Reported Speech: Reported Speech: Verb PatternsVerb Patterns

Grammar GuideGrammar Guide

askask

I asked her what she meant.I asked her what she meant.

ask to do sthask to do sth

Karen Karen asked to seeasked to see the doctor. the doctor.

ask sb to do sthask sb to do sth

I asked him to call the manager.I asked him to call the manager.

assureassure

assure sb (that)assure sb (that)

The president The president assured me thatassured me that he would he would sign the bill as amended.sign the bill as amended.

Tony Tony assured me thatassured me that there was a there was a supermarket in the village.supermarket in the village.

claimclaim

claim (that)claim (that)The report The report claimed thatclaimed that hundreds of civilians had hundreds of civilians had crossed the border to escape the fighting.crossed the border to escape the fighting.The Prime Minister The Prime Minister claimed thatclaimed that he was  he was concerned about Third World debt.concerned about Third World debt.He He claimsclaims he is innocent. he is innocent.

claim to do somethingclaim to do somethingThe organization The organization claims to representclaims to represent more than more than 20,000 firms.20,000 firms.

explainexplain

explain (that)explain (that)

He He explained thatexplained that he would be moving to he would be moving to another city.another city.

HHe e explained thatexplained that it had been a difficult it had been a difficult film to make.film to make.

guaranteeguarantee

guarantee (that)guarantee (that)

He He guaranteed thatguaranteed that they would be paid on they would be paid on time.time.

I I guaranteeguarantee you'll love this film. you'll love this film.

guarantee to do somethingguarantee to do something

Our tutors can virtually Our tutors can virtually guarantee to getguarantee to get you through the exams.you through the exams.

implyimply

imply thatimply that

I didn't mean to I didn't mean to imply thatimply that you were you were interfering.interfering.

The increase in the inflation level The increase in the inflation level implied implied thatthat wages were rising too fast. wages were rising too fast.

promisepromise

promise to do sthpromise to do sth

He He promised to comepromised to come as soons as as soons as possible.possible.

She She has promised to dohas promised to do all she can to all she can to help.help.

saysay

say say ((thatthat))

A spokesman A spokesman said thatsaid that the company had the company had improved its safety standards.improved its safety standards.

I always I always saidsaid I would buy a motorbike I would buy a motorbike when I had enough money. when I had enough money.

She She saidsaid sshe liked dancing.he liked dancing.

statestate

state state ((thatthat))

Union members Union members statedstated they were unhappy they were unhappy with the proposal.with the proposal.

He He stated thatstated that the project would be the project would be completed by April.completed by April.

telltell

tell sb (that)tell sb (that)

He He told me thattold me that he loved living in London. he loved living in London.

They They told Johntold John they would arrived at six. they would arrived at six.

tell sb to do sthtell sb to do sth

She She told me to sittold me to sit down. down.

BibliographyBibliography

Cambridge Dictionaries Online, Cambridge Dictionaries Online, http://http://dictionary.cambridge.orgdictionary.cambridge.org//, 20.01.2014., 20.01.2014.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, http://http://www.ldoceonline.comwww.ldoceonline.com//, 20.01.2014., 20.01.2014.

Macmillan Dictionary and Thesaurus: Free Macmillan Dictionary and Thesaurus: Free English Dictionary Online, English Dictionary Online, http://http://www.macmillandictionary.comwww.macmillandictionary.com//, 20.01.2014., 20.01.2014.

Oxford Dictionaries: Language Matters, Oxford Dictionaries: Language Matters, http://http://www.oxforddictionaries.comwww.oxforddictionaries.com//, 20.01.2014., 20.01.2014.