Reporting Verbs

Why do I need this? There are more interesting ways to report speech apart from “They said…” Different speech verbs indicate how the speaker delivered their message or express what their intent was. And remember that in grammar, ‘speech’ doesn’t necessarily mean spoken aloud; it could be written down or even merely thought in some cases.

Some of these work in Verb Patterns (preceding either Active Participles or Full Infinitives), while others precede Content Clauses, as in typical Reported Speech or Indirect Questions.

Try filtering the table by Function. In the search bar, type in one of the following: ‘advise’, ‘assert’, ‘commit’, ‘compel’, ‘denounce’, ‘elucidate’, ’emphasize’, ‘exclaim’, ‘hint’, ‘implore’, ‘inquire’, ‘perform’, ‘ponder’, ‘solicit’, or ‘validate’.

	Reporting Verb	Indirect Object	Preposition	Complement	Function
	accuse	[somebody]	of	Active Participle	Denounce
	acknowledge			(that) Content Clause	Validate	◊
	adjure	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Solicit
**	admit			(that) Content Clause	Denounce, Validate	◊
**	admit		to	Active Participle	Denounce
	admonish	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Denounce	◊
**	advise	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Advise
**	advise			that Content Clause	Advise
	affirm			(that) Content Clause	Validate	◊
**	agree			(that) Content Clause	Validate
**	agree		to	Active Participle	Commit
**	agree			Full Infinitive	Commit
	allege			that Content Clause	Assert
	announce			that Content Clause	Elucidate, Perform	◊
	answer			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	apologize	to [somebody]	for	Active Participle	Denounce
**	argue			(that) Content Clause	Assert	◊
**	argue			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Inquire
	articulate			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
**	ask	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Implore, Solicit	◊
**	ask			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Inquire	◊
	assent			Full Infinitive	Commit
	assert			that Content Clause	Assert	◊
	assure			that Content Clause	Assert
	beg	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Implore	◊
	berate	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Denounce	◊
	beseech	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Solicit
	bid	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Implore
	blab			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	blame	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Denounce
	blurt (out)			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	boast			that Content Clause	Elucidate
	cajole	[somebody]	into	Active Participle	Compel
	call		for	Active Participle	Implore
	challenge			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Ponder
	chant			that Content Clause	Perform	◊
	chastise	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Denounce	◊
**	claim			(that) Content Clause	Assert
**	claim			Full Infinitive	Assert
	coax	[somebody]	into	Active Participle	Compel
	command	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Compel
	commend	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Validate	◊
	comment			that Content Clause	Elucidate
	compel	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Implore
**	complain		about	Active Participle	Denounce
**	complain			that Content Clause	Denounce
	concede			that Content Clause	Validate	◊
**	confess			(that) Content Clause	Denounce, Validate	◊
**	confess		to	Active Participle	Denounce
	confirm			that Content Clause	Validate	◊
	congratulate	[somebody]	on	Active Participle	Validate	◊
	consent		to	Active Participle	Commit
**	convince	[somebody]		(that) Content Clause	Assert
**	convince	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Advise, Implore
	counsel	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Advise
	criticize	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Denounce	◊
	cry			that Content Clause	Exclaim
	dare	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Implore
**	debate			Active Participle	Assert, Ponder	◊
**	debate			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Ponder	◊
	declare			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	decree			that Content Clause	Implore
**	demand			(that) Content Clause	Compel	◊
**	demand			Full Infinitive	Compel
**	deny			(that) Content Clause	Assert	◊
**	deny			Active Participle	Assert	◊
	describe			Active Participle	Elucidate	◊
	disclose			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
**	discuss			Active Participle	Ponder	◊
**	discuss			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Ponder	◊
	dispute			Active Participle	Denounce	◊
**	dispute			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Ponder	◊
	divulge			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
**	doubt			(that) Content Clause	Ponder	◊
**	doubt			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Ponder
	emphasize			that Content Clause	Emphasize	◊
	encourage	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Advise	◊
	endorse			Active Participle	Advise, Validate
	entreat	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Solicit
	exclaim			(that) Content Clause	Exclaim	◊
	exhort	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Advise, Implore
**	explain			Active Participle	Elucidate	◊
**	explain			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	express			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
**	forbid	[somebody]	from	Active Participle	Compel
**	forbid	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Compel	◊
	gainsay			(that) Content Clause	Denounce	◊
	guarantee			(that) Content Clause	Commit	◊
	guess			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Ponder	◊
	hint			that Content Clause	Hint, Advise
	implore	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Solicit
	imply			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	incite	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Compel
	indicate			that Content Clause	Elucidate, Hint
	infer			(that) Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
**	inform	[somebody]	of	Active Participle	Elucidate
**	inform	[somebody]		that Content Clause	Elucidate
**	inquire		about	Active Participle	Inquire
**	inquire			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Inquire
	insinuate			that Content Clause	Elucidate, Hint
**	insist			(that) Content Clause	Assert
**	insist		on	Active Participle	Implore
**	instruct	[somebody]	on	Active Participle	Advise, Elucidate
**	instruct	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Implore
	intimate			that Content Clause	Elucidate
	invite	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Solicit	◊
	justify			Active Participle	Elucidate	◊
	lecture	[somebody]	on	Active Participle	Elucidate	◊
	maintain			that Content Clause	Assert	◊
**	mandate			(that) Content Clause	Assert	◊
**	mandate			Active Participle	Assert	◊
	mention			(that) Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	mumble			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	note			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	offer			Full Infinitive	Commit	◊
	order	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Compel
**	permit			Active Participle	Solicit
**	permit	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Solicit
	persuade	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Advise
	petition	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Implore
	point out			(that) Content Clause	Elucidate, Emphasize	◊
	posit			that Content Clause	Assert
	praise	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Validate	◊
	pray			(that) Content Clause	Solicit
	proclaim			(that) Content Clause	Exclaim	◊
	profess			(that) Content Clause	Elucidate, Perform	◊
**	promise			Full Infinitive	Commit	◊
**	promise			that Content Clause	Assert, Commit
**	propose			(that) Content Clause	Advise	◊
**	propose			Active Participle	Advise	◊
	provoke	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Compel
	purport			Full Infinitive	Elucidate
**	question	[somebody]	about	Active Participle	Denounce, Inquire
**	question			Active Participle	Ponder	◊
**	question			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Inquire
	recite			that Content Clause	Perform	◊
**	recommend			(that) Content Clause	Advise
**	recommend			Active Participle	Advise	◊
	refuse			Full Infinitive	Denounce
	refute			Active Participle	Denounce	◊
**	regret			Active Participle	Denounce	◊
**	regret			that Content Clause	Denounce, Elucidate	◊
**	reinforce			Active Participle	Emphasize	◊
**	reinforce			that Content Clause	Emphasize	◊
	remark			that Content Clause	Elucidate
**	remind	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Advise
**	remind			that Content Clause	Elucidate
**	report			Active Participle	Elucidate	◊
**	report			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	repremand	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Denounce	◊
	request			(that) Content Clause	Solicit	◊
	reveal			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
**	say			(that) Content Clause	(misc)	◊
**	say			Full Infinitive	Implore
	scold	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Denounce	◊
	scream			that Content Clause	Exclaim
	share			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	shout			(that) Content Clause	Exclaim	◊
	sing			that Content Clause	Perform	◊
	speculate			that Content Clause	Ponder
	state			that Content Clause	Assert, Elucidate	◊
	stipulate			(that) Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	stress			(that) Content Clause	Emphasize, Implore	◊
**	suggest			Active Participle	Advise	◊
**	suggest			that Content Clause	Advise, Hint	◊
	swear			Full Infinitive	Commit
	talk	[somebody]	into	Active Participle	Compel
	teach	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Advise, Elucidate
	tease	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Denounce	◊
	tell	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Compel
	tempt	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Advise
	thank	[somebody]	for	Active Participle	Validate
	theorize			that Content Clause	Assert
	threaten			Full Infinitive	Advise
	trick	[somebody]	into	Active Participle	Compel
	underscore			Active Participle	Emphasize	◊
	urge	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Implore	◊
	utter			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	verbalize			that Content Clause	Elucidate
	voice			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	vow			Full Infinitive	Commit	◊
**	warn	[somebody]		(that) Content Clause	Advise
**	warn	[somebody]		Full Infinitive	Advise
	wheedle	[somebody]	into	Active Participle	Compel
	whisper			that Content Clause	Elucidate	◊
	wish			(that) Content Clause	Solicit
	wonder			'wh' word/'if' Content Clause	Inquire, Ponder
	yell			that Content Clause	Exclaim	◊

