The topic explained
Feels good
- I can use reporting verbs and impersonal reporting structures.
Now look at the underlined verbs: which pattern does each one take?
WATCH OUT!
Same verb, two registers: informal or formal?
It is thought that…: reporting without saying who
GOOD THING!
Why does the text say «it is thought» and not «people thought»?
Reporting verbs and their patterns
The interview: which pattern follows the verb?
Many reporting verbs can be followed by several different patterns, but this sometimes involves a change in register or meaning.
| Many reporting verbs can be followed by several different patterns | change in register or meaning |
|---|---|
| Verb + (that) + reported statement: | He confessed that he had broken the vase. |
| Verb + (that) + reported statement: | He predicted there would be a crisis. |
| Verb + object + (that) + reported statement: | He informed me that all the shops were closed. |
| Verb + object + (that) + reported statement: | He told me his brother had lost his job. |
| Verb + if/wh- word (whether, why, which, what, how, etc.) + reported statement: | They asked how often I exercised at home. |
| Verb + if/wh- word (whether, why, which, what, how, etc.) + reported statement: | The children wondered why the museum had to remain closed for another month. |
| Verb + if/wh- word (whether, why, which, what, how, etc.) + reported statement: | The doctor explained which treatment to use. |
| Verb + (that) + personal pronoun + (should) + infinitive without to: | They recommended that we (should) wear protective gloves. |
| Verb + (that) + personal pronoun + (should) + infinitive without to: | Our boss demanded that we reveal the truth about the accident. |
| Verb + (not) to infinitive: | He promised to cook dinner for the family. |
| Verb + (not) to infinitive: | He offered to help me with my assignment. |
| Verb + object + (not) to infinitive: | He encouraged me to buy his book. |
| Verb + object + (not) to infinitive: | My brother persuaded me to try wind-surfing. |
| Verb + (not) gerund: | They admitted being unreasonable. |
| Verb + (not) gerund: | Kyle regretted criticising our latest idea. |
| Verb + (object) + preposition + (not) gerund: | They apologised for not having cleaned their bedrooms. |
| Verb + (object) + preposition + (not) gerund: | She insisted on inviting Harriet to her family party even though nobody liked her. |
| Verb + (object) + preposition + (not) gerund: | He congratulated me on passing the test. |
| Verbs with prepositions can also be followed by an object/genitive. | They complained about me/my having to share a room. |
Impersonal reporting structures
- It + passive form of reporting verb + that:
- subject + passive form of reporting verb + to infinitive:
- To emphasise that a situation/fact happened before the time it was reported we use a perfect infinitive (to have + Past Participle).
- To emphasise that a situation/trend is/was continuing at the time it was reported we can use to be + -ing:
Reported speech basic rules
Reporting what people said: tenses, pronouns, time words
When we report what people said, we usually:
- move the original verb ‘one tense back’, except for the Past Perfect and modal verbs (see below for when we do not do this).
- change pronouns as necessary:
- use ask + (object) + if/whether for yes/no questions. The word order of the question becomes a statement:
- use tell + object + (not) + infinitive to report commands:
- use ask + object + (not) + infinitive to report requests:
- We use reporting verbs like, e.g. say, tell, ask, reply, answer, enquire, announce, order.
How does the word order of a yes/no question change when we report it with ask + if/whether?
Which structure uses tell + object + (not) + infinitive: commands or requests?
References to time, place and this/that
| time, place and this/that | When we report what people said |
|---|---|
| here | there |
| now | then |
| tomorrow/next week | the following day/week or the next day/week |
| yesterday/last week | the day/week before |
| tonight/today/this evening | that night/day/evening |
| this | that (in time expressions) |
