Reporting Verbs Worksheets and Exercises

Reporting verbs are used to describe what someone said, thought, or felt without quoting their exact words. Common examples include say, tell, advise, suggest, promise, and warn. Learning how to use reporting verbs correctly helps you write and speak more naturally in English. These exercises will help you practice identifying, using, and transforming sentences with reporting verbs in various contexts.

Reporting Verbs Worksheets

Reporting Verbs Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Reporting Verb

Choose the correct reporting verb (say, tell, ask, advise, promise, offer, remind, warn, suggest, admit) to complete each sentence.

1. She __________ me to be careful when crossing the street.

2. He __________ that he had broken the window by accident.

3. The teacher __________ the students to finish their homework on time.

4. My friend __________ to help me move to a new apartment.

5. Sarah __________ not to touch the hot pan.

6. I __________ him that the meeting was postponed.

7. He __________ me to take an umbrella because it might rain.

8. The doctor __________ eating more vegetables and less sugar.

9. They __________ to visit us during the summer holiday.

10. I __________ her where she had bought that dress.

Exercise 2: Rewrite in Reported Speech

Rewrite each direct speech sentence using the correct reporting verb.

1. “Don’t be late,” my mother said. → My mother __________ me __________ late.

2. “Can I help you carry that bag?” he said. → He __________ to help me carry that bag.

3. “You should see a doctor,” she said. → She __________ me to see a doctor.

4. “Let’s go out for dinner,” John said. → John __________ going out for dinner.

5. “I didn’t take your phone,” Mary said. → Mary __________ taking my phone.

6. “Be quiet during the movie,” the man said. → The man __________ us to be quiet during the movie.

7. “You forgot to call me!” Anna said. → Anna __________ me that I had forgotten to call her.

8. “Don’t touch that switch!” he said. → He __________ me not to touch that switch.

9. “I’ll always love you,” he said. → He __________ he would always love me.

10. “You lied to me!” she said. → She __________ me of lying to her.

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks with Correct Form

Use the correct reporting verb from the box in the right form.
(advise, promise, refuse, remind, offer, suggest, tell, admit, warn, ask)

1. He __________ to lend me some money when I needed it.

2. She __________ not to go near the river after dark.

3. I __________ him to submit the project by Friday.

4. They __________ forgetting to bring the tickets.

5. The teacher __________ the students to read more books.

6. He __________ to call her later that night.

7. She __________ that we go to the beach instead.

8. I __________ him why he was so late.

9. He __________ to pay the bill, even though it wasn’t his turn.

10. She __________ me to lock the door before leaving.

Exercise 4: Identify the Reporting Verb Type

Write S for verbs followed by someone + to-infinitive (e.g., tell, advise, warn)
and G for verbs followed by gerund (-ing form) (e.g., suggest, admit, deny).

1. advise _____

2. suggest _____

3. warn _____

4. deny _____

5. promise _____

6. remind _____

7. offer _____

8. recommend _____

9. admit _____

10. tell _____

Exercise 5: Complete the Sentence

Fill in each sentence with the correct reporting verb in the correct form.

1. The police __________ him of stealing the car.

2. He __________ to meet me at the station.

3. She __________ me not to eat too much fast food.

4. I __________ going out because the weather was so nice.

5. They __________ me that the train had been canceled.

6. The man __________ not to pay the fine.

7. He __________ to help me with my luggage.

8. My teacher __________ me to study harder for the exam.

9. She __________ breaking the vase accidentally.

10. He __________ her for forgetting his birthday.

________________________________________________________

Answer Key:

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Reporting Verb

1. advised

2. admitted

3. told

4. offered

5. warned

6. told

7. reminded

8. suggested

9. promised

10. asked

Exercise 2: Rewrite in Reported Speech

1. My mother told me not to be late.

2. He offered to help me carry that bag.

3. She advised me to see a doctor.

4. John suggested going out for dinner.

5. Mary denied taking my phone.

6. The man told us to be quiet during the movie.

7. Anna reminded me that I had forgotten to call her.

8. He warned me not to touch that switch.

9. He promised he would always love me.

10. She accused me of lying to her.

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks with Correct Form

1. offered

2. warned

3. reminded

4. admitted

5. told

6. promised

7. suggested

8. asked

9. refused

10. advised

Exercise 4: Identify the Reporting Verb Type

Exercise 5: Complete the Sentence

1. accused

2. promised

3. warned

4. suggested

5. told

6. refused

7. offered

8. advised

9. admitted

10. blamed