Reporting verbs

  • B2 · Upper-intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

Reporting verbs and their patterns, taught through food labels: recommend, suggest and advise (Nutritionists recommend turning the package over; experts advise shoppers to check the serving size), and warn, urge, refuse, deny, admit, accuse… of and insist on. From what the label really says to reporting advice about healthy eating.

Teach this lessonDownload PDF

Free, no card needed. The PDF has every slide, the homework and an answer key.

refused todenied doinginsisted on

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2Reading: read the labelReading comprehension
  3. 3Which pattern?Grammar exercise
  4. 4Find the reporting verbsGrammar exercise
  5. 5Reporting verbs: the patternsGrammar rule
  6. 6Sort the verbsGrammar exercise
  7. 7Recommend, suggest or advise?Grammar exercise
  8. 8The nutritionist's adviceGrammar exercise
  9. 9Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  10. 10Ask the expertsSpeaking practice
  11. 11About youGrammar exercise
  12. 12Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: what did they say?Grammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: choose the right patternGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: advice I have receivedDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Do you read food labels when you shop? What do you look for?
  2. What is the best advice anyone has ever given you about food or health?
  3. Which food do you think is less healthy than most people believe?

Grammar rule

Reporting verbs: the patterns

PatternVerbsExample
+ to + verbagree, refuse, promise, offer, threatenThe store refused to take back the shoes.
+ someone + to + verbadvise, urge, encourage, warn, remind, persuade, requireThe coach reminded the players to drink water.
+ -ingrecommend, suggest, deny, admit (or admit to)He denied cheating on the test.
+ preposition + -ingaccuse someone of, blame someone for, apologize for, insist on, advise against, warn someone againstShe insisted on driving us home.
+ (that) + clauserecommend, suggest, insist, warn, claim, admit, deny, explainThe guide warned that the trail was icy.

recommend, suggest, advise

recommend / suggest + a noun: I recommend the lemon cake. · + -ing: My dentist suggested switching to a softer toothbrush. · + (that) + someone + base verb: The vet recommended (that) we walk the dog twice a day. (In American English, not recommended us to walk.)

advise + someone + to: The pharmacist advised me to take the pills with food. · advise + -ing, for advice to everyone: Doctors advise wearing sunscreen. · advise against + -ing.

In American English, when recommend, suggest or insist + that tells someone what to do, the verb is the base form for every person: I suggest that he call first. (should call is also fine). When insist means "say firmly that something is true," use the normal tenses: He insisted that he was innocent.

Teach it live with video and a whiteboard, or print it: the PDF has every slide, the homework and the answers.

Teach this lesson
← Unit 6Canceled online