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English grammar

Reporting verbs that judge the claim

C1 · Advanced Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

The verb you use to report a claim shows what you think of it. Neutral verbs simply pass it on: say, state, report, note, write. Verbs that accept the claim as true commit the writer: show, demonstrate, prove, establish, reveal, point out. Verbs that keep a distance do not vouch for it: claim, allege, maintain, insist, contend, purport. Reluctant agreement has its own verbs: admit, concede, acknowledge, grant. Tentative ones hedge: suggest, imply, hint, indicate. Disagreement: deny, dispute, reject, question. So The study shows that… commits you, The company claims that… keeps you apart, and The minister conceded that… tells the reader he did not want to. Adverbs do the same job: allegedly, reportedly, supposedly, apparently. The patterns differ too: deny having done, admit to doing, insist that, is alleged to have.

Pattern

accept: show / demonstrate / prove / establish / reveal · distance: claim / allege / maintain / contend / purport · reluctant: admit / concede / acknowledge · tentative: suggest / imply / indicate · reject: deny / dispute / reject · allegedly / reportedly / supposedly

Examples

  1. The data clearly show that the scheme has worked.

  2. The company claims that no customer data was lost.

  3. The minister conceded that mistakes had been made.

  4. He is alleged to have taken bribes while in office.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Records claim that the town was founded in 1250, as everyone accepts.

    Right: Records show that the town was founded in 1250.

    claim casts doubt; use show for what you accept.

  • Wrong: He denied to have taken the money.

    Right: He denied having taken the money.

    deny + -ing, not a to-infinitive.

  • Wrong: The spokesman declined commenting on the report.

    Right: The spokesman declined to comment on the report.

    decline + to-infinitive.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    Which verb shows the writer accepts the claim?

    Reporting a study.

    1. The study purports to show the policy worked.
    2. The study demonstrates that the policy worked.
    3. The study claims that the policy worked.
    4. The study alleges that the policy worked.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The study demonstrates that the policy worked.

    demonstrate presents the finding as established.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the writer suggest?

    The company claims that the product is completely safe.

    1. The writer has tested the product.
    2. The writer knows the product is safe.
    3. The writer is not vouching for the claim.
    4. The writer works for the company.
    Show answer

    Answer: C The writer is not vouching for the claim.

    claim keeps the writer at a distance.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    After weeks of pressure, the minister finally _____ that the figures were wrong.

    1. claimed
    2. admitted
    3. alleged
    4. purported
    Show answer

    Answer: B After weeks of pressure, the minister finally admitted that the figures were wrong.

    admit reports a reluctant acknowledgement.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    1. He denied to have leaked the documents.
    2. He denied that leaking the documents.
    3. He denied to leak the documents.
    4. He denied having leaked the documents.
    Show answer

    Answer: D He denied having leaked the documents.

    deny + (perfect) -ing.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    What is the writer’s attitude?

    Supporters contend that the new stadium will pay for itself.

    1. Stating an established fact
    2. Admitting a mistake
    3. Denying the argument
    4. Reporting an argument without endorsing it
    Show answer

    Answer: D Reporting an argument without endorsing it

    contend = argue; the writer does not take sides.

  6. 6Change the sentence.

    Make the writer’s distance clear.

    The spokesman said that the delay was caused by the weather.

    1. The spokesman revealed that the delay was caused by the weather.
    2. The spokesman showed that the delay was caused by the weather.
    3. The spokesman proved that the delay was caused by the weather.
    4. The spokesman claimed that the delay was caused by the weather.
    Show answer

    Answer: D The spokesman claimed that the delay was caused by the weather.

    claim signals that the writer does not vouch for it.

  7. 7This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    The report points out to the dangers of cutting the budget.

    1. The report points the dangers out to cutting the budget.
    2. The report points on the dangers of cutting the budget.
    3. The report points to out the dangers of cutting the budget.
    4. The report points out the dangers of cutting the budget.
    Show answer

    Answer: D The report points out the dangers of cutting the budget.

    point out + object, or point to + noun — not both.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    Which verb is the most tentative?

    Reporting what a survey found.

    1. The survey reveals that young people read less.
    2. The survey establishes that young people read less.
    3. The survey suggests that young people read less.
    4. The survey proves that young people read less.
    Show answer

    Answer: C The survey suggests that young people read less.

    suggest hedges; the others present it as fact.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    The mayor is alleged to have misused public funds

    Show answer

    Answer: The mayor is alleged to have misused public funds.

    be alleged to have + past participle: an accusation, not a fact.

  10. 10Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The minister acknowledged the target to have missed.
    2. The minister acknowledged that the target had been missed.
    3. The minister acknowledged that the target has missed.
    4. The minister acknowledged about the target being missed.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The minister acknowledged that the target had been missed.

    acknowledge that + clause; the target was missed (passive).

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