Reporting verbs (C1) — English exercises with answers

Reporting what people said with verb patterns: advise/encourage + object + to, deny/admit + -ing, accuse of, insist on, suggest that

Correct answers are marked. Add the set to your exercises to open it in the editor, where you can adjust tasks, play them on screen or add them to a lesson.

1
Multiple choice
She me to apply for the job, saying I'd be perfect for it.
encouragedsuggestedinsistedadmitted'Encourage + object + to-infinitive'. 'Suggest', 'insist' and 'admit' cannot be followed by 'me to'.
2
Multiple choice
He denied the documents to the press.
leakingto leakleakfor leaking'Deny' is followed by an -ing form (or 'having leaked'), never by a to-infinitive.
3
Multiple choice
Which sentence is correct?
My doctor suggested that I take more exercise.My doctor suggested me to take more exercise.My doctor suggested me taking more exercise.'Suggest' takes a that-clause ('that I take / that I should take') or an -ing form without an object ('suggested taking').
4
Multiple choice
'It was me who broke the vase,' said Tom. Which report is correct?
Tom admitted breaking the vase.Tom refused breaking the vase.Tom accused breaking the vase.Tom threatened to break the vase.'Admit + -ing' reports a confession. 'Threatened to break' changes the meaning.
5
Fill the gap
The manager us of wasting company time.
accusedblamedcriticisedcomplained'Accuse somebody of + -ing'. We blame somebody FOR something and criticise somebody FOR something.
6
Fill the gap
She apologised keeping us waiting.
forofaboutto'Apologise (to somebody) for + -ing'.
7
Fill the gap
They threatened (call) the police if we didn't turn the music down.
Answer: to call'Threaten + to-infinitive', like 'promise', 'refuse' and 'offer'.
8
Fill the gap
My parents insisted paying for the whole wedding.
ontoforin'Insist on + -ing'.
9
Fill the gap
The lawyer advised him (not / sign) anything until she had read the contract.
Answer: not to sign'Advise + object + (not) to-infinitive'. The negative 'not' goes before 'to'.
10
True / false
This sentence is correct: 'He explained me the rules of the game.'
Answer: False'Explain' needs 'to' before the person: 'He explained the rules to me'.
11
True / false
'Recommend' can be followed by an -ing form: 'I recommend booking early.'
Answer: True'Recommend + -ing' or 'recommend that somebody (should) do' are both correct; 'recommend somebody to do' is less common.
12
Discussion question
Report a recent conversation or argument you had, using at least three different reporting verbs (e.g. promise, refuse, persuade, blame, admit).
Sample answer: Last week my flatmate accused me of leaving the kitchen in a mess. At first I denied doing it, but then I admitted forgetting to wash a few plates. In the end she persuaded me to make a cleaning rota, and I promised to stick to it.

Reporting what people said with verb patterns: advise/encourage + object + to, deny/admit + -ing, accuse of, insist on, suggest that

Correct answers are marked. Add the set to your exercises to open it in the editor, where you can adjust tasks, play them on screen or add them to a lesson.

1
Multiple choice
She me to apply for the job, saying I'd be perfect for it.
encouragedsuggestedinsistedadmitted'Encourage + object + to-infinitive'. 'Suggest', 'insist' and 'admit' cannot be followed by 'me to'.
2
Multiple choice
He denied the documents to the press.
leakingto leakleakfor leaking'Deny' is followed by an -ing form (or 'having leaked'), never by a to-infinitive.
3
Multiple choice
Which sentence is correct?
My doctor suggested that I take more exercise.My doctor suggested me to take more exercise.My doctor suggested me taking more exercise.'Suggest' takes a that-clause ('that I take / that I should take') or an -ing form without an object ('suggested taking').
4
Multiple choice
'It was me who broke the vase,' said Tom. Which report is correct?
Tom admitted breaking the vase.Tom refused breaking the vase.Tom accused breaking the vase.Tom threatened to break the vase.'Admit + -ing' reports a confession. 'Threatened to break' changes the meaning.
5
Fill the gap
The manager us of wasting company time.
accusedblamedcriticisedcomplained'Accuse somebody of + -ing'. We blame somebody FOR something and criticise somebody FOR something.
6
Fill the gap
She apologised keeping us waiting.
forofaboutto'Apologise (to somebody) for + -ing'.
7
Fill the gap
They threatened (call) the police if we didn't turn the music down.
Answer: to call'Threaten + to-infinitive', like 'promise', 'refuse' and 'offer'.
8
Fill the gap
My parents insisted paying for the whole wedding.
ontoforin'Insist on + -ing'.
9
Fill the gap
The lawyer advised him (not / sign) anything until she had read the contract.
Answer: not to sign'Advise + object + (not) to-infinitive'. The negative 'not' goes before 'to'.
10
True / false
This sentence is correct: 'He explained me the rules of the game.'
Answer: False'Explain' needs 'to' before the person: 'He explained the rules to me'.
11
True / false
'Recommend' can be followed by an -ing form: 'I recommend booking early.'
Answer: True'Recommend + -ing' or 'recommend that somebody (should) do' are both correct; 'recommend somebody to do' is less common.
12
Discussion question
Report a recent conversation or argument you had, using at least three different reporting verbs (e.g. promise, refuse, persuade, blame, admit).
Sample answer: Last week my flatmate accused me of leaving the kitchen in a mess. At first I denied doing it, but then I admitted forgetting to wash a few plates. In the end she persuaded me to make a cleaning rota, and I promised to stick to it.