Reporting Verb Structures
Here are the common structures used with reporting verbs. Notice that certain verbs may be
followed by more than one structure.
verb + to + infinitive
agree Magda agreed to look after the children.
decide Sally decided to write the letter by hand.
encourage We were encouraged to take up a new hobby.
offer She offered to take the children to the zoo.
promise She’s promised to phone me later.
refuse They refused to accept his apology.
threaten The neighbours threatened to call the police.
verb + object + to + infinitive
advise The doctor advised Tom to take a holiday.
beg She begged him to change his mind.
ask The neighbours asked us to turn the music down.
invite Sally invited me to go to the party.
order The police ordered everyone to leave the building.
persuade I persuaded my mother to take a holiday.
remind Can I remind you to call Stephen?
tell Carl told Jane to close all the windows.
warn (not) They warned us not to walk on the ice.
verb + noun / verb-ing
admit Danny admitted the theft / stealing the car.
deny Susie denied the theft / having stolen the car.
recommend I recommend this book / reading this book.
suggest Sally suggested the beach / going to the beach
verb + preposition + noun / verb-ing
admit to Bill admitted to the mistake / getting it wrong.
apologise for Tommy apologised for the accident / causing the accident.
complain about We complained about the homework / being given homework.
insist on He insisted on getting his money back.
verb + object + preposition + noun / verb-ing
accuse of They accused Biggs of robbery / stealing the money.
blame for Sally blamed Bill for the mistake / getting it wrong.
congratulate on Tommy congratulated me on the result / winning the contract.
discourage from Our boss discouraged us from personal relationships /going out.
forgive for Will you ever forgive me for my mistake /getting it wrong?
verb (+ that) + clause
accept The manager accepted (that) the customer was right.
admit Danny admitted (that) he stole the car.
agree The teacher agreed (that) the exam had been too difficult.
claim He claimed (that) he had been abducted by aliens.
complain We complained (that) we had been given too much homework.
deny Susie denied (that) she had stolen the car.
explain She explained (that) she wasn’t feeling very well.
promise Mandy promised (that) she would call later.
recommend The doctor recommended (that) I take more exercise.
say Robin said (that) he was going swimming.
suggest Liz suggested (that) I should try the new shopping centre.
verb + object (+ that) + clause
promise Mandy promised John (that) she would call him later.
remind Can I remind you that you need to call Stephen?
tell Carl told Jane that she had to close the windows.
warn They warned us that we shouldn’t walk on the ice.
verb + wh-word + infinitive
describe Sam described who to give the money to.
explain John explained how to get to the office.
know Carl didn’t know what to do.
wonder They wondered what to say.
verb + object + wh-word + infinitive
ask Jane asked him what to give his mother for her birthday.
remind John reminded Sam what to say in the meeting.
tell Carl told us who to see.