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Some plurals are gradually becoming regular over time. For the asterisked nouns, it is acceptable in modern English to use the standard -s or -es ending instead of their traditional irregular forms.

This list of Speech Verbs is not comprehensive; it’s possible you may come across or think of more Speech Verbs that are not shown here.

A complement is the word, phrase, or clause that follows a verb to complete the sentence. For this list, we’ve included verbs that have one or more of the following complements:

Active Participles, or Active Participial Phrases. Active Participles are words rooted in verbs and ending with the -ing suffix. Participial Phrases are phrases that start with participles but also include other terms like objects or modifiers. For example: “She recommended trying the duck sauce.”
Full Infinitives, or Infinitive Phrases. Full Infinitives are words rooted in verbs preceded by ‘to’. Infinitive Phrases are phrases that start with infinitives but also include other terms like objects or modifiers. For example: “I urged them to tread carefully.”
Content Clauses. Clauses are collections of words based around a subject and a verb. While some clauses can be their own sentences, Content Clauses serve the role of nouns inside other sentences. They are very common in Indirect Speech. For example, “He admitted that he had lost his way.”
- Many Content Clauses start with ‘that’, although sometimes ‘that’ is optional (which we indicate above using parentheses).
- Some Content Clauses instead start with ‘wh’ words (‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’, ‘why’, etc.) or with ‘if’ or ‘whether’.

Entries in our list with a ◊ at the end of their row can also be followed by a simple Direct Object noun, as in “The king demanded loyalty.” However, we opted not to include Speech Verbs that can only be followed by D.O. nouns since that would make this long list even longer. Furthermore, such verbs are less helpful for Reported Speech.

For this list, we’ve categorized verbs according to Function to help viewers narrow down the list according to whatever they may be looking for, and to possibly find patterns in those categories. But the categories we’ve placed in this column are somewhat subjective and arbitrary; teachers and learners are welcome to develop their own categories here.