1. Circle the correct verbs to complete the sentences.
1) ‘OK. I’ll feed your cat while you’re away,’ she ____ .
a advised b agreed c encouraged
2) ‘You really must stay for dinner,’ he ____ .
a asked b admitted c insisted
3) ‘I’ll definitely be there to meet you at the airport,’ she ____ .
a begged b promised c suggested
4) ‘It’s dangerous to walk around that part of town at night,’ he ____ .
a denied b offered c warned
5) ‘Is the café still open at this time? she ____ .
a begged b suggested c wondered
6) ‘I’m the one who broke your laptop,’ he ____ .
a admitted b apologised c persuaded
7) ‘I could lend you some money,’ he ____ .
a denied b proposed c wondered
8) ‘You’d better say sorry,’ she ____ .
a advised b apologised c persuaded
Show answers
1) b 2) c 3) b 4) c 5) c 6) a 7) b 8) a
2. Circle the correct reporting verb. Then complete the sentences with the infinitive or -ing form of the verbs in brackets.
1) parents never encouraged / suggested me ______________ (sing) when I was younger.
2) Did you admin / apologise to your teacher for ______________ (miss) the class?
3) Spanish friends mentioned / told ___________ (come) to visit us this summer.
4) Why are you accusing / blaming me of ______________ (copy) your homework? It isn’t true!
5) The President has denied / refused ___________ (answer) any more questions on this topic.
6) I begged / offered her ______________ (pay) for our train tickets.
7) They denied / insisted ___________ (stay) at the party until after midnight.
8) cousin encouraged / refused me ______________ (play) a few songs on the piano.
9) Why did you agree / insist on ______________ (have) the end-of-term party at our house?
10) parents begged / refused sister not ______________ (leave) school at sixteen.
11) brother finally admitted / apologised ___________ (tell) everyone secret.
12) Our next door neighbour accused / warned us of ______________ (make) too much noise late at night.
Show answers
1) encouraged, to sing 2) apologise, missing
3) mentioned, coming 4) accusing, copying
5) refused, to answer 6) begged, to pay 7 denied, staying
8) encouraged, to play 9) insist, having 10) begged, to leave
11) admitted, telling 12) accused, making
3. Complete the text with the missing words.
When I got home, brother was singing loudly in the kitchen. I asked him 1) _______ to make so much noise, but he insisted 2) _______ singing even louder. I accused him 3) _______ being the worst singer I’d ever heard. Instead of getting cross, he thanked me 4) _______ giving him an idea. Then he went upstairs, smiling. I wondered 5) _______ asking him what he was doing, but I knew he would refuse 6) _______ tell me. Two minutes later, he came downstairs again with a camcorder. He persuaded me 7) _______ video him. ‘If I’m that bad, we can make money on YouTube,’ he told 8) _______
Show answers
1) not 2) on 3) of 4) for 5) about 6) to 7) to 8) me
VOCAB BOOST!
When you learn reporting verbs, it’s a good idea to learn the related nouns at the same time. You can also learn what verbs these related nouns usually go with. Tip: the most common verbs that go with the related nouns are give and make.
agree – make an agreement
advise – give some advice
4. Use a dictionary to find the nouns related to the verbs below. Write them in the correct category.
accuse apologise encourage promise suggest warn
|
give + |
make + |
|
|
Show answers
give + apology, encouragement, warning
make + accusation, promise, suggestion
5. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use the correct form of give or make and a noun related to the underlined verb.
1) They warned us about the dangerous cliffs.
They ______________ about the dangerous cliffs.
2) He rarely encourages his son.
He rarely ______________ his son any ______________
3) She forgave him as soon as he apologised for his behaviour.
She forgave him as soon as he ______________ for his behaviour.
4) The police accused him of something serious.
The police ______________ a serious ______________ against him.
5) Why do you never suggest anything?
Why do you never ______________ any ______________ ?
Show answers
1) gave us a warning 2) gives, encouragement
3) gave her an apology 4 made, accusation
5) make, suggestions
Extra exercises
1. Circle the correct answers to complete the sentences.
1) Dave _________ me for breaking his phone, but it wasn’t actually fault!
a accused b blamed c denied
2) girlfriend wouldn’t let me pay for the meal and _________ on paying herself.
a insisted b proposed c refused
3) It was a beautiful evening, so I _________ having a barbecue.
a begged b suggested c wondered
4) friends _________ me to go to the concert although I didn’t really want to.
a admitted b agreed c persuaded
5) I _________ to lend you some money, but you said you didn’t want it.
a offered b told c warned
6) sister _________ me to call grandmother because it was her birthday.
a mentioned b promised c reminded
Show answers
1) b 2) a 3) b 4) c 5) a 6) c
2. Rewrite the sentences using the verbs in brackets as a reporting verb.
1) ‘You should check your phone bill,’ Fiona’s mother said to her. (advise)
Fiona’s mother ________
2) ‘I’ll get back to you later,’ Max told me. (promise)
Max ________
3) ‘I’m sorry I’m late,’ said the student. (apologise)
The student ________
4) ‘Let’s have a party!’ friend said. (propose)
friend ________
5) ‘Why don’t you join the debating society?’ the teacher asked me. (encourage)
The teacher ________
6) ‘You’ve been reading text messages!’ Tina said to her brother. (accuse)
Tina ________
Show answers
1) advised her to check her phone bill
2) promised to get back to me later
3) apologised for being late
4) proposed having a party
5) encouraged me to join the debating society
6) accused her brother of reading her text messages
3. Complete the sentences with the phrases below.
I can’t I’m pretty It could It looks
It’s clear It’s hard Judging by
1) ___________ to say, but I think she might be crying.
2) ___________ certain that no one else was involved.
3) ___________ her expression, she appears to be in shock.
4) ___________ be sure, but I’d say that it’s quite late.
5) ___________ that the bike is badly damaged.
6) ___________ be that the roads are very icy.
7) ___________ as if his car has broken down.
Show answers
1) It’s hard 2) I’m pretty 3) Judging by 4) I can’t
5) It’s clear 6) It could 7) It looks
