Chapter 4 · English Grammar

Advanced Reported Speech

Advanced ⏱ 45–55 minutes 🎓 Grade 12

What you will be able to do

  • Use a wide range of reporting verbs precisely
  • Match each reporting verb to its grammatical pattern
  • Choose between verb + gerund, infinitive and that-clause
  • Report a passage mixing dialogue and narrative
  • Capture the exact function of each utterance
Builds on / Related chapters
Grade 8 · Reported Speech — Advanced Grade 10 · Reported Speech & Voice for Boards

1 Quick Introduction

English

Basic narration uses 'said' and 'asked'; advanced reported speech uses precise reporting verbs — admit, deny, suggest, warn, promise, refuse, threaten — each carrying the speaker's intention. The challenge is that these verbs follow different patterns (some take a gerund, some an infinitive, some a that-clause). Mastering them lets you report not just the words, but the meaning.

हिन्दी

साधारण narration 'said' और 'asked' का प्रयोग करता है; उन्नत reported speech सटीक reporting verbs प्रयोग करता है — admit, deny, suggest, warn, promise, refuse, threaten — हर एक वक्ता की मंशा बताती है। चुनौती यह है कि ये क्रियाएँ अलग-अलग pattern लेती हैं (कुछ gerund, कुछ infinitive, कुछ that-clause)। इन्हें साधने से आप केवल शब्द नहीं, बल्कि अर्थ भी report कर पाते हैं।

2 A Real-Life Situation

Imagine this

Same fact, two reporting verbs:

Plain: He said that he had not taken the money.
Precise: He denied taking the money.

Why this form? 'denied' captures his intention in one word and triggers a gerund ('taking'). Choosing the exact reporting verb makes the report shorter and more meaningful — the mark of a skilled writer and a high-scoring answer.

3 The Grammar Rule

Rule & Formula
PatternReporting verbsExample
verb + gerundadmit, deny, suggest, recommenddenied taking it
verb + to-infinitivepromise, refuse, offer, agree, threatenrefused to go
verb + object + to-infadvise, warn, remind, urge, orderwarned me not to go
verb + that-clauseadmit, suggest, insist, complaininsisted that he was right
Pick the precise verb → use its correct pattern
"I'll definitely help," he said. → He promised to help.

4 Reporting Verbs & Their Patterns

Advanced narration replaces 'said' with a verb that names the speech act. Each verb has a fixed pattern:

Reporting verbPatternExample
admit / deny+ gerundadmitted stealing / denied stealing
suggest / recommend+ gerund or that + (subjunctive)suggested going / suggested that we go
promise / agree / refuse / offer / threaten+ to-infinitivepromised to come; refused to pay
advise / warn / remind / urge / order+ object + to-infinitiveadvised me to rest; warned her not to drive
insist / complain / claim / boast+ that-clauseinsisted that he was innocent
apologise (for) / accuse (of) / congratulate (on)+ preposition + gerundapologised for being late

Choose the verb that matches the speaker's intention, then apply its pattern exactly.

Visual — Reporting Verbs & Their Patterns
Each reporting verb has its own patterndeny / admit+ gerundpromise / refuse+ to-infinitiveadvise / warn+ obj + to-infinsist / claim+ that-clause
1
Worked Example
Report precisely: "I didn't break the vase," she said.
Solution

She denied breaking the vase. — 'deny' + gerund.

2
Worked Example
Report precisely: "You should see a doctor," he said to me.
Solution

He advised me to see a doctor. — 'advise' + object + to-infinitive.

Key Points

  • admit/deny/suggest + gerund; promise/refuse/agree + to-infinitive
  • advise/warn/remind/order + object + to-infinitive
  • insist/claim/complain + that-clause; apologise for / accuse of + gerund

5 Reporting a Passage (Mixed Dialogue & Narrative)

To report a whole passage, work through it utterance by utterance, asking: what is the speaker doing? (stating, asking, advising, refusing, apologising…). Then:

  1. Choose the most precise reporting verb for that act.
  2. Apply its pattern (gerund / infinitive / that-clause).
  3. Apply the usual changes — tense back-shift, pronouns, and time/place words.
  4. Link the reports smoothly with conjunctions ('and', 'but', 'then', 'finally').

Example passage:
Direct: "I'm sorry I'm late," said Ravi. "I won't be late again, I promise. Shall we begin?"
Reported: Ravi apologised for being late and promised not to be late again. He then suggested beginning / asked whether they should begin.

1
Worked Example
Report: "Don't touch the wires," the engineer warned us.
Solution

The engineer warned us not to touch the wires.

2
Worked Example
Report: "Yes, I took the last biscuit," he said.
Solution

He admitted taking the last biscuit.

Key Points

  • Identify each speech act, then pick the precise reporting verb
  • Apply its pattern + the usual back-shift/pronoun/time changes
  • Link the reports smoothly into one flowing paragraph

6 Vocabulary Builder

WordMeaningहिन्दी
Reporting verba verb naming a speech actकथन-क्रिया
Speech actwhat the speaker is doingवाक्-कर्म
Gerund-ing used as a nounक्रियावाचक संज्ञा
Patternthe structure a verb takesसंरचना
Intentionthe speaker's aimमंशा
✎ Vocabulary Quick Test0 / 1
Q.Which reporting verb is followed by a gerund?
Explanation: 'deny' takes a gerund: 'denied taking it'.

