20 - Verbs for Reporting

Instituto de Estudios Superiores Belén PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS

Gramática Inglesa II

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VERBS USED IN REPORTING

Many different verbs are used in reporting. We do not usually report every word that

was said or written and these different verbs can help to summarize the original words:

Examples of verbs used in reporting:

• He invited us to stay for the weekend.

'”Would you like to come and stay for the weekend?”

• She insisted on paying for the meal.

“No, no, I don't want your money. I'm definitely going to pay for the meal and that's that”

• SB + inf. advise - encourage invite - persuade

remind - warn

• + infinitive agree - decide offer - promise

refuse

• + gerund (ing) accuse SB of

advise SB against dissuade SB from

persuade SB against

• + gerund (ing) agree on/about - apologize for

complain about - insist on recommend - suggest

warn against -



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decide complain accuse advise apologize

offer persuade remind warn refuse

PRACTICE 49 PUT THE SENTENCES INTO REPORTED SPEECH, SUMMARIZING WHAT WAS SAID AND

USING THE VERBS IN THE BOX

1. “I know you've got a lot of work to do at the moment. I'll help you type up that report if

you like;” he said.

He offered to help me type up the report.

2. A: “I don't think you should hand in your resignation immediately. Give yourself more

time to think about it.

B: OK. I suppose you're right. I'll leave it for a while then.

He persuaded me not to hand in my resignation immediately.

3. “No, I'm not going to discuss it with you. I think it's a waste of time;” he said.

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4. “I really think I should have been invited to the meeting. I'm very unhappy about the

fact that I wasn't,” he said

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5. “You've been quite ill and you need to recover. I really think you should take it easy

for a few days,” the doctor said.

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• that clause agree - announce

boast - claim concede - complain

decide - insist recommend

suggest (+ should)



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6. “You must not go near their house again or there will be trouble,” the police said to

him.

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7. “After giving the matter some serious thought, we have now reached a final decision.

We are going to close down the naval base in two years’ time,” said the Ministry of

Defense.

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8. “Someone's been reading my diary. I know they have. I found it in the wrong drawer

this morning. It was you, wasn't it?”

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9. “Remember that you've got to apply for a new passport. Yours is out of date now,” he

said to me.

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10. “I'm really sorry about all the trouble I've caused. I didn't mean to,” she said.

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SUMMARIZING WHEN REPORTING When we are reporting, we do not repeat everything that was said or written. As we

report, we summarize.

A range of different verbs are used and these help to summarize. (See previous

section). In addition, we often use adjectives to describe how someone responded, instead

of reporting their words:

Oral Reporting When we report orally, we regularly switch our method of reporting. We use a

mixture of direct speech, reported speech and descriptions of the content of the

conversation. For example:

• She was delighted when we told her the news.

“Oh, that's fantastic. I'm just so pleased. This is the best news we've had in ages.”



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Written Reporting

In written reports, we tend to use reported speech consistently rather than switching

from one style of reporting to another. If we are reporting what one person said, it is not

necessary to keep repeating She/He/It said… However, we continue to use the reported

speech tenses if it is understood that we are still reporting. For example:

PRACTICE 50 IN YOUR NOTEBOOK, WRITE A SUMMARIZED REPORT OF THE FOLLOWING SPEECH.

The meeting was concluded by the Chair of the Governors, who said

that although it had been a difficult year, the staff of the school had managed

very well. The financial cutbacks had hit hard and it was to be hoped that

there would be no further cutbacks in the coming year.

Library stocks were severely depleted and he suggested that there

should be a series of fundraising activities to help raise money for books. He

thanked all the staff for their hard work and hoped that the coming year

would be successful. The Headteacher then thanked the Chair of the

Governors for his contribution to the school and the meeting was closed at

9.00 p.m.

I was talking to Jo last night about the holiday. She thinks we shouldn't book

anything up yet because we'll probably get a cheaper deal if we leave it till

just before we go. I agreed with her but I said I didn't know what you would

think about that. And then of course we have to decide definitely where we

want to go. I said we quite fancied going to one of the islands but she said,

“Well, I'm not sure Graham will like the idea.” Anyway, in the end she said

why don't we talk to him about it when we meet him on Thursday.

“I am delighted to have been elected onto the Council and I thank all those

voters who came out in the rain today to vote for me. I am very much looking

forward to representing the interests of the residents of Kimbridge Valley and

hope that I will have the opportunity to do so for many years to come.

During the last few weeks, I have spoken to many of the valley residents on

the doorstep and I have a clear idea of the issues which are of most concern

to them. The proposed closure of the school is understandably causing a

great deal of anxiety and I shall do everything in my power to fight against

that. I hope that I will be successful.

Thanks again to my supporters and a big thank you to all those who helped

me during the campaign…”



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Example: In her acceptance speech, Diane

Banham said that she was

delighted...

SOURCE Elanie WALKER & Steve ELSWORTH: Grammar Practice for Upper-Intermediate

Students – with Key. Pearson Education Limited, England - 2000. pp. 134 - 137