English course · Unit 27

Reported Speech

Reporting what people say, promise, advise, admit and suggest

How to use this unit

Reported speech is what we say when we tell someone what another person said, asked or intended.

Direct speech: “I can't find my phone,” Mia said.

Reported speech: Mia said that she couldn't find her phone.

In each exercise, the reporting verb you must use is given. This directs your attention to the verb patterns presented in the unit. You may type the whole sentence or just the part that completes the prompt.

Contractions are accepted where they are natural: for example, she had and she'd, or would not and wouldn't. Sometimes a reporting verb can be followed by more than one grammatical pattern; the examples explain the alternatives.

Remember: when we report speech, pronouns, time expressions and tenses may change. The context matters, so tense changes are not simply mechanical.

Step 1 · Read

A misunderstanding at the community centre

On Friday afternoon, the community centre was preparing for a charity concert. Mia arrived late and looked worried.

“I haven't taken the concert money,” she said. “I put the envelope on the office desk.”

Tom said, “I saw you carrying an envelope, but I didn't see where you put it.” Later, Tom admitted seeing Mia with an envelope, but denied taking the money himself.

“Perhaps we should check the cupboard,” said Leila. She suggested checking the cupboard before anyone called the police.

The organiser, Mr Green, told everyone to stay calm. He reminded them to check the office carefully and warned them not to accuse anyone without evidence.

Then Sam arrived. “I'll help you look,” he said. Sam offered to help. He explained that he had moved some chairs earlier and promised to look behind them.

At last, Mia found the envelope under a pile of programmes. “I'm sorry I caused so much worry,” she said. She admitted making a mistake when she put the envelope down.

Mr Green invited everyone to have a cup of tea. Leila wondered whether they needed a safer place for the money next time.

As you read, notice the different reporting verbs and the grammar that follows them. The later steps practise these patterns one group at a time.

Step 2 · Statements and information

Say, tell, explain, admit and deny

Pattern	Example
say (that) + clause	Jo said (that) she was tired.
tell + person + (that) + clause	Ben told me (that) the bus was late.
explain (that) + clause	Nia explained (that) she had missed the bus.
admit / deny + -ing	Tom denied taking the money.
admit / deny + that-clause	Mia admitted that she had made a mistake.

We usually say “She told me that …”, not “She told that …”. With say and explain, a listener is not required.

Use the reporting verb shown in each question. Complete sentences and natural contractions are accepted.

1. “I'm tired,” Jo said. Report this using say.

2. “The bus is late,” Ben said to me. Report this using tell.

3. “I didn't take the money,” Tom said. Report this using deny.

4. “I missed the bus,” Nia said. Report this using explain.

5. “I made a mistake,” Mia said. Report this using admit.

Suggested answers

Jo said (that) she was tired.
Ben told me (that) the bus was late.
Tom denied taking / having taken the money.
Nia explained (that) she had / she'd missed the bus.
Mia admitted making / having made a mistake, or admitted (that) she had / she'd made a mistake.

Step 3 · Offers, promises, agreements and refusals

Verb + to-infinitive

These verbs are often followed by to + base verb. The choice of reporting verb depends on what the speaker means; the same words can be interpreted differently in different contexts.

Verb	Example
agree	She agreed to stay.
offer	He offered to help.
promise	They promised to call.
refuse	She refused to leave.

1. “I'll help you,” Sam said. Report this using offer.

2. “I'll call you tonight,” Ella said. Report this using promise.

3. “I won't apologise,” he said. Report this using refuse.

4. “All right, I'll stay,” Priya said. Report this using agree.

Suggested answers

Sam offered to help.
Ella promised to call / phone.
He refused to apologise / apologize; “he said (that) he wouldn't / would not apologise” is also a natural report of the words.
Priya agreed to stay / remain.

The instruction names the verb to practise. In freer conversation, another verb may also be appropriate if the context supports it.

Step 4 · Advice, requests and instructions

Verb + person + to-infinitive

Verb	Example
advise	She advised me to wait.
beg	He begged her to stay.
invite	They invited us to join them.
order	The officer ordered him to stop.
remind	I reminded her to lock the door.
warn	He warned us not to touch it.

For a negative instruction, use not to + verb: “Don't go in!” → She warned us not to go in.

1. “You should rest,” the doctor said to Ali. Report this using advise.

2. “Remember to bring your keys,” Mum said to me. Report this using remind.

3. “Don't go near the dog,” the man said to us. Report this using warn.

4. “Would you like to come to dinner?” I asked Kate. Report this using invite.

5. “Stop!” the police officer shouted to the driver. Report this using order.

Suggested answers

The doctor advised Ali to rest / have a rest.
Mum reminded me to bring my keys.
The man warned us not to go near the dog.
I invited Kate to come to dinner / have dinner.
The police officer ordered the driver to stop.

Step 5 · -ing forms and prepositions

Admit, deny and accuse

Admit and deny can be followed by an -ing form. Accuse has a different pattern: accuse + person + of + -ing.

“I broke the cup.” → He admitted breaking the cup.

“I didn't break it.” → He denied breaking it.

“You took my pen!” → She accused him of taking her pen.

1. “I broke the cup,” Dan said. Report this using admit.

2. “I didn't steal the bike,” Max said. Report this using deny.

3. “You took my phone!” Sara said to Leo. Report this using accuse.

Suggested answers

Dan admitted breaking / having broken the cup, or admitted (that) he had / he'd broken it.
Max denied stealing / having stolen the bike, or denied (that) he had / he'd stolen it.
Sara accused Leo of taking / stealing her phone.

Step 6 · Suggestions and questions

Suggest and wonder

Suggest can be followed by an -ing form or a that-clause. It is not normally followed by person + to-infinitive.

Wonder is useful for reporting a question indirectly. Keep statement word order: wondered where she was, not wondered where was she.

1. “Let's take a taxi,” Jo said. Report this using suggest.

2. “Where is the station?” he asked himself. Report this using wonder.

3. “Is she ready?” I wondered. Report this using wonder.

Suggested answers

Jo suggested taking a taxi / that we (should) take a taxi.
He wondered where the station was (or is, if still relevant).
I wondered if / whether she was ready (or is ready, if still relevant).

Step 7 · Mixed review

Choose the pattern, use the given verb

Each question names the reporting verb to use. Think about the structure that follows it. Write the whole sentence or the phrase completing it; contractions are accepted.

1. “I'll send the email for you,” Ravi said. Report this using promise.

2. “You should book early,” Helen said to me. Report this using advise.

3. “I didn't break the window,” Alex said. Report this using deny.

4. “Don't forget your tickets,” I said to them. Report this using remind.

5. “Don't touch the wire,” the electrician said to Ana. Report this using warn.

Suggested answers

Ravi promised to send the email.
Helen advised me to book early.
Alex denied breaking / having broken the window, or denied (that) he had / he'd broken it.
I reminded them not to forget their tickets.
The electrician warned Ana not to touch the wire.

Quick reference: reporting patterns

Verb + clause: say (that), tell someone (that), explain (that), admit (that), deny (that)
Verb + to-infinitive: agree, offer, promise, refuse
Verb + person + to-infinitive: advise, beg, invite, order, remind, warn
Verb + -ing: admit, deny, suggest
Verb + person + of + -ing: accuse
Verb + question word / if / whether + clause: wonder

Further verbs for later practice: exclaim reports a strong reaction; prefer is especially useful when comparing choices. We can introduce them in a later unit or extension.