English grammar
Reporting verbs: assured, stated, admitted, acknowledged, added
Report exactly what someone stated, using assure, state, admit, acknowledge and add.
From the scene He assured us that…
In short
Use precise reporting verbs: assured (promised), stated (said as fact), admitted (confessed), acknowledged (accepted), added (said one more thing).
Your turn
Which one goes with stated (said as fact)?
Options: he admitted that he has never visited the building · he stated that the residents will receive a fair offer · the spokesman assured us the project will improve the area
Show answer
stated (said as fact) → he stated that the residents will receive a fair offer
How it works
These reporting verbs say how someone said something, more precisely than said or told us.
Good to know
Assured means they promised it was true, and stated means they said it plainly, as fact.
Good to know
Admitted means they confessed something awkward, and acknowledged means they accepted a fact. Added means they said one more thing.
assured (stated firmly, to reassure) the spokesman assured us the project will improve the area
Nuria
"The spokesman assured us the project will improve the area."
"El portavoz aseguró que el proyecto mejorará el barrio."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"(blank)."
Options: The spokesman assured us the project will improve the area · He stated that the residents will receive a fair offer · He admitted that he has never visited the building
Show answer
Nuria
"The spokesman assured us the project will improve the area."
"El portavoz aseguró que el proyecto mejorará el barrio."
stated (said as fact) he stated that the residents will receive a fair offer
Nuria
"He stated that the residents will receive a fair offer."
"Afirmó que los vecinos recibirán una oferta justa."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"(blank)."
Options: He stated that the residents will receive a fair offer · The spokesman assured us the project will improve the area · He admitted that he has never visited the building
Show answer
Nuria
"He stated that the residents will receive a fair offer."
"Afirmó que los vecinos recibirán una oferta justa."
admitted (confessed something awkward) he admitted that he has never visited the building
Nuria
"But he admitted that he has never visited the building."
"Pero admitió que nunca ha visitado el edificio."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"But (blank)."
Options: he admitted that he has never visited the building · the spokesman assured us the project will improve the area · he stated that the residents will receive a fair offer
Show answer
Nuria
"But he admitted that he has never visited the building."
"Pero admitió que nunca ha visitado el edificio."
acknowledged (accepted as true) the owner acknowledged that the building has a serious problem
Nuria
"The owner acknowledged that the building has a serious problem."
"El propietario reconoció que el edificio tiene un problema grave."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"(blank)."
Options: The spokesman assured us the project will improve the area · He stated that the residents will receive a fair offer · The owner acknowledged that the building has a serious problem
Show answer
Nuria
"The owner acknowledged that the building has a serious problem."
"El propietario reconoció que el edificio tiene un problema grave."
added (said one more thing) and he added that the problem lives on the third floor
Nuria
"And he added that the problem lives on the third floor."
"Y añadió que el problema vive en el tercero."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"(blank)."
Options: He stated that the residents will receive a fair offer · And he added that the problem lives on the third floor · The spokesman assured us the project will improve the area
Show answer
Nuria
"And he added that the problem lives on the third floor."
"Y añadió que el problema vive en el tercero."
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| assured (stated firmly, to reassure) | the spokesman assured us the project will improve the area |
|---|---|
| stated (said as fact) | he stated that the residents will receive a fair offer |
| admitted (confessed something awkward) | he admitted that he has never visited the building |
| acknowledged (accepted as true) | the owner acknowledged that the building has a serious problem |
| added (said one more thing) | and he added that the problem lives on the third floor |
More lines from the story
- ElenaNinety? Eighty! So sloppy!¿Noventa? ¡Ochenta! ¡Qué poco rigor!