Understanding Reporting Verbs in English

This lesson explores the use of reported speech in English, focusing on reporting verbs. It covers how to transform direct speech into reported speech using verbs followed by infinitives, gerunds, and 'that' clauses. The lesson provides examples and explains the structural changes involved in using these verbs to convey more detailed information.

What is a limitation of using 'say', 'tell', and 'ask' in reported speech?

• They are too formal.

• They lack detail about how something was said.

• They are not grammatically correct.

• They are only used in written English.

What is the purpose of using reporting verbs?

• To change the tense of the sentence.

• To make speech more formal.

• To add imagination and detail to reported speech.

• To make sentences shorter.

Which structure is used with the first set of reporting verbs?

• Subject + verb + gerund

• Subject + verb + that

• Subject + verb + past participle

• Subject + verb + to infinitive

How would you report the offer 'Could we buy your tickets for you?' using a reporting verb?

• They refused to buy my tickets.

• They promised to buy my tickets.

• They offered to buy my tickets.

• They suggested buying my tickets.

What is the reporting verb used for the direct speech 'I cannot and will not watch that movie again'?

• Offered

• Refused

• Suggested

• Promised

What form follows the reporting verb in the second set of structures?

• To infinitive

• Past participle

• Gerund

• Present participle

How would you report the suggestion 'Why don't we go to a cafe?' using a reporting verb?

• He offered to go to a cafe.

• He refused to go to a cafe.

• He promised to go to a cafe.

• He suggested going to a cafe.

What is the reporting verb used for the recommendation 'You really should listen to all the songs by this band'?

• Offered

• Recommended

• Promised

• Refused

Which structure is introduced in the third set of reporting verbs?

• Subject + verb + past participle

• Subject + verb + that

• Subject + verb + to infinitive

• Subject + verb + gerund

How would you report the explanation 'We can't take those bags' using a reporting verb?

• They suggested that we couldn't take the bags.

• They refused that we couldn't take the bags.

• They promised that we couldn't take the bags.

• They explained that we couldn't take the bags.