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Reporting Attitude and Nuance

Reporting Attitude and Nuance

Reference

Rule Example
doubtful reportclaim / allege thatHe claimed that …
kept sayingmaintain / insist thatShe maintained that …
reluctantconcede / admit thatHe conceded that …
summary nounmake a suggestion · issue a warningShe made a complaint.
still trueno backshiftShe said the Earth goes round the Sun.
what to dowhether / where + toShe asked whether to wait.

Common mistakes

  1. She did a suggestion. → She made a suggestion.
    make a suggestion / a complaint / a promise
  2. He gave an apology for us. → He apologised to us / offered an apology.
    noun + verb collocation
  3. She asked if to wait. → She asked whether to wait.
    whether + to (not if + to)
  4. He claimed to be at home at the time. → He claimed to have been at home at the time.
    earlier time → to have + PP

Reporting Attitude and Nuance — Exercises

Choose the best verb or form

Circle the correct answer.

  1. He _____ that he hadn't seen the email, but nobody believed him. (claimed / conceded / pointed out)
  2. She finally _____ that she had made a mistake. (conceded / alleged / insisted)
  3. The customer _____ a complaint about the noise. (made / did / said)
  4. The police _____ a warning about icy roads. (issued / made up / told)
  5. He asked _____ to bring anything. (whether / if / that)
  6. Our teacher explained that light _____ faster than sound. (travels / travelled / had travelled)
  7. She _____ that the meeting had been moved to Friday. (pointed out / claimed to / insisted on)
  8. Despite the evidence, he _____ that he was innocent. (maintained / conceded / admitted)

Report it

Complete the reported sentence.

  1. "Let's take a break." → She made a   that we take a break.
  2. "Should I call him?" → She wondered   call him.
  3. "OK, we didn't play well." → The captain   that they hadn't played well.
  4. "I'm sorry for the delay." → The airline   an apology for the delay.
  5. "Water boils at 100°C." → He explained that water   at 100°C.
  6. "I was at home all night." → He claimed   at home all night.

Reporting Attitude and Nuance — Answer Key

Choose the best verb or form

  1. claimed — Possibly not true → claimed.
  2. conceded — Reluctantly admitting → conceded.
  3. made — make a complaint.
  4. issued — Formal: issue a warning.
  5. whether — whether + to-infinitive.
  6. travels — Still true → no backshift: travels.
  7. pointed out — Drawing attention to a fact → pointed out.
  8. maintained — Kept saying it → maintained.

Report it

  1. suggestion
  2. whether to
  3. admitted
  4. offered
  5. boils
  6. to have been