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Using infinitive and gerund constructions after reporting verbs.
Practice: build the sentences →Some reporting verbs are followed by infinitives or gerunds instead of finite that-clauses.
The choice depends on the reporting verb, the intended meaning, and whether another person is explicitly identified as the subject of the reported action.
He promised to help.
Он пообещал помочь.
Reporting verb + to-infinitive.
She admitted making a mistake.
Она признала, что совершила ошибку.
Reporting verb + gerund.
They told me to wait.
Они велели мне подождать.
Reporting verb + object + to-infinitive.
Some reporting verbs are followed directly by a to-infinitive to report an intention, promise, refusal, offer, or agreement.
Common examples include promise to help, agree to stay, refuse to answer, offer to pay, and threaten to leave.
He promised to call.
Он пообещал позвонить.
Promise + to-infinitive.
She agreed to stay.
Она согласилась остаться.
Agree + to-infinitive.
They refused to answer.
Они отказались отвечать.
Refuse + to-infinitive.
He offered to pay.
Он предложил заплатить.
Offer + to-infinitive.
Promise + to-infinitive reports a commitment to perform an action.
For example, He promised to call me the next day.
He promised to call me the next day.
Он пообещал позвонить мне на следующий день.
Promise + to-infinitive.
She promised to help us.
Она пообещала помочь нам.
Promise + to-infinitive.
Agree + to-infinitive reports acceptance of a proposal or decision to perform an action.
For example, They agreed to meet again the following week.
They agreed to meet again the following week.
Они согласились встретиться снова на следующей неделе.
Agree + to-infinitive.
He agreed to help.
Он согласился помочь.
Agree + to-infinitive.
Refuse + to-infinitive reports unwillingness to perform an action.
For example, She refused to answer the question.
She refused to answer the question.
Она отказалась отвечать на вопрос.
Refuse + to-infinitive.
He refused to leave.
Он отказался уходить.
Refuse + to-infinitive.
Offer + to-infinitive reports willingness to perform an action.
For example, He offered to carry my bag.
He offered to carry my bag.
Он предложил донести мою сумку.
Offer + to-infinitive.
She offered to drive us home.
Она предложила подвезти нас домой.
Offer + to-infinitive.
Threaten + to-infinitive reports a warning that the speaker intends or may intend to perform an unpleasant action.
For example, He threatened to call the police.
He threatened to call the police.
Он пригрозил вызвать полицию.
Threaten + to-infinitive.
She threatened to leave.
Она пригрозила уйти.
Threaten + to-infinitive.
Claim can be followed by a to-infinitive when someone presents themselves as having a particular state, experience, or action.
For example, He claimed to know the answer and She claimed to have seen the accident.
He claimed to know the answer.
Он утверждал, что знает ответ.
Claim + to-infinitive.
She claimed to have seen the accident.
Она утверждала, что видела аварию.
Claim + perfect to-infinitive.
Seem + to-infinitive reports an appearance or impression concerning the subject.
For example, She seemed to understand the problem.
She seemed to understand the problem.
Казалось, она понимает проблему.
Seem + to-infinitive.
He seems to be tired.
Кажется, он устал.
Seem + to be + adjective.
Appear + to-infinitive can report an appearance, impression, or apparent state.
For example, He appeared to know what he was doing.
He appeared to know what he was doing.
Казалось, он знает, что делает.
Appear + to-infinitive.
She appears to be upset.
Кажется, она расстроена.
Appear + to be + adjective.
A perfect to-infinitive can describe an action that happened before the time of the reporting verb.
For example, She claimed to have seen him and He seemed to have forgotten.
She claimed to have seen him.
Она утверждала, что видела его.
Perfect to-infinitive: to have + past participle.
He seemed to have forgotten.
Казалось, он забыл.
Perfect to-infinitive.
A passive to-infinitive reports an action received by the subject of the reporting construction.
For example, He is believed to be innocent and She is expected to be promoted.
He is believed to be innocent.
Считается, что он невиновен.
Passive to-infinitive: to be + past participle.
She is expected to be promoted.
