Reporting Verbs

The two more common reporting verbs are say and tell for statements, but careful with how you use them:

say + (that) + clause

👉 She said that she was happy

👉 They said you were fine

tell + someone + clause / something

👉 She told me that she was happy

👉 She told my mother the truth

tell + someone + to infinitive (for orders)

👉 She told me to be quiet

👉 She told him not to speak in Spanish in class

There are other reporting verbs that are more descriptive. They have specific structures.

Let’s see the most common ones:

Verb + someone + to infinitive

Verb + to infinitive

Verb + that + clause

Verb + gerund

You should read every day → She suggested reading every day

You should read every day Mavi → She suggested that Mavi (should) read every day

~~She suggested Mavi to read every day~~

Verb + preposition + gerund

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

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