Reporting verbs are verbs used to report what another person has said, written, thought, or communicated. Instead of repeatedly using say and tell, English speakers can choose verbs such as advise, suggest, admit, promise, or warn to express the speaker’s intention more precisely.
Learning how reporting verbs work is especially useful for reported speech, formal writing, academic writing, and language exams. However, different reporting verbs follow different grammatical patterns, so learners need to understand both their meanings and the structures that come after them.
What Is a Reporting Verb?
A reporting verb is a verb used to introduce or report another person’s words, ideas, opinions, requests, suggestions, or statements. The choice of reporting verb can show not only what was said but also the purpose or attitude behind the original statement.
Common reporting verbs include say, tell, ask, advise, suggest, recommend, warn, promise, admit, deny, agree, and refuse.
Example: She advised me to take a short break.
In this sentence, advised tells us that the original speaker gave advice. Compare it with:
Example: She said that I should take a short break.
Both sentences report a similar message, but advised expresses the communicative purpose more directly.
Reporting verbs are particularly useful because they allow writers and speakers to summarize information without repeating the exact original words.
Common Reporting Verb Structures
Reporting verbs do not all follow the same grammatical pattern. The structure after the reporting verb depends on the verb itself, so learners should study the verb together with its typical complement.
Below are several common patterns.
Reporting verb + that-clause
Many reporting verbs can be followed by that + subject + verb. The word that is sometimes omitted in informal contexts.
Common verbs in this group include say, explain, admit, agree, claim, complain, confirm, mention, predict, and report.
Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + (that) + clause
Examples:
- She admitted that she had made a mistake.
- The teacher explained that the test would take forty minutes.
- They claimed that the system was working properly.
When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense in the reported clause may shift back depending on the context and the meaning.
Reporting verb + to-infinitive
Some reporting verbs are followed directly by to + infinitive. These verbs often describe decisions, promises, agreements, or refusals.
Common verbs include agree, offer, promise, refuse, and threaten.
Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + to + V
Examples:
- He agreed to help us.
- She promised to send the document later.
- They refused to change their decision.
A common mistake is adding an unnecessary object after verbs that normally take a direct to-infinitive structure.
Example: Wrong: He promised me to call. → Correct: He promised to call me. (Use promise + to-infinitive for the action the speaker promises to perform.)
Reporting verb + object + to-infinitive
Another common group requires an object before the infinitive. These verbs often report advice, instructions, invitations, encouragement, or warnings.
Common verbs include advise, ask, encourage, invite, order, remind, tell, and warn.
Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + object + to + V
Examples:
- The doctor advised him to exercise regularly.
- She reminded me to bring my passport.
- They warned us not to touch the equipment.
For negative instructions, use not to + infinitive.
Example: The teacher told the students not to use their phones during the test.
Reporting verb + gerund
Several reporting verbs are followed by a gerund, or the -ing form of a verb.
Common verbs include admit, deny, recommend, and suggest.
Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + V-ing
Examples:
- He admitted breaking the window.
- She denied taking the money.
- They suggested leaving earlier.
The subject of the original statement is often understood from the context.
Example: “I took the documents,” he admitted. → He admitted taking the documents.
Reporting verb + preposition + gerund
Some reporting verbs require a particular preposition before a noun or gerund. The preposition is part of the grammatical pattern and should not be removed.
Common patterns include:
- apologize for + V-ing
- accuse someone of + V-ing
- insist on + V-ing
- congratulate someone on + V-ing
Examples:
- She apologized for arriving late.
- They accused him of copying the report.
- He insisted on paying for dinner.
Because the correct preposition depends on the reporting verb, it is useful to learn the whole structure rather than memorizing the verb separately.
Common Reporting Verbs by Function
Grouping reporting verbs according to their communicative function can make them easier to remember. The table below shows several frequently used verbs and their typical structures.
| Function | Reporting verb and structure | Example |
| Giving advice | advise + object + to V | She advised me to wait. |
| Making a suggestion | suggest + V-ing / that-clause | He suggested taking a taxi. |
| Making a promise | promise + to V | She promised to return. |
| Refusing | refuse + to V | He refused to answer. |
| Admitting | admit + V-ing / that-clause | She admitted making a mistake. |
| Denying | deny + V-ing / that-clause | He denied taking the file. |
| Warning | warn + object + to/not to V | They warned us not to enter. |
| Encouraging | encourage + object + to V | She encouraged him to apply. |
| Agreeing | agree + to V / that-clause | They agreed to continue. |
| Explaining | explain + that-clause | He explained that he was busy. |
Some verbs can appear in more than one structure, but the meaning or emphasis may change slightly. Learners should therefore pay attention to how each verb functions in context.
