7.7 showing the purpose of speaking

Some reporting verbs such as 'answer', 'complain', and 'explain' tell you what purpose an utterance was intended to serve. For example, 'answer' tells you that a statement was intended as an answer, and 'complain' tells you that a statement was intended as a complaint.

• He answered that the price would be three pounds.
• 'He never told me, sir,' Watson complained.
• 'I have not forgotten, monsieur,' replied the Belgian quietly.
• I suggested that it was time to leave.

Some reporting verbs used in quote structures show the manner of speaking. See paragraph 7.17.

Here is a list of reporting verbs which can be used to report what people say:

• acknowledge, add, admit, advise, agree, allege, announce, answer, argue, ask, assert, assure, beg, begin, boast, call, chorus, claim, command, comment, complain, concede, confess, confirm, contend, continue, convince, cry, declare, decree, demand, deny, describe, discuss, direct, dispute, enquire, explain, forbid, grumble, guarantee, hint, imply, inform, inquire, insist, instruct, invite, maintain, mention, mumble, murmur, muse, mutter, note, notify, object, observe, order, persuade, plead, pledge, pray, predict, proclaim, promise, prophesy, propose, reassure, recall, recite, recommend, record, refuse, remark, remind, repeat, reply, report, request, respond, reveal, rule, be rumoured, say, scream, shout, shriek, state, stipulate, storm, suggest, swear, teach, tell, threaten, thunder, urge, vow, wail, warn, whisper, write, yell