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗ IncorrectHe denied to take the money.
✓ CorrectHe denied taking the money.
'deny' takes a gerund, not an infinitive.
✗ IncorrectShe refused going.
✓ CorrectShe refused to go.
'refuse' takes a to-infinitive.
✗ IncorrectHe advised to rest. (no object)
✓ CorrectHe advised me to rest.
'advise' needs an object before the infinitive.
✗ IncorrectShe apologised to be late.
✓ CorrectShe apologised for being late.
'apologise for' + gerund.

8 Practice Exercises

Fill in the BlanksLevel 1
Choose the correct form after each reporting verb.
  1. He admitted ______ (cheat) in the test.
  2. She promised ______ (help) us.
  3. They warned us not ______ (enter).
  4. He denied ______ (be) involved.
  5. She refused ______ (apologise).
Answer Key
  1. cheating
  2. to help
  3. to enter
  4. being
  5. to apologise
Fill in the BlanksLevel 2
Report each sentence with a precise reporting verb.
  1. "I didn't do it," he said.
  2. "I'll definitely come," she said.
  3. "You'd better not go out," mother told me.
  4. "Yes, I made a mistake," he said.
  5. "Let's take a break," she said.
Answer Key
  1. He denied doing it.
  2. She promised to come.
  3. Mother advised/warned me not to go out.
  4. He admitted making a mistake.
  5. She suggested taking a break.
Error Detection
  1. He admitted to steal the bag.
  2. She promised coming early.
  3. He advised to consult a lawyer. (no object)
  4. They accused him to cheat.
Answer Key
  1. He admitted stealing the bag. (error: to steal)
  2. She promised to come early. (error: coming)
  3. He advised me to consult a lawyer. (error: advised to)
  4. They accused him of cheating. (error: to cheat)
Sentence Correction
  1. She suggested to go to the cinema.
  2. He apologised for be rude.
  3. The captain ordered the men retreat.
Answer Key
  1. She suggested going to the cinema. (or: She suggested that we go…)
  2. He apologised for being rude.
  3. The captain ordered the men to retreat.
Rearrange the Words
  1. taking / he / the / denied / money
  2. to / promised / help / she / us
  3. warned / not / he / to / me / go
Answer Key
  1. He denied taking the money.
  2. She promised to help us.
  3. He warned me not to go.
Match the Following
Column AColumn B
1. denya. for + gerund
2. promiseb. + gerund
3. advisec. + object + to-inf
4. apologised. + to-infinitive
Answer Key
deny → + gerundpromise → + to-infinitiveadvise → + object + to-infapologise → for + gerund

9 Micro Quiz

✎ Quick Check — 5 questions0 / 5
Q1.'deny' is followed by:
Explanation: 'deny' + gerund.
Q2.Report: '"I'll help you," he said.'
Explanation: 'promise' + to-infinitive.
Q3.'advise' takes:
Explanation: 'advise me to…'.
Q4.Report: '"Don't go," she warned me.'
Explanation: 'warn + object + not to + verb'.
Q5.'apologise' combines with:
Explanation: 'apologise for + gerund'.

10 Reading Practice

"I'm afraid I broke your vase," Sam admitted. "I'm so sorry." His friend, however, refused to be angry. "Don't worry about it," he insisted. Sam promised to replace it and offered to pay at once. "You really mustn't," his friend warned him gently, suggesting instead that they simply forget the whole thing.

Comprehension Questions
  1. Report 'I'm afraid I broke your vase' using a precise verb.
  2. Which verb reports the friend's refusal, and what pattern does it take?
  3. Report the last utterance using 'suggest'.
Answer Key
  1. Sam admitted breaking the vase.
  2. 'refused' — followed by a to-infinitive ('refused to be angry').
  3. He suggested forgetting the whole thing / suggested that they (should) forget it.

11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use

Say these aloud
  • He admitted making a mistake.
  • She promised to return the book.
  • They warned us not to swim there.
  • He refused to answer the question.
  • She apologised for arriving late.
Write a 4-line dialogue in direct speech (a confession, a promise, a piece of advice, a refusal), then report it using precise verbs (admit, promise, advise, refuse) with their correct patterns.
Example: Direct: "I forgot, sorry." "I'll do it tomorrow." / Reported: He admitted forgetting and promised to do it the next day.

12 Challenge Zone

🔥 Higher-Level Questions — 30 / 3
Q1.Report precisely: '"It was me. I admit it," he said.'
Explanation: 'admit' + gerund ('doing it').
Q2.Report: '"If you do that again, I'll call the police," he said.'
Explanation: 'threaten' + to-infinitive.
Q3.Report: '"Well done on passing the exam!" she said to him.'
Explanation: 'congratulate someone on + gerund'.

13 Chapter Mind Map

Mind Map
  ADVANCED REPORTED SPEECH
                |
   +------------+------------+
   |                         |
 REPORTING VERB PATTERNS  REPORTING
 + gerund: admit/deny     A PASSAGE
 + to-inf: promise/refuse identify each
 + obj+to-inf: advise/warn speech act
 + that: insist/claim     pick verb +
 for/of+gerund: apologise pattern, link

14 One-Minute Revision

Remember these

  • Replace 'said' with a precise verb that names the speech act
  • admit/deny/suggest + gerund; promise/refuse/agree + to-infinitive
  • advise/warn/remind/order + object + to-infinitive
  • insist/claim/complain + that-clause; apologise for / accuse of + gerund
  • To report a passage: identify each act, pick the verb + pattern, link smoothly