Common Reporting Verbs
Common reporting verbs and their correct use
We use certain verbs to report speech.
She said, ‘I am going.’
She said that she was going.
Here said is the reporting verb. There are several reporting verbs in English. The most common among them are discussed here.
Tell
The most common verb used to report orders is tell. Note that tell is followed by a personal object.
‘Go away,’ she said to me.
She told me to go away.
‘Take this file with you,’ I told him.
I told him to take that file with him.
Reply
Use a that-clause after reply.
‘Where are you going?’ she asked. ‘Home,’ I replied.
I replied that I was going home.
She replied that she wasn’t interested.
‘I am waiting for my mother,’ said the boy.
The boy replied that he was waiting for his mother.
Complain
Complain is followed by a that-clause.
She complained that her boss was always rude to her.
They complained that the weather was too hot.
Shout
Shout can be followed by a that-clause.
‘I am not coming,’ he said from his room.
He shouted from his room that he was not coming.
Remark
Use a that-clause after remark.
She remarked that he looked old.
She remarked that she might be home late.
Order
Use a to-infinitive after order.
The cops ordered the people to vacate the place immediately.
The teacher ordered the students to stand in line.
Command
Command is followed by a to-infinitive or a that-clause
The officer commanded his men to stand upright.
He commanded that his troops should march forward.
Or
He commanded his men to march forward.
Instruct
Instruct is followed by a to-infinitive.
The cop instructed the man to get out of the car.
The tourists were instructed not to swim in the sea.
The teacher instructed us to submit our work the following day.
Suggest
Suggest is followed by a that-clause or an ing form. Note that we cannot use a to-infinitive after suggest.
‘Let’s search every passenger on the bus,’ said the conductor.
The conductor suggested that they search every passenger on the bus. / The conductor suggested that they should search every passenger on the bus.
Should can be omitted in the that-clause following suggest.
‘You should take a break,’ said mother.
Mother suggested that I should take a break. / Mother suggested taking a break.