Ожидается, что её повысят.
Passive to-infinitive.
A perfect passive to-infinitive refers to an earlier action received by the subject.
For example, He is believed to have been arrested and She is thought to have been informed.
He is believed to have been arrested.
Считается, что он был арестован.
Perfect passive to-infinitive: to have been + past participle.
She is thought to have been informed.
Считается, что её проинформировали.
Perfect passive to-infinitive.
Some reporting verbs are followed by an object and a to-infinitive when one person reports or directs another person's action.
For example, She told me to wait, He advised us to leave, and They encouraged him to apply.
She told me to wait.
Она велела мне подождать.
Tell + object + to-infinitive.
He advised us to leave.
Он посоветовал нам уйти.
Advise + object + to-infinitive.
They encouraged him to apply.
Они воодушевили его подать заявку.
Encourage + object + to-infinitive.
Ask + object + to-infinitive reports a request for another person to perform an action.
For example, She asked me to help her.
She asked me to help her.
Она попросила меня помочь ей.
Ask + object + to-infinitive.
He asked her to wait.
Он попросил её подождать.
Ask + object + to-infinitive.
Tell + object + to-infinitive reports an instruction, command, or piece of advice directed at another person.
For example, She told me to wait outside.
She told me to wait outside.
Она велела мне ждать снаружи.
Tell + object + to-infinitive.
He told us to be quiet.
Он велел нам быть тише.
Tell + object + to-infinitive.
Advise + object + to-infinitive reports advice directed at a particular person.
For example, The doctor advised me to rest.
The doctor advised me to rest.
Врач посоветовал мне отдохнуть.
Advise + object + to-infinitive.
She advised him to wait.
Она посоветовала ему подождать.
Advise + object + to-infinitive.
Encourage + object + to-infinitive reports an attempt to persuade or motivate another person to act.
For example, The teacher encouraged the students to ask questions.
The teacher encouraged the students to ask questions.
Учитель поощрял студентов задавать вопросы.
Encourage + object + to-infinitive.
She encouraged him to try again.
Она воодушевила его попробовать снова.
Encourage + object + to-infinitive.
Persuade + object + to-infinitive reports that someone convinced another person to perform an action.
For example, She persuaded him to accept the offer.
She persuaded him to accept the offer.
Она убедила его принять предложение.
Persuade + object + to-infinitive.
He persuaded me to stay.
Он уговорил меня остаться.
Persuade + object + to-infinitive.
Urge + object + to-infinitive reports strong encouragement or pressure to perform an action.
For example, They urged us to leave immediately.
They urged us to leave immediately.
Они настоятельно советовали нам уйти немедленно.
Urge + object + to-infinitive.
She urged him to apply.
Она убеждала его подать заявку.
Urge + object + to-infinitive.
Remind + object + to-infinitive reports a reminder about an action that someone should remember to perform.
For example, She reminded me to call the doctor.
She reminded me to call the doctor.
Она напомнила мне позвонить врачу.
Remind + object + to-infinitive.
He reminded me to lock the door.
Он напомнил мне запереть дверь.
Remind + object + to-infinitive.
Some reporting verbs are followed by a gerund when reporting an action, admission, denial, or suggestion.
Common examples include admit doing, deny doing, suggest doing, recommend doing, and mention doing.
He admitted doing it.
Он признал, что сделал это.
Admit + gerund.
She denied taking the money.
Она отрицала, что взяла деньги.
Deny + gerund.
They suggested going by train.
Они предложили поехать на поезде.
Suggest + gerund.
I recommend booking early.
Я рекомендую бронировать заранее.
Recommend + gerund.
Admit + gerund reports acknowledgment of an action or behaviour.
For example, He admitted taking the money.
He admitted taking the money.
Он признал, что взял деньги.
Admit + gerund.
She admitted making a mistake.
Она признала, что совершила ошибку.
Admit + gerund.
Deny + gerund reports rejection of a claim that someone performed an action.
For example, She denied taking the money.
She denied taking the money.
Она отрицала, что взяла деньги.
Deny + gerund.
