Reporting somebody's ideas or questions

To report somebody's ideas or questions we use following verbs:

• verb + that:
• She complained that she was given a little money.
• He explained that he was too busy.

The following verbs can be used with this pattern:

• add

• admit

• agree

• announce

• believe

• boast

• claim

• complain

• deny

• declare

• explain

• insist

• remind

• suggest

• warn

• verb + somebody + that:

• We reminded them that they might go to a party.

• He warned me that I should be careful in the park.

The following verbs can be used with this pattern:

• warn

• remind

• verb + somebody to do something:

• He advised me to change my job.

• I promised you to come here.

The following verbs can be used with this pattern:

• advise

• beg

• order

• promise

• verb + to do something:

• He threatened to take legal action.

• I agreed to buy a new car.

The following verbs can be used with this pattern:

• agree

• offer

• refuse

• threaten

• verb + ing form:

• I suggested going to the presentation.

The following verbs can be used with this pattern:

• admit

• deny

• suggest

• verb + if/whether:

• He asked if it was possible to see patient.

• They asked if he did his homework.

The following verbs can be used with this pattern:

• inquire

• ask

• verb + preposition + ing form:

• He has been accused of pick-pocketing.

The following verbs can be used with this pattern:

• accuse of

We do not change the tense in the reported sentence when:

• the reporting verb is in the present:

• She feels feverish. - He says that she feels feverish.

• we report something which is still true:

• I live in London. - She said that she lives in London.

• we report something which is still on the future at the moment of reporting:

• The book will be written in 2017. - Author announced that the book will be written in 2017.