1. Circle the correct verbs to complete the sentences.
1 ‘OK. I’ll feed your cat while you’re away,’ she …….
a advised b agreed c encouraged
2 ‘You really must stay for dinner,’ he …….
a asked b admitted c insisted
3 ‘I’ll definitely be there to meet you at the airport,’ she …….
a begged b promised c suggested
4 ‘It’s dangerous to walk around that part of town at night,’ he …….
a denied b offered c warned
5 ‘Is the café still open at this time? she …….
a begged b suggested c wondered
6 ‘I’m the one who broke your laptop,’ he …….
a admitted b apologised c persuaded
7 ‘I could lend you some money,’ he …….
a denied b proposed c wondered
8 ‘You’d better say sorry,’ she …….
a advised b apologised c persuaded
Answer
1 b 2 c 3 b 4 c 5 c 6 a 7 b 8 a
2. Circle the correct reporting verb. Then complete the sentences with the infinitive or -ing form of the verbs in brackets.
1 My parents never encouraged / suggested me ……………………………… (sing) when I was younger.
2 Did you admin / apologise to your teacher for ……………………………… (miss) the class?
3 My Spanish friends mentioned / told ……………………………… (come) to visit us this summer.
4 Why are you accusing / blaming me of ……………………………… (copy) your homework? It isn’t true!
5 The President has denied / refused ……………………………… (answer) any more questions on this topic.
6 I begged / offered her ……………………………… (pay) for our train tickets.
7 They denied / insisted ……………………………… (stay) at the party until after midnight.
8 My cousin encouraged / refused me ……………………………… (play) a few songs on the piano.
9 Why did you agree / insist on ……………………………… (have) the end-of-term party at our house?
10 My parents begged / refused my sister not ……………………………… (leave) school at sixteen.
11 My brother finally admitted / apologised ……………………………… (tell) everyone my secret.
12 Our next door neighbour accused / warned us of ……………………………… (make) too much noise late at night.
Answer
1 encouraged, to sing 2 apologise, missing
3 mentioned, coming 4 accusing, copying
5 refused, to answer 6 begged, to pay 7 denied, staying
8 encouraged, to play 9 insist, having 10 begged, to leave
11 admitted, telling 12 accused, making
3. Complete the text with the missing words.
When I got home, my brother was singing loudly in the kitchen. I asked him 1……………………… to make so much noise, but he insisted 2……………………… singing even louder. I accused him 3……………………… being the worst singer I’d ever heard. Instead of getting cross, he thanked me 4……………………… giving him an idea. Then he went upstairs, smiling. I wondered 5……………………… asking him what he was doing, but I knew he would refuse 6……………………… tell me. Two minutes later, he came downstairs again with a camcorder. He persuaded me 7……………………… video him. ‘If I’m that bad, we can make money on YouTube,’ he told 8………………………
Answer
1 not 2 on 3 of 4 for 5 about 6 to 7 to 8 me
VOCAB BOOST!
When you learn reporting verbs, it’s a good idea to learn the related nouns at the same time. You can also learn what verbs these related nouns usually go with. Tip: the most common verbs that go with the related nouns are give and make.
agree – make an agreement
advise – give some advice
4. Use a dictionary to find the nouns related to the verbs below. Write them in the correct category.
accuse apologise encourage promise suggest warn
|
give + |
make + |
|
|
|
Answer
give + apology, encouragement, warning
make + accusation, promise, suggestion
5. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use the correct form of give or make and a noun related to the underlined verb.
1 They warned us about the dangerous cliffs.
They …………………………… about the dangerous cliffs.
2 He rarely encourages his son.
He rarely …………………………… his son any ……………………………
3 She forgave him as soon as he apologised for his behaviour.
She forgave him as soon as he …………………………… for his behaviour.
4 The police accused him of something serious.
The police …………………………… a serious …………………………… against him.
5 Why do you never suggest anything?
Why do you never …………………………… any …………………………… ?
Answer
1 gave us a warning 2 gives, encouragement
3 gave her an apology 4 made, accusation
5 make, suggestions
Extra exercises
1. Circle the correct answers to complete the sentences.
1 Dave …….. me for breaking his phone, but it wasn’t actually my fault!
a accused b blamed c denied
2 My girlfriend wouldn’t let me pay for the meal and …….. on paying herself.
a insisted b proposed c refused
3 It was a beautiful evening, so I …….. having a barbecue.
a begged b suggested c wondered
4 My friends …….. me to go to the concert although I didn’t really want to.
a admitted b agreed c persuaded
5 I …….. to lend you some money, but you said you didn’t want it.
a offered b told c warned
6 My sister …….. me to call my grandmother because it was her birthday.
a mentioned b promised c reminded
Answer
1 b 2 a 3 b 4 c 5 a 6 c
2. Rewrite the sentences using the verbs in brackets as a reporting verb.
1 ‘You should check your phone bill,’ Fiona’s mother said to her. (advise)
Fiona’s mother ……………………………………….
2 ‘I’ll get back to you later,’ Max told me. (promise)
Max ……………………………………….
3 ‘I’m sorry I’m late,’ said the student. (apologise)
The student ……………………………………….
4 ‘Let’s have a party!’ my friend said. (propose)
My friend ……………………………………….
5 ‘Why don’t you join the debating society?’ the teacher asked me. (encourage)
The teacher ……………………………………….
6 ‘You’ve been reading my text messages!’ Tina said to her brother. (accuse)
Tina ……………………………………….
Answer
1 advised her to check her phone bill
2 promised to get back to me later
3 apologised for being late
4 proposed having a party
5 encouraged me to join the debating society
6 accused her brother of reading her text messages
3. Complete the sentences with the phrases below.
I can’t I’m pretty It could It looks
It’s clear It’s hard Judging by
1 ……………………………… to say, but I think she might be crying.
2 ……………………………… certain that no one else was involved.
3 ……………………………… her expression, she appears to be in shock.
4 ……………………………… be sure, but I’d say that it’s quite late.
5 ……………………………… that the bike is badly damaged.
6 ……………………………… be that the roads are very icy.
7 ……………………………… as if his car has broken down.
Answer
1 It’s hard 2 I’m pretty 3 Judging by 4 I can’t
5 It’s clear 6 It could 7 It looks
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- English Word Skills Exercises for B1 – Word families