How to Use Reporting Verbs in Reported Speech
Reporting verbs are often used when converting direct speech into reported speech. Rather than reporting every word, you can choose a verb that reflects the speaker’s intention.
Example: “You should see a doctor,” Anna said to me. → Anna advised me to see a doctor.
Here, advise is more specific than say because the original sentence gives advice.
Another common transformation involves promises:
Example: “I will finish the work tonight,” Jack said. → Jack promised to finish the work that night.
The verb promise shows that Jack made a commitment.
When converting direct speech, pay attention to pronouns, time expressions, and verb tenses. However, do not change the tense automatically in every sentence. If the reported information is still true or the context does not require a tense change, the original tense may remain appropriate.
Example: The teacher said that water boils at 100°C.
Because this statement describes a general scientific fact, the present tense remains natural.
Suggest, Recommend, and Advise: What Is the Difference?
These three reporting verbs can express similar ideas, but their grammatical structures differ. This is a frequent source of errors for English learners.
| Structure | Correct pattern | Example |
| suggest + V-ing | suggest doing something | She suggested taking the train. |
| suggest + that-clause | suggest that someone (should) do something | She suggested that we take the train. |
| recommend + V-ing | recommend doing something | I recommend booking early. |
| recommend + that-clause | recommend that someone (should) do something | I recommend that you book early. |
| advise + object + to V | advise someone to do something | I advised him to book early. |
A key point is that suggest is not normally followed by object + to-infinitive.
Example: Wrong: She suggested me to leave early. → Correct: She suggested leaving early.
Another correct structure is:
Example: She suggested that I leave early.
By contrast, advise commonly takes an object before the infinitive.
Example: The teacher advised us to review the lesson.
Reporting Verbs in Academic Writing
Reporting verbs are also widely used when presenting ideas, arguments, findings, or opinions from other sources. They help writers describe how another author presents information.
Common academic reporting verbs include argue, claim, explain, demonstrate, indicate, note, report, suggest, and state.
Examples:
- The researchers suggest that regular practice may improve language retention.
- The report indicates that customer behavior has changed.
- The author argues that social factors influence language use.
See more:
- The Suggest Structure in English: Rules, Usage, and Examples
- English Vowels Explained: Definition, Types, and Correct Pronunciation
The choice of verb matters because different reporting verbs express different levels of certainty or different types of communication. For example, state presents information relatively neutrally, while argue usually introduces a position supported by reasoning.
Writers should therefore choose a reporting verb that accurately reflects the original source instead of selecting a stronger or weaker verb without sufficient reason.
Short Exercise on Reporting Verbs
Complete each sentence using the correct form of the verb in brackets.
- The teacher advised us ______ more carefully. (read)
- She admitted ______ the wrong file. (send)
- They promised ______ the problem immediately. (investigate)
- He suggested ______ a short break. (take)
- The manager warned employees not ______ confidential information. (share)
Answers:
- to read
- sending
- to investigate
- taking
- to share
See more:
- The Suggest Structure in English: Rules, Usage, and Examples
- English Vowels Explained: Definition, Types, and Correct Pronunciation
Understanding reporting verbs involves more than memorizing vocabulary. You need to learn the meaning of each verb together with the grammatical structure that follows it. With regular practice, reporting verbs can make reported speech and academic writing clearer, more precise, and more varied.
Frequently Asked Questions About Reporting Verbs
What is the difference between a reporting verb and reported speech?
A reporting verb introduces what someone said or communicated, while reported speech is the broader grammatical structure used to report another person’s words or ideas.
Can a reporting verb have more than one structure?
Yes. Some reporting verbs can take different structures, such as admit + V-ing and admit + that-clause, depending on how the sentence is formed.
Is “say” a reporting verb?
Yes. Say is a common reporting verb, but verbs such as advise, promise, deny, and suggest can provide more specific information about the speaker’s intention.
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