← Back to the activity

Year 8 English — Say, tell and other reporting verbs

Choose the reporting verb that says what the speaker was really doing, and know which of them must name the listener straight afterwards.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Which sentence uses "talk" correctly?

    • a) I want to talk to you about the trip.
    • b) I want to talk you.
    • c) I want to talk three languages.
    • d) I want to talk a story.

  2. 2.Sort each sentence by whether it is correct.

    Groups: Correct · Not correct

    • He explained us the rules.
    • She said us the news.
    • She told us the news.
    • He explained the rules to us.

  3. 3.Ravi said, "I did not take it." Which single verb reports what Ravi was doing?

    • a) suggested
    • b) advised
    • c) denied
    • d) promised

  4. 4.Write "say" or "tell": "Please do not ____ anyone about the surprise."

  5. 5.Put the steps of choosing a reporting verb in the right order.

    • Last, make the pronouns and the tense fit the new sentence.
    • Then check whether that verb needs the listener straight after it or needs "to" first.
    • Next, choose the reporting verb that names that exactly.
    • First, read the spoken words and decide what the speaker was doing — stating, warning, promising or admitting.

  6. 6.Which sentence is correct?

    • a) She told to me the answer.
    • b) She said me the answer.
    • c) She told me the answer.
    • d) She said me to wait.

  7. 7.Sort each verb by whether the listener can be named straight after it, with nothing in between.

    Groups: Names the listener straight after · Needs "to" before the listener

    • inform
    • remind
    • reply
    • say
    • tell
    • explain

  8. 8.Sort each phrase by the verb it goes with.

    Groups: say · tell

    • a lie
    • hello
    • a prayer
    • a story
    • sorry
    • the truth

Answer key — Year 8 English — Say, tell and other reporting verbs

  1. 1. a) I want to talk to you about the trip.
  2. 2. He explained the rules to us. → Correct; He explained us the rules. → Not correct; She told us the news. → Correct; She said us the news. → Not correct
  3. 3. c) denied
  4. 4. tell
  5. 5. 1. First, read the spoken words and decide what the speaker was doing — stating, warning, promising or admitting. 2. Next, choose the reporting verb that names that exactly. 3. Then check whether that verb needs the listener straight after it or needs "to" first. 4. Last, make the pronouns and the tense fit the new sentence.
  6. 6. c) She told me the answer.
  7. 7. tell → Names the listener straight after; remind → Names the listener straight after; inform → Names the listener straight after; say → Needs "to" before the listener; explain → Needs "to" before the listener; reply → Needs "to" before the listener
  8. 8. a story → tell; sorry → say; the truth → tell; hello → say; a lie → tell; a prayer → say