When you report what someone said, you do not have to rely on say and tell every time. English has reporting verbs that show more precisely what the speaker did.
Someone can admit, deny, promise, warn, suggest, explain, or refuse. The verb adds meaning, but it also affects the grammar that follows. You can promise to help, suggest waiting, and warn someone not to enter, but those patterns cannot simply be swapped from one reporting verb to another.
What Are Reporting Verbs?
A reporting verb is a verb used to report what someone said, wrote, thought, believed, asked, promised, advised, or communicated in another way.
Common reporting verbs include:
- say
- tell
- ask
- explain
- admit
- deny
- promise
- suggest
- recommend
- warn
- advise
- claim
- agree
- refuse
- complain
- announce
- insist
- remind
For example:
Maya said that the meeting had been moved.
Ethan admitted making the mistake.
The doctor advised Leo to rest.
Nina promised to call later.
A reporting verb can therefore tell you more than the words that were communicated. It can also show whether the speaker was admitting, promising, warning, denying, recommending, or doing something else.
Reporting Verbs Add Meaning
Compare:
Ava said that she had broken the vase.
Ava admitted that she had broken the vase.
The first sentence reports Ava’s statement.
The second also tells you that she accepted that something was true, possibly after hesitation or denial.
Another comparison:
Marcus said that the road was dangerous.
Marcus warned us that the road was dangerous.
The basic information is similar, but warned tells you why Marcus communicated it.
Choosing a more precise reporting verb can make a sentence both shorter and more informative.
The Pattern After a Reporting Verb Matters
Reporting verbs do not all take the same grammatical structure.
For example:
promise to help
suggest waiting
tell someone to wait
admit that something happened
accuse someone of lying
Some reporting verbs allow several patterns. Others are much more restricted.
A useful way to learn them is therefore to learn the verb and its pattern together.
Reporting Verb + That-Clause
Many reporting verbs can be followed by a that-clause.
The pattern is:
reporting verb + that + clause
Emma said that she needed more time.
Noah explained that the road was closed.
The company announced that the office would reopen on Monday.
Daniel admitted that he had forgotten the appointment.
Common verbs that can appear in this pattern include:
- admit
- agree
- announce
- claim
- complain
- confirm
- explain
- insist
- mention
- promise
- say
- state
- suggest
In many contexts, that can be omitted.
Olivia said she was tired.
The manager confirmed the store was closing early.
The omission is especially common in conversation and informal writing.
Reporting Verb + Object + That-Clause
Some reporting verbs can take an object before the reported clause.
The pattern is:
reporting verb + object + that-clause
The guide reminded us that the museum closed at five.
Maya told Daniel that the schedule had changed.
The manager assured the staff that their jobs were safe.
The doctor warned him that the infection could return.
The object identifies the person who receives the information.
Common verbs in this pattern include:
- assure
- inform
- remind
- tell
- warn
Other verbs can also allow an object in particular meanings and structures, so the exact pattern should be learned with the individual verb.
Reporting Verb + To-Infinitive
Some reporting verbs can be followed directly by a to-infinitive.
The pattern is:
reporting verb + to + base verb
Chloe agreed to help.
Ryan offered to drive.
Maya promised to return the book.
The company refused to comment.
Common reporting verbs in this pattern include:
- agree
- claim
- decide
- offer
- promise
- refuse
- threaten
The infinitive often describes an action that the subject agrees, offers, promises, refuses, or claims to perform.
Reporting Verb + Object + To-Infinitive
Other reporting verbs place an object before the infinitive.
The pattern is:
reporting verb + object + to + base verb
The teacher reminded us to bring our notes.
Ava advised Noah to wait.
The officer ordered everyone to leave.
Daniel encouraged Maya to apply.
Common verbs in this pattern include:
- advise
- ask
- encourage
- invite
- order
- persuade
- remind
- tell
- urge
- warn
The object normally identifies the person expected, encouraged, instructed, or persuaded to act.
Negative Infinitives After Reporting Verbs
If the reported action is negative, not normally comes before the infinitive.
The doctor advised her not to drive.
Marcus promised not to tell anyone.
The guard warned us not to enter.
