Advanced reporting: questions, requests and verbs patterns
Reporting verb patterns (suggest doing, accuse of, warn against), embedded questions politeness, and when backshift is optional
I can report with precise verb patterns and ask embedded questions politely.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
She apologized for being late and suggested moving the meeting online.
She apologized for being late and suggested moving the meeting online.
Do you know whether the last train has already left?
Do you know whether the last train has already left?
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Each reporting verb owns a pattern:
| Pattern | Verbs | Example |
|---|---|---|
| + -ing | suggest, admit, deny, recommend | He denied taking the money. |
| + object + to | advise, warn, remind, persuade | She reminded me to book. |
| + preposition + -ing | accuse of, apologize for, insist on | They accused him of cheating. |
Embedded questions = politeness: Could you tell me where the station is? (statement order!). Backshift is optional when the fact still holds: She said the office closes/closed at five.
- *suggest to go → suggest going
- *Could you tell me where is the station? → where the station is
- *accused him to cheat → of cheating
Common Error Patterns
Verb pattern guessed
suggest+ing, remind sb to, accuse sb of
Inversion kept in embedded questions
Statement order after Could you tell me...
She apologized for being late and suggested moving the meeting online.
She apologized for being late and suggested moving the meeting online.
apologize for + -ing, suggest + -ing.
Do you know whether the last train has already left?
Do you know whether the last train has already left?
whether + statement order in a polite inquiry.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B2 course exercises