Home · C1 Advanced · Unit 03
Unit 03
Reported Questions & Reporting Verbs
admit, deny, recommend, suggest
Focus: Verb Patterns in Reporting
This unit goes beyond "say" and "tell" to the full range of reporting verbs and — crucially — the grammatical pattern each one takes. Choosing the right verb and the right pattern is a key C1 skill.
Reported Questions — Word Order
In reported questions, word order becomes normal (no inversion), question marks disappear, and we do not use do/does/did.
- ❌ She asked where did I go. → ✅ She asked where I went.
| Type | Direct | Reported |
|---|---|---|
| Yes/No | "Do you like coffee?" | She asked if/whether I liked coffee. |
| Wh- | "Where do you live?" | She asked where I lived. |
| Past | "Why did he leave?" | She asked why he had left. |
The Five Patterns After Reporting Verbs
| Pattern | Example | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| verb + that-clause | He explained that he was busy. | Reporting information |
| verb + object + to-inf | She told me to wait. | Instructions / advice |
| verb + -ing | He admitted breaking the rule. | Reporting actions |
| verb + prep + -ing | She apologized for being late. | Polite reporting |
| verb + obj + prep + -ing | They accused him of stealing. | Blame / accusation |
Reporting Verbs by Function
| Function | Verbs | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | say, explain, claim, mention, add | He claimed that he didn't know. |
| Question | ask, wonder, inquire, want to know | She wondered where we were going. |
| Request/Order | ask, tell, order, remind, encourage | They encouraged me to try again. |
| Suggestion/Advice | suggest, recommend, advise, warn | She advised us to wait. |
| Promise/Refusal | promise, offer, agree, refuse, threaten | He refused to cooperate. |
| Admit/Deny | admit, deny, confess | He denied breaking the rule. |
| Apology/Blame | apologize for, accuse of, blame for, thank for | She apologized for being late. |
Tricky Patterns to Remember
| Verb | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| suggest | suggest + -ing (NOT to) | They suggested going by train. |
| recommend | recommend + -ing | I recommend trying the soup. |
| advise | advise + object + to | He advised me to rest. |
| admit / deny | + -ing | She denied taking it. |
| refuse / offer / promise | + to-infinitive | He promised to help. |
| accuse | accuse + obj + of + -ing | They accused him of lying. |
That + (Should) + Base Verb & Reporting Nouns
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| insist / recommend / propose / suggest + that + (should) + base verb | She insisted that he (should) apologise. |
| Reporting noun + that-clause | His claim that he was innocent was rejected. · the suggestion that we move |
| Impersonal passive | It was alleged that the minister had lied. |
| whether + to | They asked whether to start without him. |
| Formal question verbs | She enquired / queried whether the fee included VAT. |
Annotated Examples
Subject
Verb
Auxiliary
Object
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Hover over any word to see its role.
subjectHeverbadmittedverbbreakingobjectthe window.
↳ admit + -ing (reporting an action).
subjectTheyverbaccusedobjecthimof cheating.
↳ accuse + object + of + -ing (blame pattern).
subjectSheverbsuggestedverbtakingobjecta break.
↳ suggest + -ing (never "to").
Common Mistakes
They suggested to go by car.
→
They suggested going by car.
"Suggest" takes -ing, not "to".
She advised me don't come.
→
She advised me not to come.
advise + object + (not) to + verb.
He asked me where did I go.
→
He asked me where I went.
No inversion / no "did" in reported questions.
He apologized to be late.
→
He apologized for being late.
apologize + for + -ing.
They accused him to steal.
→
They accused him of stealing.
accuse + object + of + -ing.
They asked if to start without him.
→
They asked whether to start without him.
Before a to-infinitive → whether only.
She insisted that he apologises.
→
She insisted that he (should) apologise.
Subjunctive / should + base verb.