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Using reporting verbs such as say, tell, ask, advise, promise and suggest.
Reporting verbs are verbs used to introduce or describe what someone says, thinks, asks, advises, promises, or communicates.
Different reporting verbs require different grammatical patterns, so the choice of verb and complement must be learned together.
Say is commonly followed by a that-clause when reporting a statement.
For example, She said that she was tired. Say does not normally take a person directly as its object.
Tell is commonly followed by a person and then the reported information.
For example, She told me that she was tired. Tell normally requires an object when used in this reporting pattern.
Say and tell have similar reporting meanings but different grammatical patterns.
Compare He said that he was busy with He told me that he was busy. Do not use He said me that he was busy.
Ask can report questions and requests, but the complement pattern depends on whether information or an action is being requested.
For example, She asked if I was ready and She asked me to wait.
Advise can report advice using an object + to-infinitive, a gerund, or a that-clause.
For example, She advised me to wait, She advised waiting, and She advised that we wait.
Suggest commonly takes a gerund or a that-clause and does not normally take an object + to-infinitive.
For example, She suggested leaving early and She suggested that we leave early. Avoid She suggested us to leave.
Recommend commonly takes a gerund or a that-clause when reporting a recommendation.
For example, I recommended booking early and I recommended that she book early.
Promise can take a to-infinitive or a that-clause when reporting a commitment about a future action.
For example, He promised to help and He promised that he would help.
Agree can be followed by a to-infinitive or a that-clause when reporting agreement.
For example, They agreed to stay and They agreed that the plan was reasonable.
Refuse is normally followed by a to-infinitive when reporting a refusal to perform an action.
For example, He refused to answer the question.
Offer can be followed by a to-infinitive when reporting a willingness to perform an action.
For example, She offered to drive us home.
Threaten is commonly followed by a to-infinitive when reporting a threatened action.
For example, He threatened to call the police.
Claim can introduce a that-clause or a to-infinitive when reporting an assertion.
For example, He claimed that he was innocent and He claimed to have seen the accident.
Admit can be followed by a gerund or a that-clause when reporting an admission.
For example, He admitted making a mistake and He admitted that he had made a mistake.
Deny is commonly followed by a gerund or a that-clause when reporting a denial.
For example, She denied taking the money and She denied that she had taken the money.
Explain can introduce a that-clause or a question-word clause when reporting an explanation.
For example, She explained that the train was delayed and She explained why she was late.
Mention is commonly followed by a noun phrase, a gerund, or a that-clause when reporting information that was referred to.
For example, He mentioned the problem, He mentioned having seen her, and He mentioned that the meeting had changed.
Admit and confess can both introduce an acknowledgment of wrongdoing or an unpleasant fact, but they have different patterns and typical contexts.
For example, He admitted stealing the money and She confessed to stealing the money.
Insist can be followed by a that-clause or by on + gerund when reporting a strong assertion or demand.
For example, He insisted that he was innocent and She insisted on paying the bill.
Warn can be followed by an object + to-infinitive, a that-clause, or against + gerund depending on the meaning.
For example, She warned me not to go, She warned us that the road was dangerous, and He warned us against driving at night.
Remind is commonly followed by an object + to-infinitive when reporting a reminder about a future action.
For example, She reminded me to call the doctor.
Urge is followed by an object + to-infinitive when reporting strong encouragement or pressure to act.
For example, They urged us to leave immediately.
Persuade is followed by an object + to-infinitive when reporting that someone convinced another person to do something.
For example, She persuaded him to apply for the job.
Encourage is followed by an object + to-infinitive when reporting that someone was encouraged to perform an action.
For example, The teacher encouraged us to ask questions.
Instruct is followed by an object + to-infinitive when reporting a formal instruction.
For example, The manager instructed the staff to wait outside.
Order is followed by an object + to-infinitive when reporting an authoritative command.
For example, The officer ordered the soldiers to leave.
Beg can be followed by an object + to-infinitive when reporting an urgent or emotional request.
For example, He begged me to stay.
Ask can use an object + to-infinitive when reporting a request for someone to perform an action.
For example, She asked me to wait.
Many reporting verbs can occur in passive reporting structures when the source or the reported subject is backgrounded.
For example, He is believed to be innocent and She is said to have left the country.
Some reporting verbs require a particular preposition before a following gerund.
For example, He apologized for being late, She insisted on paying, and They accused him of lying.
Related reporting verbs can require different complement structures even when their meanings are similar.
For example, suggest doing, advise someone to do, recommend doing, and persuade someone to do use different patterns.
The choice of reporting verb can indicate certainty, attitude, authority, politeness, emotion, or formality.
Compare said, claimed, admitted, insisted, urged, begged, and ordered; these verbs do more than simply report speech.
Choose the reporting verb according to both the original communicative intention and the grammatical pattern required afterward.
A command, request, warning, promise, admission, and suggestion should not all be reduced to said when the distinction is meaningful.
Use each reporting verb with its correct complement pattern and preserve the intended meaning of the original communication.
Common mistakes include say + object, tell without an object, suggest + object + to-infinitive, incorrect prepositions, and using reporting verbs interchangeably when their meanings differ.