Reporting verbs & patterns
Reporting verbs replace said / told and show the purpose of what was said: denied, admitted, warned, accused… Each verb has its own pattern. (This topic continues reported speech.)
One step at a timeRules
Rule 1: verb + -ing
deny, admit, suggest, recommend, mention take -ing directly. For something that happened earlier, having + V3 is also possible.
Pattern: deny / admit / suggest / recommend + -ing
Example: She admitted eating the last cookie.
Example: He denied having seen the note.
Rule 2: verb + to / verb + person + to
agree, refuse, offer, promise, threaten, claim → to + verb. advise, warn, remind, persuade, encourage, invite, urge → person + to + verb. The negative is not to.
Pattern: refuse to go / remind sb to go / warn sb not to go
Example: They offered to help us.
Example: Dad reminded me to lock the door.
Rule 3: patterns with prepositions
Some verbs come with a preposition, followed by -ing: apologize for, insist on, object to, accuse sb of, blame sb for, congratulate sb on, thank sb for, prevent sb from.
Pattern: verb + (person) + preposition + -ing
Example: She apologized for being late.
Example: We congratulated Ali on winning the race.
Rule 4: that-clauses
When suggest, recommend, insist express a request, they take that + subject + base verb. explain, admit, deny, announce, agree take an ordinary *that*-clause. Careful: explain to me, suggest to me.
Pattern: suggest that + subject + base verb
Example: I suggested that she join us.
Example: He explained to us that the bus was late.
Common mistakes
He suggested me to go.→ He suggested that I go. / He suggested going.suggest doesn't take person + *to*.
Can you explain me the rule?→ Can you explain the rule to me?explain takes the person with to.
She denied to take it.→ She denied taking it.deny + -ing.
Position 12 of 17 topics at C1.