Reported Speech Special Cases Exercises

Some reporting verbs follow special patterns that go beyond the standard "said/told" structure. Suggest and recommend use the gerund or subjunctive: "Let's go to the park" becomes "She suggested going to the park" or "She suggested that we go to the park." Insist and demand also use the subjunctive with the base form of the verb: "You must be there" becomes "He insisted that I be there."

Verbs like apologise and thank take "for + gerund": "Sorry I'm late" becomes "She apologised for being late." Congratulate uses "on" — not "for," which is a common mistake: "Well done on your exam!" becomes "He congratulated me on passing my exam." This exercise also tests the important difference between say and tell: "say" takes no object ("He said he was tired"), while "tell" always requires a person ("He told me he was tired"). Using "said me" or "told that" without a person are among the most common errors learners make.