Reporting Verbs Practice Tests with C1 Grammar Rules & Examples

Reporting Verbs in English

When we want to tell someone what another person said, we do not always have to use the simple verb say or tell. In advanced English, we use reporting verbs — verbs that describe how something was said or what type of communication took place. Reporting verbs make your writing and speaking much more precise, natural, and sophisticated.

Compare these two sentences:

"He said he would help me."
"He offered to help me."

The second sentence tells us much more. It tells us the nature of what he said — it was an offer. This is the power of reporting verbs.

In this lesson, you will learn the most important reporting verbs in English, the grammar patterns that follow them, and how to use them accurately at C1 level.

Why Reporting Verbs Matter

In everyday communication, we constantly report what other people have said — in conversations, essays, emails, and formal writing. Using a wide range of reporting verbs allows you to:

• Convey the speaker's intention more precisely
• Avoid repeating said and told constantly
• Sound more fluent and academic
• Add detail and meaning to your reported speech

For example, instead of writing "She said she had not done it," you can write "She denied doing it." This is far more expressive and efficient.

The Grammar Patterns of Reporting Verbs

The most important thing to learn about reporting verbs is that each verb follows a specific grammatical pattern. There are several main patterns. Let us look at each one carefully.

Pattern 1: Verb + to-infinitive

Some reporting verbs are followed directly by a to-infinitive (to + base verb).

Common verbs: agree, offer, refuse, promise, threaten, claim, demand, decide, volunteer, ask (when asking oneself)

Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + to + base verb

Examples:

• She agreed to help with the project.
• He offered to drive us to the station.
• They refused to sign the contract.
• She promised to call me back.
• He threatened to report us to the manager.
• She claimed to have seen the accident.

Pattern 2: Verb + object + to-infinitive

Some reporting verbs need an object (a person) before the to-infinitive. We are reporting what someone told or asked another person to do.

Common verbs: advise, ask, beg, encourage, invite, order, persuade, remind, tell, urge, warn, forbid, instruct, allow

Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + object (person) + to + base verb

Examples:

• She advised him to see a doctor.
• He asked me to wait outside.
• They warned us not to touch the equipment.
• The manager told the team to submit the report by Friday.
• She encouraged me to apply for the job.
• He reminded her to lock the door.
• The teacher urged students to revise their notes.

Note: To form the negative, place not before the to-infinitive:
She warned him not to be late.

Pattern 3: Verb + -ing form (gerund)

Some reporting verbs are followed by a gerund (the -ing form of a verb). There is no object between the reporting verb and the gerund.

Common verbs: admit, avoid, consider, deny, recommend, regret, suggest, mention, propose, acknowledge, report

Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + verb-ing

Examples:

• She admitted making a mistake.
• He denied taking the money.
• They suggested holding the meeting online.
• She recommended visiting the museum.
• He mentioned seeing her at the conference.
• She proposed delaying the decision.

Pattern 4: Verb + preposition + -ing form

Some reporting verbs require a preposition before the gerund.

Common verbs and their prepositions:

Pattern 5: Verb + that-clause

Many reporting verbs can be followed by a that-clause. This is one of the most flexible patterns and is common in both formal and informal English. The word that can often be omitted in informal contexts.

Common verbs: say, tell, admit, agree, announce, argue, claim, complain, confirm, deny, explain, insist, mention, promise, recommend, reply, report, state, suggest, warn, add, boast, decide, demand, hope, propose

Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + (that) + subject + verb

Examples:

• She admitted (that) she had forgotten the appointment.
• He claimed (that) he had never met her before.
• They announced (that) the event would be postponed.
• She insisted (that) the report be submitted immediately. (formal/subjunctive)
• He denied (that) he had been involved.
• The doctor explained (that) the treatment would take several weeks.

Note on tense: When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in the that-clause usually shifts back in tense (backshift), following the rules of reported speech.

Pattern 6: Verb + object + that-clause

Some verbs require an object (a person) before the that-clause.

Common verbs: tell, remind, convince, inform, notify, assure, warn, persuade

Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + object + (that) + clause

Examples:

• She told him (that) the meeting had been cancelled.
• He reminded me (that) the deadline was the next day.
• They assured us (that) everything was under control.
• She convinced him (that) the plan would work.
• He informed the staff (that) new procedures had been introduced.

Comprehensive Table of Reporting Verbs and Their Patterns

Reporting Verbs and the Perfect Infinitive

At C1 level, it is important to understand that some reporting verbs can be followed by a perfect infinitive (to have + past participle). This is used when the reported action happened before the reporting verb — in other words, when the reported event is in the past relative to when it is being reported.

Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + to have + past participle

Examples:

• She claimed to have completed the report before the deadline. (She said she completed it — in the past.)
• He admitted to have made an error during the presentation. (The error happened before he admitted it.)
• They appeared to have left without saying goodbye.
• She seemed to have misunderstood the instructions.

