UNIT
Reported speech (2)
28
• There are a number of other verbs that can be used to report sentences, whose aim is to clarify the purpose of the statement (claim, argue, state, observe, point out, mention, explain, demand, etc) or to give us more information on the mood or tone of the speaker (whisper, shout, yell, cry, mutter, etc). Observe the example: direct speech: ‘Sorry I’m late. I got stuck in the traffic.’ said Tom. indirect speech: Tom apologised and explained that he had been late because of the traffic. • The following verbs are used to shorten and sum up the direct statements: Verbs + person + to advise sb to do sth
You should read this book, Anne ➝ She advised Anne to read that/the book.
beg sb to do sth
Please, Mum, take me there ➝ He begged his mother to take him there.
forbid sb to do sth
You mustn’t see that girl again! ➝ She forbade him to see that girl again
invite sb to
Why don’t you come over for dinner? ➝ He invited his friend over for dinner.
remind sb to do / that
Remember to buy the eggs. ➝ He reminded me to buy the eggs.
warn sb to / that
Don’t touch the blades. ➝ She warned us not to touch the blades. Verbs + to / that
agree to do sth / that
Ok, I’ll lend you my car, Bill. ➝ Rob agreed to lend Bill her car.
offer to do sth
Shall I carry that for you, Gran? ➝ She offered to carry it for her grandmother.
promise to do sth / that
I will call you soon ➝ I promised to call her soon.
refuse to do sth
I won’t help you again! ➝ He refused to help me again.
threaten to do sth
I’ll tell Mum if you hit me. ➝ She threatened to tell Mum if he hit her. Verbs + -ing form / that
confess to / that
Ok, I cheated during the test. ➝ He confessed to cheating during the test.
complain about / that
Things are so expensive. ➝ She complained that things were too expensive.
deny / that
No! I didn’t steal your money! ➝ He denied stealing (having stolen) my money.
admit (to) / that
Well, I’m a bit lazy. ➝ She admitted being a bit lazy / (that) she was a bit lazy.
recommend
Visit this museum! ➝ He recommended visiting that museum.
suggest + -ing form
Let’s go for a walk, shall we? ➝ She suggested going for a walk.
suggest that
You should read this book, Anne. ➝ He suggested Anne (should) read that book. Verbs + object + preposition (+ -ing)
apologise (to sb) for
Sorry I hurt you, Charles. ➝ She apologised to Charles for hurting him.
accuse sb of
You are lying to me. ➝ She accused me of lying to her.
blame sb for
It’s your fault: you made me do it. ➝ She blamed me for making her do it.
congratulate sb on
Congratulations: you passed the test. ➝ He congratulated me on passing the test.
discourage sb from
I wouldn’t talk to him if I were you. ➝ She discouraged me from talking to him.
insist on
I want to see the manager now. ➝ He insisted on seeing the manager.
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