7.19 position of reporting verb

There are several positions in which you can put the reporting clause in relation to a quote. The usual position is after the quote, but it can also go in front of the quote or in the middle of the quote.

7.20

If you put the reporting clause in the middle of a quote, it must go in one of the following positions:

* after a noun group

* after a vocative

* after a sentence adverb

* after a clause, if the quote contains more than one clause.

7.21

You can use most reporting verbs in front of a quote.

However, the reporting verbs 'agree', 'command', 'promise', and 'wonder' are hardly ever used in front of a quote.