He denied knowing about it.
Он отрицал, что знал об этом.
Deny + gerund.
Suggest + gerund reports a proposed action.
For example, She suggested taking the train.
She suggested taking the train.
Она предложила поехать на поезде.
Suggest + gerund.
He suggested going out for dinner.
Он предложил пойти куда-нибудь поужинать.
Suggest + gerund.
Recommend + gerund reports a recommendation about an action.
For example, He recommended booking early.
He recommended booking early.
Он рекомендовал бронировать заранее.
Recommend + gerund.
She recommended trying the local restaurant.
Она рекомендовала попробовать местный ресторан.
Recommend + gerund.
Mention can be followed by a gerund when referring to an action or experience that was brought up in conversation.
For example, She mentioned meeting him before.
She mentioned meeting him before.
Она упомянула, что встречала его раньше.
Mention + gerund.
He mentioned having seen the film.
Он упомянул, что видел этот фильм.
Mention + perfect gerund.
Insist on + gerund reports a strong demand or position concerning an action.
For example, He insisted on paying the bill.
He insisted on paying the bill.
Он настоял на том, чтобы оплатить счёт.
Insist on + gerund.
She insisted on coming with us.
Она настояла на том, чтобы пойти с нами.
Insist on + gerund.
Apologize for + gerund reports an apology concerning an action or situation.
For example, She apologized for being late.
She apologized for being late.
Она извинилась за опоздание.
Apologize for + gerund.
He apologized for forgetting the meeting.
Он извинился за то, что забыл о встрече.
Apologize for + gerund.
Accuse + object + of + gerund reports an allegation that someone performed an action.
For example, They accused him of stealing the money.
They accused him of stealing the money.
Они обвинили его в краже денег.
Accuse + object + of + gerund.
She accused him of lying.
Она обвинила его во лжи.
Accuse + object + of + gerund.
Perfect gerunds can emphasize that a reported action happened before the main reporting event.
For example, He denied having spoken to her before.
He denied having spoken to her before.
Он отрицал, что говорил с ней раньше.
Perfect gerund: having + past participle.
She admitted having made a mistake.
Она признала, что совершила ошибку.
Perfect gerund.
Reporting verbs can combine with passive infinitives or passive gerunds when the reported participant receives the action.
For example, He is believed to have been informed and She denied being told about the change.
He is believed to have been informed.
Считается, что его проинформировали.
Passive perfect infinitive: to have been + past participle.
She denied being told about the change.
Она отрицала, что ей сообщили об изменении.
Passive gerund: being + past participle.
The choice between an infinitive and gerund after a reporting verb can depend on the meaning and grammatical pattern of the verb.
Compare He promised to leave with He admitted leaving and She suggested leaving.
He promised to leave.
Он пообещал уйти.
Promise + to-infinitive.
He admitted leaving.
Он признал, что ушёл.
Admit + gerund.
She suggested leaving.
Она предложила уйти.
Suggest + gerund.
When the person performing the reported action differs from the reporting subject, some reporting verbs require an explicit object before the infinitive.
For example, She advised me to wait and He persuaded John to stay.
She advised me to wait.
Она посоветовала мне подождать.
Advised + object + to-infinitive.
He persuaded John to stay.
Он убедил Джона остаться.
Persuade + object + to-infinitive.
Use the complement pattern required by the reporting verb and distinguish infinitive, gerund, passive, and object-control structures.
Common mistakes include using suggest + object + to-infinitive, omitting the object after advise or persuade, using the wrong preposition before a gerund, and confusing promise to do with admit doing.
She suggested going.
Она предложила пойти.
Correct: suggest + gerund.
She suggested us to go.
Она предложила нам пойти.
Incorrect: suggest + object + to-infinitive.
He advised me to wait.
Он посоветовал мне подождать.
Correct: advise + object + to-infinitive.
He advised me waiting.
Он посоветовал мне ждать.
Incorrect: advise + object + gerund (though "advised waiting" is correct).
She apologized for be late.
Она извинилась за опоздание.
Incorrect: preposition + gerund required.