Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

REPORTING VERBS AND SPEECH ACTS

499

Speech acts (the communicative functions performed by utterances, 

Û

408–423

)

are often indicated by the choice of reporting verb. 

The reporting verb may represent the reported clause as performing a specific

speech act. Verbs that are frequently used in this way include:

These verbs are most frequently used to introduce indirect reports:

‘I’ll call Janice,’ Sylvia 

offered.

‘There’s that photo of Michelle you keep on your desk,’ Carole 

suggested.

I 

pointed out yesterday that sales so far this year are down.

A: Did they complain?

B: No, no. We warned them we were doing it in advance.