Reporting Verbs & Patterns

B2 Grammar • Speaking-focused lesson

Activate Your Memory

Think back to conversations you've had. When you told someone what another person said, what words did you use? Think of 2-3 verbs that come to mind when you're reporting what others said or asked. Don't look anything up — just speak what comes naturally.

Speak: "I remember these reporting verbs..." (30 seconds)

Today: Master reporting verbs and their patterns (verb+that, verb+to+infinitive, verb+-ing, verb+object+to+infinitive) so you can accurately report what others said, suggested, promised, and refused.

Why This Matters

At B2, you're telling more complex stories. You need to report not just what people said, but what they admitted, denied, suggested, recommended, warned, promised, refused, offered, agreed, threatened, insisted, and claimed. Each verb behaves differently — some take infinitives, some take -ing forms, some need "that" clauses. Get these patterns right, and your storytelling becomes fluent and sophisticated.

What We'll Do Today

You'll discover the four main patterns, practice transforming direct speech into reported speech, and use these verbs in extended speaking challenges. By the end, you'll have four patterns locked in and be able to use them without hesitation.

The Four Patterns

Reporting verbs fall into four families. Each pattern is shaped by what comes after the verb. Let's start with the two most common.

Pattern 1: Verb + That-Clause

These verbs take a "that" clause. The original verb tense often shifts back one tense in reported speech.

Admit

"I made a mistake." → He admitted that he had made a mistake.

Claim

"I know the answer." → She claimed that she knew the answer.

Deny

"I didn't steal it." → He denied that he had stolen it.

Insist

"It's true!" → She insisted that it was true.

Transformation Example: Direct speech: "I've never been to Paris."
Reported speech: She admitted that she had never been to Paris.

Your turn (1 minute): Use admit, claim, deny, or insist to report what someone has told you recently. Speak naturally — no pauses. "I remember my friend claiming that... She denied that..."

Pattern 2: Verb + To-Infinitive

These verbs connect directly to a to-infinitive. The structure is simpler — no tense shift needed.

Agree

"I'll help." → He agreed to help.

Offer

"I can drive." → She offered to drive.

Promise

"I'll call you." → He promised to call.

Refuse

"I won't go." → She refused to go.

Transformation Example: Direct speech: "I'll be on time."
Reported speech: He promised to be on time.

Your turn (1 minute): Use agree, offer, promise, or refuse to report recent conversations. Speak in full sentences — no notes. "My colleague offered to... The client refused to..."

The Other Two Patterns

Here are the less common but equally important patterns.

Pattern 3: Verb + -Ing Form

Some verbs take the -ing form (gerund). Think of these as describing an action or process, not a completed event.

Admit

"I forgot to call." → He admitted forgetting to call.

Deny

"I didn't cheat." → She denied cheating.

Suggest

"Let's try again." → He suggested trying again.

Recommend

"Visit Rome." → She recommended visiting Rome.

Transformation Example: Direct speech: "I made a mistake."
Reported speech: She admitted making a mistake. (More natural than "admitted that she had made")

Your turn (1 minute): Report what someone suggested, recommended, or admitted (using -ing). Speak continuously. "My teacher recommended reading more books. I admitted wasting time on social media. My friend suggested..."

Pattern 4: Verb + Object + To-Infinitive

A few verbs require an object between the verb and the infinitive. These verbs describe what someone wants someone else to do.

Warn

"Don't trust him." → She warned me not to trust him.

Threaten

"I'll resign." → He threatened to resign.

Key distinction: "Threaten" can work both ways:

"I'll resign." → He threatened to resign. (he's the agent)
"I'll destroy you." → He threatened to destroy me. (object + infinitive)

Your turn (1 minute): Speak about warnings or threats you've heard. "My doctor warned me to exercise more. The landlord threatened to raise the rent. My mother warned me not to..."

Pattern Matching Challenge

Below are reporting verbs and their patterns mixed up. Your task: match each verb to its typical pattern, then speak an example sentence using it.

Verb	Most Common Pattern	Example Sentence (Speak)
Suggest	+ -ing form	My boss suggested postponing the meeting.
Warn	+ object + to-infinitive	The coach warned us not to skip warm-ups.
Admit	+ that-clause OR + -ing form	She admitted making an error in the report.
Promise	+ to-infinitive	He promised to arrive on time.
Recommend	+ -ing form	The doctor recommended reducing salt intake.
Claim	+ that-clause	She claimed that she was innocent.

Now You Try — Hypothesis Testing

I'm going to give you direct speech. You predict: which pattern will the reporting verb take? Then we'll check together.

Challenge 1

Direct speech: "I won't tell anyone."
Verb: REFUSE
Your prediction (speak): What pattern comes next? [Pause and speak your prediction]
✓ Correct: He refused to tell anyone.

Challenge 2

Direct speech: "I definitely saw it."
Verb: INSIST
Your prediction (speak): What comes next? [Pause and speak]
✓ Correct: She insisted that she had definitely seen it.

Challenge 3

Direct speech: "Let's meet next week."
Verb: SUGGEST
Your prediction (speak): [Pause and speak]
✓ Correct: He suggested meeting next week.

Reflect (1 minute): How are you feeling about these patterns? Which one is clearest to you right now? Speak about what you've understood so far.

Extended Speaking Challenge

It's time to apply what you've learned. You'll transform direct speech into reported speech AND explain why you chose each pattern. Your main output is spoken.

Speaking Time

3:00

Your Task: Below are 6 pieces of direct speech. For each one:

Say the reporting verb (I see "admit" here...)
Transform it to reported speech — speak it naturally
Briefly explain why that pattern works (because this verb takes...)

1. Direct: "I've studied abroad for three years."

Reporting Verb: CLAIM

Speak: "The reporting verb is claim. In reported speech, that would be... [your answer]. I chose this pattern because..."

