35 Reporting Verbs in English

35 Reporting Verbs in English (with examples)

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. When we report what someone else has said, we often avoid using their exact words. Instead, we use reported (indirect) speech to convey the message more naturally and accurately — especially in writing and formal speaking. Reporting verbs in English

Most learners begin with the reporting verbs say and tell:

He said, “I’m going to buy new shoes.”

He said that he was going to buy new shoes.

He told me, “I’ll call you later.”

He told me that he would call me later.

While say and tell are useful, relying on them alone can make your English sound repetitive. Native speakers regularly use a wide range of reporting verbs to express attitude, intention, emotion, certainty, or authority.

Using varied reporting verbs will make your speaking and writing clearer, more precise, and more impressive — especially in Cambridge B2 First (FCE) and C1 Advanced (CAE) exams.

Common Reporting Verbs in English

Below is a list of 35 reporting verbs, with examples showing how direct speech changes in reported speech.

Accuse

The teacher said, “You copied your homework.”

The teacher accused him of copying his homework.

Admit

She said, “I forgot to send your parcel.”

She admitted that she had forgotten to send my parcel.

Advise

She said, “You should avoid travelling in the peak season.”

She advised me to avoid travelling in the peak season.

Agree

She said, “I will help you with your project.”

She agreed to help me with my project.

Announce

The headteacher said, “School will be closed tomorrow.”

The headteacher announced that school would be closed the next day.

Apologise

The student said, “I’m sorry for being late.”

The student apologised for being late.

Ask

She said, “Can you help me with the bags?”

She asked me to help her with the bags.

Challenge

She said, “Prove that you can solve the puzzle.”

She challenged him to solve the puzzle.

Claim

The witness said, “I saw him leaving the building.”

The witness claimed that she had seen him leaving the building.

Complain

She said, “The hotel room was too cold.”

She complained about the hotel room being extremely cold.

Confirm                  

She said, “I will attend the meeting tomorrow.”

She confirmed that she would attend the meeting the next day.             

Consider

She said, “I might take a gap year.”

She considered taking a gap year.

Decide

She said, “I’ll go to the party.”

She decided to go to the party.

Declare

The judge said, “The court is in session.”

The judge declared that the court was in session.

Deny

She said, “I didn’t break the window.”

She denied breaking the window.

Describe

The witness said, “The thief was short and wore a black hat.”

The witness described the thief as a short man wearing a black hat.

Encourage

She said, “Keep going — you’re almost there.”

She encouraged me to keep going.

Expect

The teacher said, “The students will do well.”

The teacher expected the students to do well.

Explain

She said, “Press this button to start the machine.”

She explained which button to press to start the machine.

Hope

The student said, “I will pass my exam.”

The student hoped to pass his exam.

Insist

She said, “I’ll pay the bill.”

She insisted on paying the bill.

Mention

She said, “I saw your sister in town.”

She mentioned seeing my sister in town.

Offer

She said, “I can give you a lift.”

She offered to give me a lift.

Order

My mother said, “Clean your room!”

My mother ordered me to clean my room.

Persuade

She said, “You should join the club.”

She persuaded me to join the club.

Plan

She said, “I will visit my aunt.”

She planned to visit her aunt.

Promise

The teacher said, “There will be no homework.”

The teacher promised there would be no homework.

Recommend

She said, “You should try the new sushi restaurant.”

She recommended trying the new sushi restaurant.

Refuse

She said, “I won’t lend you any money.”

She refused to lend me any money.

Regret              

She said, “I didn’t study hard enough.”

She regretted not studying hard enough.

Report

The newsreader said, “The storm is approaching.”

The newsreader reported that the storm was approaching.

Request

The manager said, “You must attend the meeting.”

The manager requested that I attend the meeting.

Suggest

She said, “Let’s go jogging.”

She suggested going jogging.

Threaten

She said, “I will take legal action.”

She threatened to take legal action.

Warn

She said, “Be careful on the icy road.”

She warned us to be careful on the icy road.

Reporting Verbs + Gerund (-ing)

Some reporting verbs are commonly followed by a gerund:

• admit
• deny
• suggest
• recommend
• mention
• regret
• consider

Examples:

• The thief admitted stealing the money.
• She denied breaking the vase.
• Mary suggested going to the swimming pool.
• They considered moving abroad.

Reporting Verbs + To-Infinitive

Other reporting verbs are followed by a to-infinitive:

• agree
• promise
• refuse
• offer
• decide
• hope

Examples:

• Julia agreed to help me.
• He promised to finish the work by Friday.
• She refused to participate.
• They hoped to win the competition.

Final tip for exams

In Cambridge speaking and writing, accurate reporting verbs instead of said shows range, control, and accuracy — all key marking criteria. Even replacing said with just one well-chosen verb can considerably raise your score. 

Do the quiz below to practise and perfect your use of reporting verbs.

Download the PDF worksheet with the exercise for reporting verbs

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