SPECIFIC REPORTING VERBS EXAMPLES

'I've made a mistake,' she said.

She admitted (that) she had made a mistake.

She admitted making a mistake.

'Yes. She should be invited,' I said.

I agreed that she should be invited.

'OK. We won't tell anyone about what has happened,' they said.

They agreed not to tell anyone about what had happened.

They agreed (that) they wouldn't tell anyone about what had happened.

'I won't be able to come before nine o'clock,' she said.

She answered that she wouldn't be able to come before nine o'clock.

'I'm sorry I have to leave at 3.30 p.m.' she said.

She apologized for having to leave at 3.30 p.m.

She apologized that she had to leave at 3.30 p.m.

'We're incredible. We've never lost a single game,' they said.

They boasted that they had never lost a single game.

They boasted about having never lost a single game.

'I always get 10 in my exams,' the student said.

The student boasted that he/she always got 10 in her/his exams.

The student boasted about always getting 10 in her/his exams.

'We are not responsible for the pollution in the river,' said the company.

The company claimed (that) they were not responsible for the pollution in the river.

'My boss is useless and I have too much work,' he said.

He complained that his boss was useless and he had too much work.

He complained about having a useless boss.

'This is the best chocolate I've ever tasted,' she said.

She declared (that) was the best chocolate cake she had ever tasted.

'I didn't break / I haven't broken the window,' said Neil.

Neil denies that he broke the window, but I'm sure he did.

Neil denies breaking the window.

'No. I wasn't there,' said the girl.

The girl denied that she had been there.

The girl denied being there.

'The government haven't taken part in any war action in Irak. ' said the president.

The president denied that the government had taken part …

The president denied having taken part in any war action ….

'I'm going to stay with my sister,' she said.

She explained that she was going to stay with her sister.

'I'm going to be away next week,' said I to my boss.

I informed my boss that I was going to be away the next week.

'I want to see my lawyer'

She insisted on seeing her lawyer.

She insisted that she wanted to see her lawyer.

'I have done nothing wrong'

'I did nothing wrong'

Greg insisted (that) he had done nothing wrong.

Greg insisted on doing nothing wrong.

'I'm leaving my job,' said he.

He mentioned (that) he was leaving his job.

'I saw Frank the other day,' said my wife.

My wife mentioned seeing you the other day.

'I'll take you to the airport'

'I can take you to the airport,'

Do you want me to take you to the airport?

If you want, i'll take you to the airport.

My father offered to take us to the airport.

'I'll call you every week'

He promised to call me every week.

'We will reduce taxes,' said the government.

The government promised that they would reduce taxes.

I'm not saying anything'
'I don't want to say anything'

He refused to say anything '

'Don't forget to post the letter'

I reminded her to post the letter.

'Jane, remember that the conference has been cancelled'

I called Jane and reminded her (that) the conference had been cancelled.

What's the time?

'It's twelve o'clock,'

I replied that it was twelve o'clock.

'I'd like to see the manager'

I demanded to see the manager.

'I would like you to return the books that you borrowed from me,' said she.

She demanded that he return the books he had borrowed from her.

'I'll be finished in about half an hour,' he shouted.

He shouted from the garage that he'd be finished in about half an hour.