She claimed that… · She made a suggestion · She asked whether to wait · no backshift
Building on B2
Reporting what people meant, not just what they said
At B2 you used reporting verbs like offer to, deny -ing, advise someone to. C1 adds verbs that show the speaker's attitude, reporting with nouns, and choices about tense.
Verbs that show attitude
How sure or how willing the speaker was
claim / allege
He claimed that he had been at home. (maybe not true)
maintain / insist
She maintained that the decision was fair. (kept saying it)
concede / admit
The coach conceded that the team had played badly. (reluctantly)
point out / stress
She pointed out that the shop was closed.
Reporting with nouns
Summarise the speech act — formal and concise
"Why don't we leave early?" → She made a suggestion: to leave early.
"Don't go near the edge!" → The guide issued a warning about the cliffs.
"It wasn't me." → He made a denial / denied any involvement.
suggest / insist / recommend that + (should) + base: see the Subjunctive chapter.
To backshift or not?
The speaker's point of view decides
"The Earth goes round the Sun." → She explained that the Earth goes round the Sun.
Still true → no backshift needed.
"I'm moving to Rome." → He told me he is moving to Rome next month.
Still in the future → present is fine.
"You must come." → She said I had to come / must come.
would, could, might, should stay the same.
Reporting questions: whether + to
Asking what to do
"Should I wait?" → She asked whether to wait.
"Where should we park?" → They wondered where to park.
He couldn't decide whether or not to accept.
Common mistakes
Where learners go wrong most often
She did a suggestion.
→
She made a suggestion.
make a suggestion / a complaint / a promise
He gave an apology for us.
→
He apologised to us / offered an apology.
noun + verb collocation
She asked if to wait.
→
She asked whether to wait.
whether + to (not if + to)
He claimed to be at home at the time.
→
He claimed to have been at home at the time.
earlier time → to have + PP
Your turn
Answer out loud — full sentences
Report with attitude.
1
Report something a politician claimed recently.
2
Report a time someone insisted that you do something.
3
Summarise a conversation using nouns: made a suggestion, gave a warning, offered an apology.
4
Report a question someone asked you about what to do.