Reporting Verbs - Adult ESL Resources

Beyond say and tell

Each reporting verb carries its own pattern and its own meaning.

A reporting verb introduces retold speech. Beyond the everyday verbs say and tell, many other verbs are used to introduce reported speech, each following its own grammatical pattern and adding its own shade of meaning.

In She admitted that she had forgotten., He offered to help. and They denied taking the money., each reporting verb follows a different structure, and each implies something different about how the original speaker felt, whether reluctant, willing, or defensive.

This lesson groups reporting verbs by the pattern they follow, then looks at how the choice between them shapes meaning.

Before you begin

This is one of ten topics on reported speech.

This lesson focuses on reporting verbs specifically. Reported speech as a whole includes nine other topics, each covered in its own lesson.

If you would like an overview of reported speech in general, begin with the Reported Speech page.

Reported Speech

The central idea

The choice of verb adds meaning that “said” leaves out.

Compare a neutral reporting verb with one that adds a specific shade of meaning.

Neutral

She said she had forgotten.

With added meaning

She admitted she had forgotten.

The useful question is: what does this verb suggest about how it was said?

Admitted suggests she was reluctant to share this, perhaps because it reflected poorly on her. Said carries no such suggestion.

Verbs followed by a that clause

These verbs work much like say, introducing a full clause.

admit → He admitted (that) he was wrong.

claim → She claimed (that) she had never seen him before.

explain → He explained (that) the delay was caused by traffic.

mention → She mentioned (that) the meeting had been moved.

insist → He insisted (that) he had already paid.

Verbs followed by an object and infinitive

These verbs name the listener before the infinitive, as commands and requests do.

advise → The doctor advised her to rest.

encourage → He encouraged them to apply.

invite → She invited us to join the celebration.

remind → He reminded her to lock the door.

persuade → She persuaded him to stay a little longer.

Verbs followed by a gerund

Some verbs are followed directly by an -ing form.

suggest → She suggested going for a walk.

recommend → He recommended trying the new restaurant.

deny → They denied taking the money.

admit → He admitted breaking the vase.

Some verbs can take either pattern

Deny and admit can each take a that clause or a gerund. She denied that she had taken it. and She denied taking it. both communicate the same idea.

Verbs followed by a preposition and gerund

These verbs need their own preposition before the gerund.

insist on → He insisted on paying for dinner.

apologize for → She apologized for being late.

accuse (someone) of → He accused her of lying.

warn (someone) about → She warned him about the icy road.

Choosing the right reporting verb

The verb you choose shapes how the retelling is understood.

Choosing claimed instead of said can suggest doubt about whether something is true. Choosing admitted instead of said can suggest reluctance. Selecting a reporting verb is not only a grammatical choice; it also shapes how the reader understands the tone of the original statement.

A useful decision guide

Ask which pattern the verb takes, and what tone it adds.

Does this verb take a that clause, an infinitive, or a gerund?

Check its typical pattern before building the sentence.

Does the verb need its own preposition?

Verbs like insist on or apologize for require one before the gerund.

Does the listener need to be named directly?

Verbs like advise, remind and persuade require an object before the infinitive.

What tone does this verb add to the retelling?

Consider whether the original speaker sounded reluctant, confident, or firm.

Common mistakes

Each reporting verb has its own required pattern.

Suggest is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive.

Not: She suggested to go for a walk.

Correct: She suggested going for a walk.

Insist on needs its preposition before the gerund.

Not: He insisted paying for dinner.

Correct: He insisted on paying for dinner.

Advise needs the listener named before the infinitive.

Not: The doctor advised to rest.

Correct: The doctor advised her to rest.

Check your understanding

Which pattern correctly follows each reporting verb?

Choose the correct answer for each sentence.

Which sentence is correctly formed?

He recommended to try the new cafe. He recommended trying the new cafe.

Which sentence is correctly formed?

She apologized being late. She apologized for being late.

Which sentence is correctly formed?

He encouraged to apply. He encouraged them to apply.

Choose the best explanation

Select the sentence that explains the choice correctly.

Why does “admitted” suggest something different from “said” in “She admitted she had forgotten.”?

a) “Admitted” implies she was reluctant to share this information. b) “Admitted” is grammatically more correct than “said”. c) “Admitted” means the opposite of “forgotten”.

Why is “She suggested to go for a walk.” not correctly formed?

a) “Suggested” should be “suggests”. b) “Suggest” is followed by a gerund, not a to infinitive. c) It is missing a listener.

Quick review

Each reporting verb has its own pattern and its own shade of meaning.

Verbs like admit, claim and explain are followed by a that clause.

Verbs like advise, encourage and remind are followed by an object and infinitive.

Verbs like suggest, recommend and deny are followed by a gerund.

Verbs like insist on, apologize for and accuse of need their own preposition before a gerund.

Choosing between reporting verbs shapes the tone of the retelling, not just its grammar.

Remember

Check the pattern the verb needs, then consider what it implies.

Confirm whether the reporting verb takes a that clause, an infinitive, or a gerund, and think about what tone that verb adds to how the original words are understood.