ESL Teachers Reporting Verbs
ESL Teachers Reporting Verbs presents an article on choosing and using reporting verbs such as say, tell, ask, suggest, advise and promise. The article groups the verbs by meaning, gives the grammar pattern for each group, explains backshift and pronoun changes, and shows which verbs suit academic writing, journalism and business communication. A short practice quiz closes the lesson.
100% Free (unlimited): The whole article, with its verb lists, grammar patterns and short practice quiz, is open to every learner, with no account and no payment. You can read it through once or return to the lists whenever you need a verb.
How It Helps Your Business English
The article sorts reporting verbs by what they report — statements, questions, orders, suggestions — and by the strength they carry, from neutral to tentative to strong. The pattern of each verb comes with example sentences, and closing sections cover tense agreement, pronoun reference and the choice of verb in academic, journalistic and business writing.
Read the groups by strength first, since that is what makes the choice meaningful: the same report sounds different when the speaker claimed, admitted or insisted. Then use the lists as a reference while writing, checking the pattern beside each verb before you place it in a sentence. The section on business communication is the one to return to.
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