Business English | Reporting Verbs

Three years ago, we covered the basics of reported speech, but asked, told, and said aren't the only reporting verbs in English. A shout out to my former student Jasmine D-M who inspired this post🍻.




Reported speech is describing what another person said in the past. It's different from quoted/direct speech because we use the past tenses.

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Promised, offered, pointed out, requested, and complained are examples of reporting verbs. Remember, you don't have to use asked, said, or told. Read the dialogue below.

 Megumi is in a cafe meeting with an English teacher Glen to negotiate the fees for private, one-to-one lessons.

M: So, Glen, how much do you charge for a 90-minute lesson.
G: It's thirty dollars an hour. So, 90 minutes would be forty-five.
M: Wow. That's expensive.
G: My lessons are in cafes, so I need to pay for coffee.
M: If we meet in my office across the street, I can pay you twenty-five dollars an hour.
G: Hmm. Okay. That works for me
M: And, the coffee is free.
G: Great. We can start our lessons tomorrow if you like.
M: Yes, please. Can you be there at 4:30?
G: Sure. No problem. I'll be there.

Later, Megumi tells her coworker, Sandeesh about her meeting with Glen.

S: How did your meeting go with the English teacher?
M: Very well. Glen agreed to do the lessons for twenty-five dollars per hour.
S: That's a good rate. What did he originally offer you?
M: Thirty an hour. He said it covers the cost of coffee, so I suggested that we meet at the office.
S: Did you let him know we have free coffee too?
M: Ha! Ha! Yes. That's why he decided to take me on as a student I think.

Glen tells his friend Omar about his meeting with Megumi.

O: How was the meeting with Megumi?
G: Excellent, but I had to reduce my fee. She made it clear she wasn't going to pay that much.
O: It's pretty standard. You should have pointed out that it pays for coffee at Starbucks.
G: I mentioned that, so she told me that we could use her office - which has free coffee.
O: Ha! You love coffee. Are still free to meet up for beer tomorrow at five o'clock?
G: Oh. No, I can't. We set our first lesson for tomorrow at four-thirty. Sorry. Is six okay?
O: That's fine.

Reporting Verbs Used

• agreed, offered,  let (s/one) know
• said, suggested, decided, made (s/thing) clear
• mentioned, told, set, pointed out (that)

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences with the correct reporting verb. You may use the lists below to help you.

Remember: verb-preposition collocations!

Be careful!: word choice is as important as correct grammar.

Wikitionary | English Reporting Verbs 

 EF | Reporting Verbs with Grammar

 Denis: Hi Sarah. I see on the calendar you've ______  for April 17th off.
 Sarah: Yeah. That would be great.

a) requested
b) asked
c) demanded
d) claimed

Apple has recently ________  lower sales, but higher revenue. Competition from Samsung was 
                                      1
______ for the decrease.
   2

1 a) declares               2 a) recommended
   b) mentioned              b) blamed
   c) reported                 c) accused

My supervisor, Cara, 1_____ she was very happy with my work. She 2_______ that I get more training on the payroll software as well. We also 3_______ my request for a raise. She 4______ to review the company finances and 5_________ to me later this week.

1 a) said                      2 a) urged                            3  a) mentioned           
   b) told                         b) recommended                   b) decided
   c) indicated                  c) requested                          c) discussed

4 a) promising            5 a) get back

   b) promised                b) got back
   c) guaranteed             c) getting back


More Exercises!

Perfect English Grammar | Reporting Verbs Exercise 1

Perfect English Grammar | Reported Speech Exercises List

Exam English | B1 Grammar: Reported Speech