The pattern is:
reporting verb + (object) + not to + base verb
Reporting Verb + -ing Form
Some reporting verbs are followed by an -ing form rather than a to-infinitive.
Nina admitted taking the document.
Leo denied breaking the window.
Maya suggested meeting earlier.
Daniel mentioned seeing the same car before.
Common verbs in this pattern include:
- admit
- deny
- mention
- recommend
- suggest
A common error is to use the wrong complement after suggest.
Incorrect:
She suggested to leave early.
Correct:
She suggested leaving early.
Another standard option is:
She suggested that we leave early.
Reporting Verb + Preposition + -ing Form
Some reporting verbs are followed by a particular preposition before an -ing form.
Ava apologized for arriving late.
The residents complained about losing access to the park.
Daniel insisted on paying for dinner.
Maya objected to changing the schedule.
Common patterns include:
- apologize for
- complain about
- confess to
- insist on
- object to
- warn against
The preposition is part of the verb pattern.
Reporting Verb + Object + Preposition + -ing Form
Some reporting verbs take an object, a preposition, and then an -ing form.
The police accused the driver of speeding.
The manager blamed the supplier for causing the delay.
We congratulated Emma on winning the award.
Common patterns include:
- accuse someone of
- blame someone for
- congratulate someone on
These constructions identify both the person involved and the action being reported.
Reporting Verbs with Wh- Clauses
Reporting verbs can introduce clauses beginning with words such as what, where, why, when, how, and who.
Maya explained why the meeting had been canceled.
Daniel asked where the station was.
Nina described how the accident happened.
The teacher showed us what we needed to change.
In an indirect question, the reported clause normally uses statement word order.
Correct:
He asked where the station was.
Not:
He asked where was the station.
Reporting Verbs with If or Whether
Yes/no questions can often be reported with if or whether.
Ava asked if I was ready.
Daniel wondered whether the store was still open.
The receptionist asked us if we had an appointment.
Again, the reported clause normally uses statement word order.
Correct:
She asked if I was available.
Not:
She asked if was I available.
Reporting Verbs with a Subjunctive That-Clause
Reporting verbs that express a recommendation, demand, request, or similar desired action can be followed by a that-clause containing the base form of the verb.
The committee recommended that she apply again.
The manager insisted that everyone arrive on time.
The doctor suggested that he rest for a few days.
The judge ordered that the document be released.
The verb after that does not change for the subject.
They recommended that he wait.
Not:
They recommended that he waits.
This subjunctive pattern is particularly common in formal English and in American English. British English also commonly uses should + base verb in comparable contexts:
The committee recommended that she should apply again.
Both patterns can be standard depending on the variety and context.
Some Reporting Verbs Allow More Than One Pattern
Reporting verbs do not necessarily belong to only one group.
For example, admit can take an -ing form or a that-clause:
He admitted taking the money.
He admitted that he had taken the money.
Recommend can also use more than one structure:
The doctor recommended resting for two days.
The doctor recommended that Maya rest for two days.
And warn can appear in several patterns:
They warned us to stay inside.
They warned us that the road was dangerous.
They warned against driving during the storm.
The possible structure depends on the individual reporting verb and, in some cases, the meaning being expressed.
Say vs. Tell
Say and tell are common reporting verbs, but they behave differently.
When reporting a statement, say does not normally take the person receiving the message as a direct object.
Emma said that she was tired.
If the hearer is mentioned, to is normally used:
Emma said to me that she was tired.
Not:
Emma said me that she was tired.
With tell, the person receiving the message is normally expressed directly:
Emma told me that she was tired.
Daniel told us to wait outside.
Not:
Emma told that she was tired.
A useful basic contrast is:
say + something
say something to someone
tell + someone + something
The verbs also have other uses and fixed expressions, but this distinction covers the main reporting pattern.
Tell vs. Explain
Explain does not normally take a person directly in the same way as tell.
Maya told me the problem.
Maya explained the problem to me.
Not:
Maya explained me the problem.
With a clause:
Maya explained that the system was offline.
Maya explained to me that the system was offline.
When the person receiving the explanation is included, they are normally introduced with to.
Suggest Does Not Normally Take Object + To-Infinitive
A common error is:
She suggested me to wait.
