Reporting verbs and patterns

She said that the deadline had changed reports the words or message. At B2, you can make a report more precise by choosing a verb that shows whether someone admitted, denied, promised, suggested or warned about something.

“I copied the figures,” he said.
He admitted copying the figures.

The reporting verb changes the structure that follows it. Learn the verb and its pattern together; translating the original sentence is not enough.

Four common patterns

Verb + that-clause reports a statement or claim:

She explained that the office would close early.
They insisted that the result was accurate.

Verb + to-infinitive often reports an intention, promise or offer:

He promised to call by Friday.
They agreed to share the costs.

Verb + object + to-infinitive reports advice, orders or encouragement:

The doctor advised me to rest.
They encouraged us to apply.

Verb + -ing commonly follows verbs such as admit, deny, suggest and recommend:

She denied taking the file.
We suggested meeting after lunch.

Some verbs allow more than one pattern with a change in structure: He admitted that he had made a mistake / He admitted making a mistake. Both report an admission, but the second is more concise.

Keep the person in the right place

The infinitive patterns are easier if you ask who will do the action?

With offered to help, the subject of offered is also the helper. With asked me to send, the object me identifies the sender. Omitting it would lose an essential part of the message.

Negative instructions place not before to: She warned us not to enter. A negative promise is She promised not to tell anyone. In both cases, it is the later action that is negative, not necessarily the reporting verb.

Suggestions need a different construction

For “Let's meet at six,” use She suggested meeting at six or She suggested that we meet at six. The that-clause is helpful when you need to name the proposed participants.

She suggested that he meet us uses a base form meet, even with he. She suggested that he should meet us is another natural option, especially in British English. Avoid She suggested him to meet us. The pattern for advise someone to does not transfer to suggest.

For recommend, recommend doing and recommend that someone do/should do are reliable B2 patterns: They recommended booking online; They recommended that we book online.

Prepositions are part of the pattern

Some reporting verbs need a preposition before the person or action:

They accused him of changing the records.
She apologised for arriving late.
He insisted on paying for the meal.

After a preposition, use a noun or -ing form: accused of lying, not accused of lie. The object position also matters: She told me the truth, but She said that the truth was complicated. We say say something to someone, but tell someone something.

A change in pattern can change the meaning

She stopped to explain means she paused another activity in order to explain. She stopped explaining means she ended the explanation. He remembered to lock the door means he did not forget the task; He remembered locking it means he has a memory of the earlier action. When the reporting verb is followed by -ing or an infinitive, the choice can change the time relationship or meaning.

A reporting verb also shows the speaker’s attitude. Claimed may imply doubt; admitted presents the information as something the speaker accepts, often reluctantly; warned signals possible danger. Choose a verb that is supported by the original words—do not turn a neutral comment into an accusation.

Useful check while writing

When you choose a reporting verb, ask two questions: What does it mean? What grammar follows it? A learner’s dictionary often lists examples of the pattern. Then check pronouns and time references in the reported message: “I’ll help you,” Mia said can become Mia offered to help me or Mia said she would help me, depending on what the original speaker meant and who is reporting it.

Report the intention without inventing it

Suppose a visitor says “The stairs are slippery.” She said that the stairs were slippery reports the fact neutrally. She warned us that the stairs were slippery adds that she intended to alert us to danger. The second is appropriate when that intention is supported by the situation.

Try another exchange:

“I changed the figures. I'm sorry.” → He admitted changing the figures and apologised for doing so.
“I didn't change the figures.” → He denied changing the figures.

Denied changing reports a denial; it does not prove that he did or did not change them. Admitted changing reports acceptance of responsibility. Your reporting verb describes the speaker's response, not your independent investigation of the facts.

A useful way to record vocabulary is to include all required parts:

The Cambridge explanation of suggest is especially useful for keeping suggestion patterns separate from verbs that take an object plus infinitive.

Sources and further reading

• Cambridge Dictionary: Reported speech and reporting verbs
• Cambridge Dictionary: Suggest
• Cambridge Dictionary: Verb patterns — verb + that-clause
• Cambridge Dictionary: Word patterns — recommend