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Reported Speech 2: Reporting Verbs

By the end: I can report what a speaker did with their words while keeping the right verb pattern and level of commitment.

Created by Denis M., British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

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Choose a short recording.

Before you start

How is promising different from merely saying that something may happen?

Useful background: Reported Speech; to-infinitives, -ing forms and object pronouns.

Promises, refusals and offers

Promise, refuse and offer can take a to-infinitive when the subject performs the later action. These verbs add meaning beyond said: a promise is a commitment, a refusal rejects an action, and an offer proposes help or provision.

Maya promised to send the notes.

Ben refused to change the date.

Preserved lesson scene for He admitted forgetting the attachment. People and essential props isolated on white. — He admitted forgetting the attachment.Admit + -ing acknowledges the action.

Admissions, denials and apologies

Admit and deny can take an -ing form. Apologise takes for plus a noun or -ing phrase. Report the stance actually expressed; do not turn an uncertain comment into an admission or accusation.

He admitted forgetting the attachment.

She apologised for arriving late.

The same action can be admitted or denied

Accept the claim about his actionHe admitted leaving it open.

He acknowledged that he left it open.

Reject the claim about his actionHe denied leaving it open.

He said that he did not leave it open.

The complement leaving it open names the same action. Admitted and denied report opposite stances. Reporting a denial describes what the person said, rather than independently proving the facts.

Warnings and suggestions

Warn can take object + not to for a warning against an action. Suggest can take -ing or a that-clause; it does not normally take suggest someone to do. Name the person who is meant to act when the context needs it.

They warned us not to open the file.

I suggested taking a short break.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Compare the meaning and form; the model is one possible answer.

1. Report: I promise I’ll help, Noor said.

Compare a model and explanation

Noor promised to help.

Promise plus to identifies a commitment by Noor.

2. Report: I won’t sign it, Leo said firmly.

Compare a model and explanation

Leo refused to sign it.

Refused captures rejection, not inability.

3. Complete: She denied ___ the window. Use break.

Compare a model and explanation

breaking

Deny takes an -ing complement in this pattern.

4. Correct: He apologised to being late.

Compare a model and explanation

He apologised for being late.

Apologise for introduces the reason; apologise to identifies the recipient.

5. Report a warning to Ben: Don’t touch the wet paint.

Compare a model and explanation

She warned Ben not to touch the wet paint.

Warn + object + not to preserves the negative instruction.

6. Correct: I suggested him to wait.

Compare a model and explanation

I suggested that he wait.

A that-clause identifies the proposed actor; that he should wait is also valid.

7. Does She said she might help justify She promised to help? Explain.

Compare a model and explanation

No. Might expresses possibility, not a clear commitment.

A stronger reporting verb would change the original stance.

8. Report these two different messages: I did leave it open. / I did not leave it open.

Compare a model and explanation

He admitted leaving it open. He denied leaving it open.

Admit and deny report opposite positions about the action.

A short conversation

Listen first if you can, then open the transcript when useful.

Open the conversation transcript

A: What did the organiser say about the missing handouts?

B: She admitted forgetting to attach them and promised to send them before lunch.

A: Did anyone suggest delaying the session?

B: One colleague suggested starting with discussion instead, and the organiser offered to lead it.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have their own score.

1. Which reporting verb best preserves the speaker’s commitment?

Read the listening transcript

I’ll definitely send the revised version tonight. I give you my word.

DeniedPromisedWondered

2. Which report matches the first sentence?

Read the listening transcript

I didn’t change the password. Someone else must have done it.

She admitted changing the password.She offered to change the password.She denied changing the password.

3. Which report is appropriate?

Read the listening transcript

Why don’t we begin with the shorter exercise? We can do the longer one afterwards.

He suggested beginning with the shorter exercise.He refused to begin any exercise.He admitted having finished both exercises.

Answer key

Which reporting verb best preserves the speaker’s commitment?

Promised The explicit assurance supports promised.

Which report matches the first sentence?

She denied changing the password. The speaker rejects responsibility for the completed action.

Which report is appropriate?

He suggested beginning with the shorter exercise. The utterance proposes a course of action.

Preserved lesson scene for She apologised for arriving late. People and essential props isolated on white. — She apologised for arriving late.Apologise for + -ing reports an apology about the action.

Use it in your own words

Speaking task 1

Report a fictional meeting: Noor promises to send notes, Ben offers to check them and Maya suggests a later start.

Reveal a possible response

Noor promised to send the notes that evening. Ben offered to check them, and Maya suggested starting half an hour later so everyone could read them first.

Success check: Preserve who will act and the strength of each speech act.

Speaking task 2

Role-play an apology, an admission and a warning, then report your partner’s words.

Reveal a possible response

My partner admitted using the old version and apologised for the confusion. She warned me not to reuse the old link because it led to the wrong file.

Success check: Match each verb to the original message rather than selecting dramatic synonyms.

Speaking task 3

Explain why a cautious statement should not automatically become a promise or an admission. Give one corrected report.

Reveal a possible response

If someone says they might help, reporting that they promised to help adds a commitment. A safer report is that they said they might be able to help.

Success check: Keep the reporter’s interpretation within the evidence of the original words.

Take it with you

I can report what a speaker did with their words while keeping the right verb pattern and level of commitment.