Compare these two sentences:

• He claims to be an expert. — He is an expert now.
• He claims to have been an expert. — He was an expert in the past.

Reporting Verbs with the Passive Voice

In formal and academic writing, reporting verbs are very commonly used in the passive voice. This is useful when you want to report what is generally believed or stated without referring to a specific speaker.

Structures:

It + passive reporting verb + that-clause:
It is claimed that the new treatment is highly effective.
It has been reported that several people were injured.
It was argued that the decision was premature.

Subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive:
The treatment is believed to be highly effective.
The suspect is said to have fled the country.
The economy is expected to improve next year.

Common verbs used this way: say, believe, claim, consider, expect, know, report, think, understand, allege, assume

Verbs That Change Meaning Depending on Their Pattern

Some reporting verbs can follow more than one pattern, but the pattern changes the meaning. Pay close attention to these.

Remember

• She remembered to lock the door. — She did not forget to lock it. (action completed)
• She remembered locking the door. — She has a memory of locking it. (past memory)

Suggest

• He suggested taking the train. — He recommended it (gerund — general suggestion).
• He suggested that we should take the train. — He recommended it (that-clause — more formal or detailed).
• Important: We do not say "He suggested us to take the train." ❌ suggest does NOT take an object + to-infinitive.

Recommend

• She recommended visiting the gallery. — gerund, no specific person addressed.
• She recommended that he visit the gallery. — that-clause with subjunctive (formal).
• Important: We do not say "She recommended him to visit." ❌ recommend does NOT take an object + to-infinitive.

Agree

• They agreed to sign the contract. — verb + to-infinitive.
• They agreed that it was a good idea. — verb + that-clause.

The Subjunctive with Reporting Verbs

In formal English, certain reporting verbs — particularly those expressing demands, suggestions, or recommendations — can be followed by a that-clause with a subjunctive. In the subjunctive, the base form of the verb is used for all persons (no -s in third person singular; be is used instead of is/are/was).

Common verbs used this way: insist, suggest, recommend, propose, demand, request, urge, advise, require

Structure:
Subject + reporting verb + that + subject + base verb (subjunctive)

Examples:

• She insisted that he apologise immediately. (not "apologises")
• The committee recommended that the proposal be reviewed. (not "is reviewed")
• He suggested that everyone attend the briefing. (not "attends")
• They demanded that the report be submitted without delay.
• The doctor advised that she rest for a week. (not "rests")

This structure is more common in formal and written English. In informal speech, speakers often use should + base verb instead:

• She insisted that he should apologise immediately.

Important Differences and Special Cases

Say vs Tell

Although say and tell are the most basic reporting verbs, students at C1 level must use them correctly alongside more advanced verbs.

Suggest and Recommend — No Object + to-Infinitive

Two of the most commonly misused reporting verbs are suggest and recommend. These verbs cannot be followed by an object and a to-infinitive.

❌ She suggested him to leave early.
✅ She suggested (that) he leave early. / She suggested leaving early.

❌ He recommended me to read the book.
✅ He recommended (that) I read the book. / He recommended reading the book.

Deny — Only Followed by a Gerund or That-Clause

The verb deny cannot be followed by a to-infinitive.

❌ He denied to take the money.
✅ He denied taking the money.

Insist — Two Different Prepositions for Two Different Patterns

• She insisted on staying. — verb + on + -ing (she was determined to stay)
• She insisted that he stay. — verb + that + subjunctive (she demanded that he stay)

Common Mistakes

❌ She suggested him to take a break.
✅ She suggested (that) he take a break. / She suggested taking a break.

❌ He admitted to have stolen the watch.
✅ He admitted stealing the watch. / He admitted (that) he had stolen the watch.

❌ They recommended him to apply for the post.
✅ They recommended (that) he apply for the post. / They recommended applying for the post.

❌ She denied to know anything about it.
✅ She denied knowing anything about it.

❌ He said me that the meeting was cancelled.
✅ He told me (that) the meeting was cancelled.

❌ The manager told that we needed to work harder.
✅ The manager said (that) we needed to work harder. / The manager told us (that) we needed to work harder.

❌ She promised helping us with the project.
✅ She promised to help us with the project.

❌ He insisted to sign the agreement himself.
✅ He insisted on signing the agreement himself.

❌ They warned us leaving the area.
✅ They warned us to leave the area. / They warned us not to enter the area.

❌ She accused him to cheat in the exam.
✅ She accused him of cheating in the exam.

Reporting Verbs in Academic and Formal Writing

In academic essays, dissertations, and formal reports, reporting verbs are used constantly to refer to research, evidence, and the views of others. Choosing the right verb signals whether the source