Standard alternatives include:
She suggested waiting.
She suggested that I wait.
She suggested that I should wait.
Compare this with verbs that naturally allow an object followed by a to-infinitive:
She advised me to wait.
She told me to wait.
The difference comes from the complement pattern required by the reporting verb.
Recommend and Its Common Patterns
Recommend commonly takes an -ing form or a that-clause.
The guide recommended booking in advance.
The guide recommended that we book in advance.
In standard English, recommend + object + to-infinitive is generally not the normal pattern for reporting a recommended action.
Instead of:
The guide recommended us to book early.
use:
The guide recommended booking early.
or:
The guide recommended that we book early.
If you want the pattern object + to-infinitive, a verb such as advise is often more natural:
The guide advised us to book early.
Do Reporting Verbs Only Report Spoken Words?
No.
Reporting verbs can report information from:
- speech;
- writing;
- thoughts;
- beliefs;
- opinions;
- conclusions;
- recommendations.
The report claims that demand is increasing.
Researchers suggest that the change may be temporary.
Maya thought that the door was locked.
The email confirmed that the booking had been accepted.
The original message does not need to have been spoken aloud.
What Happens to Tense After a Reporting Verb?
When a reporting verb is in the past, the verb in the reported clause may shift back in tense.
Direct:
“I am tired.”
Reported:
She said that she was tired.
Direct:
“I have finished.”
Reported:
He said that he had finished.
But backshift is not automatic in every context. A speaker may keep the original tense when the information is still true or when the context makes backshift unnecessary.
The teacher said that water boils at 100°C at standard atmospheric pressure.
Tense choice in reported speech is a wider topic than reporting verbs themselves, so the important point here is simply that the reporting verb does not determine every tense mechanically.
Passive Reporting Structures
Some reporting verbs are especially common in passive structures in formal, academic, and news-style English.
The actor is believed to be abroad.
The company is expected to announce the decision tomorrow.
The building is reported to have suffered major damage.
Another common structure begins with it:
It is believed that the painting is authentic.
It is reported that several roads are closed.
Verbs commonly found in these structures include:
- believe
- consider
- expect
- know
- report
- say
- think
These constructions allow the report, belief, or expectation to become the focus rather than the person who originally expressed it.
Reporting Verbs by Meaning
The meaning you want to express can help you choose an appropriate reporting verb.
| Meaning | Common reporting verbs |
|---|---|
| neutral reporting | say, tell, state, report, mention |
| admitting or denying | admit, confess, deny |
| advice or recommendation | advise, recommend, suggest, urge |
| command or instruction | order, instruct, tell, command |
| promise or intention | promise, offer, threaten, agree |
| disagreement or objection | deny, object, protest, refuse |
| explanation or clarification | explain, clarify, point out |
| warning | warn, caution |
| opinion or claim | claim, argue, maintain, insist |
| response | answer, reply, respond |
These groups are not rigid categories. Some reporting verbs can serve different purposes depending on context.
Quick Reference: Reporting Verb Patterns
| Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
| verb + that-clause | say that, admit that, explain that |
| verb + object + that-clause | tell someone that, remind someone that |
| verb + to-infinitive | promise to, offer to, refuse to |
| verb + object + to-infinitive | advise someone to, tell someone to |
| verb + -ing | admit doing, deny doing, suggest doing |
| verb + preposition + -ing | apologize for doing, insist on doing |
| verb + object + preposition + -ing | accuse someone of doing |
| verb + wh-clause | explain why, ask where |
| verb + if/whether-clause | ask if, wonder whether |
| verb + that + base form | recommend that someone do |
The most reliable approach is to learn a reporting verb together with the grammatical pattern it allows.
For example:
suggest doing
advise someone to do
accuse someone of doing
Learning only the verb’s meaning is not always enough.
Reporting verbs let you describe both what was communicated and how it was communicated. Someone may admit, deny, promise, suggest, warn, explain, or recommend rather than simply say something.
Their grammatical patterns matter just as much as their meanings. Some take that-clauses, some take to-infinitives, some take -ing forms, and others require an object or a particular preposition.
Learning the reporting verb together with its normal sentence pattern is the clearest way to use these verbs accurately and naturally.
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