Reporting verbs

1. REPORTING
VERBS

2. Check what you know
Reported Speech: Statements and questions, commands

3. The receptionist told me…
…the hotel was full
The hotel is
full

4. Phil said…
he’d passed all his
exams
I’ve passed all
my exams

5. The waiter said…
he’d call the manager
I’ll call the
manager

6. They said that he…
should get to the
airport early
You should get
to the airport
early

7. Julie said…
she might be late
I may be late

8. Raquel said…
she hadn’t told
anybody
I didn’t tell
anybody!

9. She asked us…
if we could help her
Can you help
me?

10. He asked me…
if I wanted to dance
Do you want
to dance?

11. They asked her…
if she’d been there
before
Have you been
here before?

12. He asked me…
what music I liked
What music do
you like?

13. I asked him…
…where the nearest
bank was
Where’s the
nearest bank?

14. The traffic warden told us…
…not to stop there
Don’t stop
here

15. My dad told us…
to be quiet
Be quiet!

16. We asked them…
not to smoke
Please don’t
smoke!

17. The dentist told him…
to open his mouth
Open your
mouth

18. Melinda told them…
not to tell anyone
Don’t tell
anyone!

19. The policeman asked her…
to show him her driving
licence
Could you show
me your driving
licence?

20. The flight attendant told
them…
to switch off their
mobiles
Please switch
off your
mobiles

21. She told her son…
not to eat with his
mouth open
Don’t eat with
your mouth
open!

22. We asked the waiter…
to bring us the bill
Can you bring
me the bill,
please?

23. The bus driver told her…
to get off at the next
stop
Get off at the
next stop

24. My husband told me…
not to wait
Don’t wait

25. NEW GRAMMAR
REPORTING VERBS

26. Direct speech
I won’t go
Reported speech
 He said that he wouldn’t go
Reporting verb
He refused to go

27.  Sorry I’m late. The teacher …
The teacher apologized for being late.
 I didn’t break the vase! Jane …
Jane denied breaking the vase.
 I’ll love you for ever. The bride …
The bride promised to love him for ever.
 Don’t walk on your own at night. The policeman…
The policeman warned her not to walk on her own
at night.

28.  Would you like to come to a concert? Mark…
Mark invited Miriam to go to a concert.
 I was sorry I hadn’t bought the jacket. I…
I regretted not buying the jacket.
 You ate all the biscuits. She…
She accused him of eating all the biscuits.
 We’ll kill you if you don’t give us the money. The
robbers…
The robbers threathened to kill me if I didn’t give
them the money.

29.  I won’t eat the cabbage! The little girl …
The little girl refused to eat the cabbage.
 Remember to bring your dictionary to class. The
teacher …
The teacher reminded them to bring their
dictionaries to class.
 I broke the window. The boy …
The boy admitted breaking the window.
 I’ll help you with your case. A young man…
A young man offered to help me with my case.

30.  I think you should go to the doctor. His friend…
His friend advised him to go to the doctor.
 Let’s go to a Chinese restaurant tonight. Anya …
Anya suggested going to a Chinese restaurant.
 I’m going to pay for the drinks- it’s my turn. My brother
…
My brother insisted on paying for the drinks.
 You must see the Tower of London! He …
He recommended seeing the Tower of London.

31.  JAMES Why weren’t you at work yesterday?
 MIRIAM I was ill.
 JAMES I saw you in the street yesterday afternoon.
I’m going to tell your boss.
 MIRIAM Ok. I wasn’t at home, but that was because
I went out to get some medicine from the chemist’s.
 JAMES Oh, I’m sorry. Listen. Why don’t we go and
have a cup of coffee?
 MIRIAM I’m too busy and I wouldn’t want a coffee
with you anyway.

32. James asked Miriam why she hadn’t been at
work the day before. Miriam said that she had
been ill. James accused her of lying. He insisted
that he had seen her in the street the previous
afternoon, and threatened to tell her boss.
Miriam admitted that she hadn’t been at home,
but explained that she had only gone out to get
some medicine from the chemist’s. James
apologized, and suggested going to have a
coffee together. Miriam refused to go for a
coffee with him.