day.
12
He recommended: “Let’s not use these tools now.”
He recommended not using those tools then. / He recommended that we should not use those tools then.
13
The teacher advised us: “Let’s not forget our homework tomorrow.”
The teacher advised us not to forget their homework the next day. / The teacher advised that we should not forget our homework the next day.
Transform into reported speech. Pay attention to time expressions AND reference words (here → there, this → that, these → those).
Tip:
now → then | today → that day | tomorrow → the next day | here → there | this → that | these → those
my → his/her | your → my/his/her | our → their
1
The teacher instructed the students: “Open these books now.”
The teacher instructed the students to open those books then.
2
Her mother ordered her: “Clean this room today.”
Her mother ordered her to clean that room that day.
3
The doctor advised me: “Take this medicine tomorrow.”
The doctor advised me to take that medicine the next day.
4
The coach urged the players: “Run faster here now.”
The coach urged the players to run faster there then.
5
The boss commanded us: “Finish this report today.”
The boss commanded us to finish that report that day.
6
The police officer ordered the driver: “Stop this car here.”
The police officer ordered the driver to stop that car there.
7
She told me: “Wait here now.”
She told me to wait there then.
8
The librarian reminded the children: “Read these books today.”
The librarian reminded the children to read those books that day.
9
The manager instructed the staff: “Wear these badges tomorrow.”
The manager instructed the staff to wear those badges the next day.
10
My father told me: “Turn off these lights tonight.”
My father told me to turn off those lights that night.
11
The teacher warned us: “Don’t use these phones today.”
The teacher warned us not to use those phones that day.
12
My mother forbade me: “Don’t touch this stove now.”
My mother forbade me to touch that stove then.
13
The sign warned visitors: “Do not feed these animals here.”
The sign warned visitors not to feed those animals there.
14
The officer commanded them: “Don’t stand here now.”
The officer commanded them not to stand there then.
15
She advised him: “Don’t forget this tomorrow.”
She advised him not to forget that the next day.
16
The guide instructed us: “Follow me here.”
The guide instructed us to follow him there.
17
The dentist told the patient: “Use this tool now.”
The dentist told the patient to use that tool then.
18
My friend reminded me: “Bring these documents tonight.”
My friend reminded me to bring those documents that night.
19
The captain ordered the soldiers: “Stay here today.”
The captain ordered the soldiers to stay there that day.
20
The receptionist asked the guests: “Sign these forms here today.”
The receptionist asked the guests to sign those forms there that day.
Change each direct question into indirect speech. Each sentence already gives you the subject and reporting verb. Click Show Answer when you want to check your response.
1
He wondered: “Where did you go yesterday?”
He wondered where I had gone the day before.
2
She checked: “Is she at home?”
She checked if she was at home.
3
He wanted to know: “Why are they shouting?”
He wanted to know why they were shouting.
4
She inquired: “Did you finish your homework?”
She inquired whether I had finished my homework.
5
He asked: “What time does the train leave?”
He asked what time the train left.
6
She wondered: “Where is he working now?”
She wondered where he was working then.
7
He checked: “Are you feeling better?”
He checked if I was feeling better.
8
She wanted to know: “Why did he call you?”
She wanted to know why he had called me.
9
He inquired: “Did they understand the instructions?”
He inquired whether they had understood the instructions.
10
She asked: “What are you watching?”
She asked what I was watching.
11
He wondered: “Where have you been all day?”
He wondered where I had been all day.
12
She checked: “Is the door locked?”
She checked if the door was locked.
13
He wanted to know: “Why is she upset?”
He wanted to know why she was upset.
14
She inquired: “Did you buy the tickets?”
She inquired whether I had bought the tickets.
15
He asked: “What time will they arrive?”
He asked what time they would arrive.
16
She wondered: “Where can I find a taxi?”
She wondered where she could find a taxi.
17
He checked: “Is everything ready?”
He checked if everything was ready.
18
She wanted to know: “Why were they arguing?”
She wanted to know why they were arguing.
19
He inquired: “Did he send the email?”
He inquired whether he had sent the email.
20
She asked: “What does this word mean?”
She asked what that word meant.
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