Direct and indirect speech | Reporting hopes, promises and intentions

To report a promise, hope or intention we use an appropriate reporting verb followed by a that-clause or a to-infinitive.

• He said, "I will pay you the money tomorrow."
• He promised to pay me the money the next day.
• He promised that he would pay me the money the next day.

Other verbs used to report hopes, intentions, and promises include: hope, propose, threaten, guarantee and swear.

• "I will be back by lunch time," he said.
• He promised to be back by lunchtime.
• He promised that he would be back by lunchtime.
• "We would arrive in London before nightfall," they said.
• They hoped to arrive in London before nightfall.
• They hoped that they would arrive in London before nightfall.
• "Give me the money or I will shoot you."
• He threatened to shoot me if I didn't give him the money.
• He threatened that he would shoot me if I didn't give him the money.

Verbs that can be followed by either a that-clause or a to-infinitive include: decide, expect, guarantee, hope, promise, swear, and threaten.

Sections in this article

See also

See also

Direct and indirect speech
Rules for the change of pronouns
Reporting verb
Rules for the change of tenses
Rules for the change of adverbs
Reporting hopes, intentions and promises
Reporting orders, requests and advice
Reporting questions
Reporting questions: grammar exercise
Reported speech exercise
Reporting Yes/No questions

See also

Common mistakes in the use of nouns
Common mistakes in the use of nouns | Exercise 1
Common mistakes in the use of nouns | Exercise 2
Common mistakes in the use of nouns | Exercise 3

More CBSE English Grammar worksheets

Passive voice worksheet | Simple past tense
Passive voice worksheet | Past continuous tense
Passive voice worksheet | Simple future tense
Passive voice worksheet | Future perfect tense