Reporting Verb Patterns

• CEFR C1
• Grammar
• Printable
• Answer key

Reporting Verb Patterns is a printable grammar worksheet for English language learners at CEFR level C1. It covers verb + object + infinitive, verb + -ing, verb + preposition + -ing, and that-clauses, with 5 exercises and an answer key.

Advanced reporting verbs have different grammar patterns and cannot be used interchangeably.

Some verbs take an object + infinitive, some take a gerund, and others take a preposition + gerund.

Choosing the correct pattern makes summaries of arguments and speech more precise.

Examples

• They urged residents to evacuate.
• She denied leaking the document.
• He apologised for interrupting the meeting.
• The lawyer accused the company of hiding evidence.
• The report recommends reducing waste.
• The manager warned staff not to share passwords.
• They insisted on reviewing the figures.
• The witness claimed that the door had been locked.

What's in this worksheet

1. Complete the sentence
2. Correct the mistake
3. Transform the sentence
4. Mixed practice
5. Controlled production

Common mistakes

• They urged residents evacuating.  →  They urged residents to evacuate. Urge takes object + to-infinitive.
• She denied to leak the document.  →  She denied leaking the document. Deny takes a gerund.
• He apologised interrupting the meeting.  →  He apologised for interrupting the meeting. Apologise is followed by for + -ing.
• The lawyer accused the company to hide evidence.  →  The lawyer accused the company of hiding evidence. Accuse takes object + of + -ing.