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Reporting Verbs Worksheet

The document discusses reporting speech and the changes made to verb tenses when reporting what someone said. It provides examples of common reporting verbs like "say" and "tell" and how they are followed by a that-clause with tense shifted further into the past. It also discusses how verbs like "suggest", "order", "offer", and others are often reported using infinitives or -ing forms of verbs. Finally, it provides 20 examples of reported speech and indicates how they should be reported in the past tense.

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SueRamiro-Ibanez
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553 views2 pages

Reporting Verbs Worksheet

The document discusses reporting speech and the changes made to verb tenses when reporting what someone said. It provides examples of common reporting verbs like "say" and "tell" and how they are followed by a that-clause with tense shifted further into the past. It also discusses how verbs like "suggest", "order", "offer", and others are often reported using infinitives or -ing forms of verbs. Finally, it provides 20 examples of reported speech and indicates how they should be reported in the past tense.

Uploaded by

SueRamiro-Ibanez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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When reporting someone’s words we usually move on tense further into the past.

So simple present becomes


simple past, simple past becomes past perfect, etc.
 “Jill doesn’t like you.” Paul told me that Jill didn’t like me.
 “I saw you at the airport yesterday.” Linda said that she had seen me at the airport the day before.

a) The verbs “say” and “tell” are common reporting admit, announce, answer, claim, complain,
verbs and follow the structure: confess, declare, explain, inform, insist,
(that) + subject + verb(s) mention, promise, reply, state, suggest...

b) Promises, orders, offers, requests, advice,


suggestions ... are often reported using to infinitive: agree, advise, ask, beg, decide, demand,
 “Shall I call a taxi?”  She offered to call a taxi. invite, offer, order, promise, refuse, remind,
 “Don’t make so much noise.”  The teacher asked tell, threaten, warn...
me not to make so much noise.

c) Some verbs are followed by –ing:


accuse of, admit (to), confess to,
 “Sorry I’m late.”  Paul apologised for being late.
congratulated for, deny, insist on, regret,
 “Sorry I was late.”  Paul apologised for having been
thank for ...
late.

d) The special use of “suggest” - “Why not go out to eat something?”


Michael suggested  (that) we should go out to eat something. (subject + should + infinitive)
 (that) we went out to eat something. (subject + past)
 going out to eat something. (-ing)

REPORT the following as indicated below.


2. “I didn’t 3. “You didn’t forget
1. “Don’t worry! break this.” my birthday.”
I’ll talk to
your mother.”
4. “I want to speak
with my lawyer.”

5. “You never take 8. “You must push


my advice.” this button first.”
6. “Have lunch
with me.”

7. “Please, don’t
fire me.”

9. “I’m not going 11. “You started the


10. “I really must see your
to cut his hair.” fire, didn’t you?”
homework, Brian.”

12. “I won’t be late


again.”
14. “Let me help you
15. “Congrats! You’ve
13. “Just buy a new with these.”
won the 1st price.” 16. “Sorry, but I really
car.”
have to give you this
shot.”

17. “I didn’t do my
homework.” 18. “Yes, I lied to you.”
19. “Things are not
20. “Stop that
going as planned,
whining, son.”
dear.”

1. My teacher agreed... 2. He denied...

3. She thanked him for... 4. She demanded...

5. My mother complained... 6. He invited me...

7. He begged his boss... 8. He explained...

9. He refused... 10. Brian’s father insisted on...

11. He accused me of... 12. He promised himself...

13. His friend suggested... 14. The man offered...

15. He congratulated me for... 16. The doctor apologised for...

17. He confessed ... 18. Kate admitted to...

19. He informed his wife... 20. The coach ordered him...

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