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Using infinitive and gerund constructions after reporting verbs.
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.
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.
Promise + to-infinitive reports a commitment to perform an action.
For example, He promised to call me the next day.
Agree + to-infinitive reports acceptance of a proposal or decision to perform an action.
For example, They agreed to meet again the following week.
Refuse + to-infinitive reports unwillingness to perform an action.
For example, She refused to answer the question.
Offer + to-infinitive reports willingness to perform an action.
For example, He offered to carry my bag.
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.
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.
Seem + to-infinitive reports an appearance or impression concerning the subject.
For example, She seemed to understand the problem.
Appear + to-infinitive can report an appearance, impression, or apparent state.
For example, He appeared to know what he was doing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ask + object + to-infinitive reports a request for another person to perform an action.
For example, She asked me to help her.
Tell + object + to-infinitive reports an instruction, command, or piece of advice directed at another person.
For example, She told me to wait outside.
Advise + object + to-infinitive reports advice directed at a particular person.
For example, The doctor advised me to rest.
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.
Persuade + object + to-infinitive reports that someone convinced another person to perform an action.
For example, She persuaded him to accept the offer.
Urge + object + to-infinitive reports strong encouragement or pressure to perform an action.
For example, They urged us to leave immediately.
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.
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.
Admit + gerund reports acknowledgment of an action or behaviour.
For example, He admitted taking the money.
Deny + gerund reports rejection of a claim that someone performed an action.
For example, She denied taking the money.
Suggest + gerund reports a proposed action.
For example, She suggested taking the train.
Recommend + gerund reports a recommendation about an action.
For example, He recommended booking early.
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.
Insist on + gerund reports a strong demand or position concerning an action.
For example, He insisted on paying the bill.
Apologize for + gerund reports an apology concerning an action or situation.
For example, She apologized for being late.
Accuse + object + of + gerund reports an allegation that someone performed an action.
For example, They accused him of stealing the money.
Perfect gerunds can emphasize that a reported action happened before the main reporting event.
For example, He denied having spoken to her before.
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.
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.
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.
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.