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Reporting affirmative and negative statements.
Practice: build the sentences →Reported statements present the content of what someone said or thought without necessarily repeating the original words.
They commonly use reporting verbs followed by that-clauses or other complement structures.
She said that she was tired.
Она сказала, что устала.
Reported statement with that-clause.
He thought that the plan would work.
Он думал, что план сработает.
Reported thought with that-clause.
Say can introduce a reported statement followed by a that-clause.
For example, She said that she was tired.
She said that she was tired.
Она сказала, что устала.
Say + that-clause.
He said that he would come.
Он сказал, что придёт.
Say + that-clause with modal.
That can usually be omitted after say when introducing a reported statement.
For example, She said that she was tired and She said she was tired are both standard.
She said that she was tired.
Она сказала, что устала.
With that.
She said she was tired.
Она сказала, что устала.
That omitted; same meaning.
Say normally does not take a person directly as its object in the way tell does.
Use She said that she was tired or She said to me that she was tired, rather than She said me that she was tired.
She said that she was tired.
Она сказала, что устала.
Say + that-clause (correct).
She said to me that she was tired.
Она сказала мне, что устала.
Say + to + person (correct).
She said me that she was tired.
Она сказала мне, что устала.
Incorrect: say does not take a person as direct object.
Tell is commonly followed by a person and then the reported information.
For example, She told me that she was tired.
She told me that she was tired.
Она сказала мне, что устала.
Tell + object + that-clause.
He told us that the meeting was cancelled.
Он сказал нам, что встречу отменили.
Tell + object + that-clause.
Say and tell can both introduce reported statements, but tell normally requires an object referring to the person receiving the information.
Compare He said that he was busy with He told me that he was busy.
He said that he was busy.
Он сказал, что занят.
Say + that-clause.
He told me that he was busy.
Он сказал мне, что занят.
Tell + object + that-clause.
Negative statements can be reported by preserving the negative meaning in the reported clause.
For example, She said that she was not feeling well.
She said that she was not feeling well.
Она сказала, что плохо себя чувствует.
Negative reported statement.
He said that he did not know the answer.
Он сказал, что не знает ответа.
Negative clause preserved.
Verbs such as think, believe, feel, and suppose can introduce reported opinions and beliefs.
For example, He thought that the plan was a mistake.
He thought that the plan was a mistake.
Он думал, что план был ошибкой.
Reported opinion with think.
She believed that he was right.
Она верила, что он прав.
Reported belief with believe.
Think can be followed by a that-clause when reporting a thought, belief, or opinion.
For example, I think that she is right and He thought that we were late.
I think that she is right.
Я думаю, что она права.
Think + that-clause.
He thought that we were late.
Он думал, что мы опоздали.
Reported thought.
Believe can introduce a reported belief or conclusion using a that-clause.
For example, They believed that the information was accurate.
They believed that the information was accurate.
Они верили, что информация точна.
Believe + that-clause.
She believed that he would come.
Она верила, что он придёт.
Reported belief with modal.
Explain can introduce information or reasons using a that-clause.
For example, She explained that the meeting had been cancelled.
She explained that the meeting had been cancelled.
Она объяснила, что встречу отменили.
Explain + that-clause.
He explained that he was late because of traffic.
Он объяснил, что опоздал из-за пробок.
Explain + that-clause with reason.
Admit can introduce a statement in which someone acknowledges that something is true.
For example, He admitted that he had made a mistake.
He admitted that he had made a mistake.
Он признал, что совершил ошибку.
Admit + that-clause.
She admitted that she was wrong.
Она признала, что была неправа.
Admit + that-clause.
Deny can introduce a negative claim that something did not happen or is not true.
For example, She denied that she had taken the money.
She denied that she had taken the money.
Она отрицала, что взяла деньги.
Deny + that-clause.
He denied that he was involved.
Он отрицал, что был замешан.
Deny + that-clause.
Agree can introduce an idea, statement, or proposition that the subject accepts as true or correct.
For example, They agreed that the proposal was reasonable.
They agreed that the proposal was reasonable.
Они согласились, что предложение разумно.
Agree + that-clause.
She agreed that we should wait.
Она согласилась, что нам следует подождать.
Agree + that-clause with modal.
Promise can introduce a statement about a future action or commitment.
For example, He promised that he would call the next day.
He promised that he would call the next day.
Он пообещал, что позвонит на следующий день.
Promise + that-clause.
She promised that she would help us.
Она пообещала, что поможет нам.
Promise + that-clause.
Warn can introduce information about a possible danger or negative consequence.
For example, She warned us that the road was dangerous.
She warned us that the road was dangerous.
Она предупредила нас, что дорога опасна.
Warn + object + that-clause.
He warned that the situation could get worse.
Он предупредил, что ситуация может ухудшиться.
Warn + that-clause.
Claim can introduce information that the speaker presents as true, especially when the truth is uncertain or disputed.
For example, He claimed that he had never met her.
He claimed that he had never met her.
Он утверждал, что никогда её не встречал.
Claim + that-clause.
She claimed that the report was inaccurate.
Она утверждала, что отчёт неточен.
Claim + that-clause.
Report can introduce information presented as an account or statement.
For example, The newspaper reported that the company had lost money.
The newspaper reported that the company had lost money.
Газета сообщила, что компания потеряла деньги.
Report + that-clause.
They reported that the road was closed.
Они сообщили, что дорога закрыта.
Report + that-clause.
Reported statements can contain modal verbs whose form and meaning depend on the original statement and the reporting context.
For example, He said that he could help and She said that she might be late.
He said that he could help.
Он сказал, что может помочь.
Reported modal "could".
She said that she might be late.
Она сказала, что может опоздать.
Reported modal "might".
Verbs such as wonder, doubt, and believe can report uncertainty, but their complement structures differ.
For example, She wondered whether he was telling the truth, while He believed that he was telling the truth.
She wondered whether he was telling the truth.
Она задавалась вопросом, говорит ли он правду.
Wonder + whether-clause.
He believed that he was telling the truth.
Он верил, что тот говорит правду.
Believe + that-clause.
Some reporting verbs can be followed by infinitive structures rather than that-clauses.
For example, He promised to help and She agreed to stay.
He promised to help.
Он пообещал помочь.
Promise + to-infinitive.
She agreed to stay.
Она согласилась остаться.
Agree + to-infinitive.
Statements can be reported using passive reporting structures when the source of the information is general or the subject of the report is more important.
For example, He is believed to be innocent and It is thought that prices will rise.
He is believed to be innocent.
Считается, что он невиновен.
Passive reporting: subject + passive + to-infinitive.
It is thought that prices will rise.
Считается, что цены вырастут.
Impersonal passive reporting.
Pronouns in reported statements may need to change to reflect the viewpoint of the reporter.
For example, She said, "I am busy" becomes She said that she was busy.
She said, "I am busy."
Она сказала: «Я занята».
Direct speech.
She said that she was busy.
Она сказала, что занята.
Pronoun "I" becomes "she".
Use the correct complement after the reporting verb and preserve the intended meaning of the original statement.
Common mistakes include using tell without an object, using say with an incorrect direct object, retaining inappropriate pronouns, and choosing a reporting verb with the wrong complement pattern.
He told me that he was ready.
Он сказал мне, что готов.
Correct: tell + object + that-clause.
He told that he was ready.
Он сказал, что готов.
Incorrect: tell requires an object.
She said me that she was tired.
Она сказала мне, что устала.
Incorrect: say does not take a person as direct object.
She said to me that she was tired.
Она сказала мне, что устала.
Correct: say + to + person.