REPORTING VERBS IN ENGLISH

REPORTING VERBS IN ENGLISH

Say and tell are common reporting verbs.

·         Direct speech: Alice said, ‘I am not going to come with you.’

·         Indirect speech: Alice said that she was not going to come with me.

·         Indirect speech: Alice told me that she was not going to come with me.

Say and tell aren’t the only reporting verbs in English. Of course, they are the most common, but there are other reporting verbs too.
In this article, we will take a look at some not-so-common reporting verbs.

Study the examples given below.

·         Direct speech: I will help you. I promise.

·         Indirect speech: He said that he would help me.

·         Indirect speech: He promised me that he would help me. / Hepromised to help me.

The verb promise can be followed by a to-infinitive or a that-clause.

Advise

The verb advise can be followed by object + to-infinitive/that clause.

·         The doctor advised him to get rest.

·         OR The doctor advised that he should get rest.

·         I advise you to reject the offer.

·         OR I advise that you should reject the offer.

Encourage

The verb encourage can be followed by object + infinitive.

·         Our teacher always encouraged us to discuss our problems with her.

·         He encouraged her to make another attempt to pass the test.

·         The doctor encouraged him to go on a diet.

Warn

Warn can be followed by an object + infinitive

·         The teacher warned the students to work hard.

·         I warned you not to bet on that horse.

WORKSHEET ON ‘INFINITIVE COMPLEMENTS’

WORKSHEET ON ‘INFINITIVE COMPLEMENTS’

Complete the following sentences

1. He is the ……………………. athlete ever to have won an Olympic gold medal.

a) eldest
b) oldest
c) Either could be used here

2. There is no ………………….

a) hope of arriving
b) hope to arrive
c) Either could be used here

3. Why won’t you …………………….?

a) let me to explain
b) let me explain
c) let me explaining

4. She …………………….

a) seems to cry
b) seems to be crying
c) Either could be used here

5. I …………………… the door and go out.

a) heard her open
b) heard her to open

6. I …………………… by tomorrow evening.

a) expect to be finishing
b) expect to have finished

7. Cricket is not very …………………..

a) interesting to watch
b) interesting to watch it

8. I told her that I …………………. to leave.

a) have decided
b) had decided
c) am decided

9. The hate the thought ………………… old.

a) to get

b) of getting

Answers

1. He is the oldest athlete ever to have won an Olympic gold medal.

2. There is no hope of arriving.

3. Why won’t you let me explain?

4. She seems to be crying.

5. I heard her open the door and go out.

6. I expect to have finished by tomorrow evening.

7. Cricket is not very interesting to watch.

8. I told her that I had decided to leave.

9. I hate the thought of getting old.

WORKSHEET ON ‘TOO’, ‘TOO MUCH’ OR ‘TOO MANY’

‘TOO’, ‘TOO MUCH’ OR ‘TOO MANY’

Complete the following sentences using ‘too’, ‘too much’ or ‘too many’.

1. He is …………….. old to work. (too / too much)

2. It is ………………. cold to go out now. (too / too much)

3. There was ……………….. snow to go walking. (too / too much)

4. You put ………………… salt in the soup. (too / too much)

5. I put down the box because it was ………………. heavy. (too / too much)

6. He does not like women who are …………….. tall. (too / too much)

7. I cannot solve this problem – it’s ………………… difficult. (too / too much)

8. I have got ………………… work to do. (too / too much / too many)

9. You have eaten …………………… rice. (too / too much / too many)

10. You ask ……………………. questions. (too / too much / too many)

Answers

1. He is too old to work.

2. It is too cold to go out now.

3. There was too much snow to go walking.

4. You put too much salt in the soup.

5. I put down the box because it was too heavy.

6. He does not like women who are too tall.

7. I cannot solve this problem – it’s too difficult.

8. I have got too much work to do.

9. You have eaten too much rice.

10. You ask too many questions.

WORKSHEET ON ‘MANY’ AND ‘MANY OF’

WORKSHEET ON ‘MANY’ AND ‘MANY OF’

Complete the following sentences using 'many' or 'many of'

1. ………………… families own more than one vehicle these days. (Many / Many of)

2. …………………… us are disappointed with the government’s economic policies. (Many / Many of)

3. ………………. them are late. (Many / Many of)

4. There weren’t ………………… students in the class. (many / many of)

5. How …………………… you have submitted your assignments? (many / many of)

6. She has got ……………….. friends in the city. (many / many of)

7. ……………… them are not interested in the offer. (Many / Many of)

8. There aren’t ………………… apples on the tree. (many / many of)

9. How ………………… people were there? (many / many of)

10. ………………… those who participated in the program said that they enjoyed it. (Many / Many of)

Answers

1. Many families own more than one vehicle these days.

2. Many of us are disappointed with the government’s economic policies.

3. Many of them are late.

4. There weren’t many students in the class.

5. How many of you have submitted your assignments?

6. She has got many friends in the city.

7. Many of them are not interested in the offer.

8. There aren’t many apples on the tree.

9. How many people were there?

10. Many of those who participated in the program said that they enjoyed it.

PHRASAL VERBS BEGINNING WITH 'H'

PHRASAL VERBS BEGINNING WITH 'H'

Here is a list of phrasal verbs beginning with the letter H. Each phrasal verb is followed by its meaning or definition. Example sentences are also given.

Hand in

To hand an essay or an assignment in is to give it to someone in charge.

·         All students must hand in their work before Friday.

·         The minister handed in his registration when his involvement in the scam came under public scrutiny.

·         As she had received a better job offer she handed in her notice at work.

Hand on

To hand something on to somebody is to give it to them.

·         These stories were handed on verbally from one generation to the next.

·         When my sister outgrew her clothes, my mother handed them on to me.

Hand out

To hand something out is to distribute it.

·         The teacher told the students to hand out the pamphlets.

Hand over

To hand something over to somebody is to give it to them so that they can take control.

·         He handed over the reins of the company to his son.

Hang about / around

Even after his friends had gone, he hanged around in the street for a little longer.

·         You shouldn’t let your kids hang about in the street after dark.

Hang on

To hang on is to wait.

·         Hang on a minute; I want to talk to you.

Hang out

To hang out is to spend time somewhere.

·         I would rather play with my children than hang out at the bar.