Sample: "She claimed that she had studied abroad for three years. Claim takes a that-clause because it reports what someone asserts or states."

2. Direct: "I'll call you tomorrow evening."

Reporting Verb: PROMISE

Speak: Say the reported speech and explain your choice.

Sample: "He promised to call me the next evening. Promise uses to-infinitive because it describes a commitment or action the person is making."

3. Direct: "I didn't download that file."

Reporting Verb: DENY

Speak: Transform and explain.

Sample: "He denied downloading the file. Deny with -ing form sounds more natural than 'denied that he had downloaded.'"

4. Direct: "Why don't you try this restaurant?"

Reporting Verb: RECOMMEND

Speak: Full answer.

Sample: "She recommended trying that restaurant. Recommend takes -ing because it describes an action or experience being suggested."

5. Direct: "Don't trust him — he's dishonest."

Reporting Verb: WARN

Speak: Full answer with explanation.

Sample: "She warned me not to trust him because he was dishonest. Warn uses object + to-infinitive when we're warning someone about what NOT to do."

6. Direct: "You should read this book — it's excellent."

Reporting Verb: SUGGEST

Speak: Full answer.

Sample: "He suggested reading the book because it was excellent. Suggest always uses -ing form."

Reflection (1 minute): Which verb pattern felt easiest to use while speaking? Which felt least natural? Why do you think that was?

Mixed Challenges: Reporting Verbs + Previous Grammar

Now you'll encounter reporting verbs mixed with other B1-B2 grammar structures. You must diagnose which pattern to use AND apply the appropriate tense or form.

Challenge Set 1: Tense Shifting

Remember: in reported speech, tenses usually shift back one step. You choose the reporting verb AND ensure the tense is correct.

Scenario 1: Direct: "I will finish by Friday." (Your colleague, Monday morning)
Speak: "My colleague promised/claimed/insisted that... [correct tense]"
✓ "My colleague promised to finish by Friday." (Promise + to-inf, no tense shift needed)

Scenario 2: Direct: "The project is finished!" (Your boss, excited tone)
Speak: "My boss claimed that... [correct tense]"
✓ "My boss claimed that the project was finished." (Present → Past)

Challenge Set 2: Pattern Diagnosis

Some verbs can take multiple patterns. Read the original speech and choose the pattern that sounds most natural.

Scenario 3: Direct: "I made a serious error in that spreadsheet." (Your colleague, apologizing)
Pattern A: She admitted that she had made a serious error.
Pattern B: She admitted making a serious error.
Speak: "I think Pattern [A or B] sounds more natural in this context because..."
✓ Pattern B is more natural and conversational. "Admitted making" is more direct and flows better in spoken English.

Scenario 4: Direct: "You should definitely try the new Thai restaurant." (Friend's recommendation)
Pattern A: She recommended to try the new Thai restaurant.
Pattern B: She recommended trying the new Thai restaurant.
Speak: "Pattern [A or B] is correct because..."
✓ Pattern B. Recommend always takes -ing. Pattern A is not grammatical.

Challenge Set 3: Odd One Out

Three sentences use reporting verbs. One has an error. Find it and explain what's wrong.

A: "She denied stealing the money."
B: "He promised that he will arrive on time."
C: "They threatened to close the office if sales didn't improve."

Speak: "I think sentence [A/B/C] has an error because..."

✗ Sentence B. "Promised that he will" is incorrect — promise takes to-infinitive. Should be: "He promised to arrive on time." The tense shift also happens when using the to-infinitive structure (future → infinitive form).

Reflection (1 minute): Without looking at examples, can you name the four patterns again? Speak them in order, with one verb example for each.

Wrap Up & Metacognition

✓ I can now: Report what others said using reporting verbs + that-clauses, to-infinitives, -ing forms, and object + to-infinitive patterns. I understand when to use each pattern and can transform direct speech into reported speech fluently.

The Four Patterns (Summary)

Pattern 1: Verb + That-Clause
Admit, claim, deny, insist — what someone states or asserts
"She admitted that she had forgotten."

Pattern 2: Verb + To-Infinitive
Agree, offer, promise, refuse — what someone commits to or declines
"He promised to call me."

Pattern 3: Verb + -Ing Form
Admit, deny, recommend, suggest — describing an action or activity
"She recommended reading the book."

Pattern 4: Verb + Object + To-Infinitive
Warn, threaten — directing someone to do or avoid something
"The coach warned them not to skip training."

Recall Zone: Test Your Memory

Without looking back, answer these questions. Speak your answers — full sentences.

Question 1: "What's the difference between 'She admitted stealing' and 'She admitted that she had stolen'? When would you use each?"

Question 2: "Name three verbs that take the to-infinitive pattern, and give me one example sentence with each."

Question 3: "Give me a sentence using 'warn' or 'threaten' that includes an object and a negative infinitive."

Question 4: "What is the main difference between Pattern 1 (that-clause) and Pattern 2 (to-infinitive) in terms of what they report?"

Reflect on Your Learning

Thinking About Your Learning

Which activity helped you remember the patterns best? (Seeing examples, speaking them, transforming sentences, or explaining them?)

When do you think you'll use these patterns in real conversations? Name a specific situation.

Which pattern still feels least natural to you? Why?

If you saw a reporting verb in a text tomorrow, what would you do to figure out which pattern comes next?

Looking Forward

In your next lessons, watch for reporting verbs in articles, podcasts, and conversations. Notice which patterns appear most frequently. Try spotting them before the pattern becomes obvious. This is how your brain locks them in — through recognition and real-world examples.

Your speaking output today: You used all four patterns, transformed direct speech multiple times, explained your reasoning, and handled mixed challenges — all without notes. That's solid B2 performance. Keep building on this.