Reporting Verbs and Gerunds

Reporting Verbs for in-text citations (from lesson 12.2 in Canvas/LMS)

By Barney Sinclair

In academic writing, the verb you choose often affects what comes next:

• Some reporting verbs are followed by a noun or “that” clause
  e.g. Smith argues that students need better feedback.

• Other verbs are followed by an –ing form
  e.g. Jones suggests studying in short bursts.

💡 Tip:
If you're reporting a fact, opinion, or claim, you’ll likely use that.
If you're reporting an action, idea, or process, you’ll likely use -ing.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is most appropriate in formal academic writing?

• Smith suggests that students study harder.

• Smith suggests students to study harder.

• Smith suggests students study harder.

• Smith suggests study harder.

​ Correct Answer: A

Explanation: “Suggest” is best followed by that + subject + verb or a gerund. In formal academic writing, “suggests that students study…” is preferred. “Suggest students to…” is grammatically incorrect.

Multiple Choice

Which verb is not typically followed by a “that”-clause in academic writing?

• Proposes

• Claims

• Avoids

​Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Avoids is followed by a gerund (e.g. avoids using mobile phones in class), not a that-clause.
In contrast, proposes and claims are commonly followed by that-clauses.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a gerund (-ing form):

• Jones recommends to exercise daily.

• Jones recommends exercising daily.

• Jones recommends that exercise.

• Jones recommends exercise daily.

​Correct Answer: B

Explanation: “Recommend” should be followed by a gerund (e.g. exercising), not an infinitive (to exercise).
A that-clause is also possible: recommends that students exercise.

Multiple Choice

Which verb is most likely followed by a gerund (-ing form) and not usually followed by a “that”-clause?

• Agrees

• Questions

• Recommends

• Avoids

​Correct Answer: D

Explanation: Avoids is followed by a gerund (avoids using phones) and not by a that-clause.
In contrast, recommends can be followed by either a gerund or a that-clause.

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence with the correct linking word:
Boynton (1982) warns the reader _____ chocolate is too weak.

• as

• what

• that

• for

​Correct Answer: C

Explanation: “Warn” is commonly followed by a that-clause when reporting what someone warned.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence correctly uses the verb “define” in academic writing style?

• Hanks defines that idioms are strange.

• Hanks defines an idiom as an unusual phrase.

• Hanks defines idioms are strange.

• Hanks defines idioms for strange phrases.

​Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The verb define is correctly used with a noun + as + definition structure, e.g. defines X as Y. It is not followed by a that-clause or bare statement.
*A bare statement = A grammatically incomplete or informal clause that misses required connectors like "that" or "as" after a reporting verb.

Multiple Choice

What is grammatically incorrect in the following sentence?
Smith agrees students to study longer.

• The reporting verb is incorrect.

• “To study” is the wrong form.

• “Students” should be removed.

• It's too formal.

​Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The verb agrees is not followed by an infinitive (to study). Instead, it requires a that-clause in academic writing.
✔ Correct version: Smith agrees that students should study longer.
❌ Incorrect: Smith agrees students to study...

Multiple Choice

Which verb is most commonly used to introduce a factual statement with a “that”-clause?

• States

• Recommends

• Advises

• Avoids

​Correct Answer: A

Explanation: States is frequently used to introduce factual or neutral claims using that-clauses in academic writing, e.g. states that more research is needed.
Although recommends and advises can also take that-clauses, they are more often used to express suggestions or advice — not straightforward factual reporting.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses the reporting verb “proposes” most appropriately?

• The author proposes that further research.

• The author proposes research.

• The author proposes to further research.

• The author proposes that further research is needed.

​Correct Answer: D

Explanation: Proposes should be followed by a full that-clause. Proposes research is grammatically fine but too vague.
D provides a clear, complete academic statement: proposes that further research is needed.

Multiple Choice

Which reporting verb can be followed by both a “that-clause” and a gerund?

• Claims

• Agrees

• Suggests

• Explains

​Correct Answer: C

Explanation: “Suggests” is flexible—it can be followed by a gerund (suggests studying) or a that-clause (suggests that students study).