📝 Daily Practice
🎯 Lesson Goal
Learn how to use reporting verbs to describe what people say in business meetings. Understand useful expressions for reporting, practice identifying and using reporting verbs in different sentences, and improve communication by accurately conveying others’ ideas and decisions.
🧠 Grammar Focus
Reporting verbs are used to describe what someone else has said, explained, or suggested, especially in formal or business contexts. They help convey messages clearly without repeating the exact words. Common reporting verbs in business include ‘suggest’, ‘explain’, ‘agree’, ‘warn’, ‘announce’, and ‘recommend’. The basic structure is: reporting verb + that + reported information. For example, ‘The manager explained that the deadline was tight.’ Reporting verbs can show how the information was delivered—if it was a warning, a suggestion, or a fact. Use them to be precise and professional in meetings.
📖 Short Reading
During yesterday’s business meeting, Anna suggested that we increase the marketing budget next quarter. John agreed that the new strategy could improve sales. However, the finance director warned that the company must control expenses carefully. Later, the project leader explained that the development of the new app was behind schedule due to technical issues. The CEO announced that everyone should focus on customer satisfaction. Finally, Sarah recommended that we schedule weekly progress meetings to keep the team updated. These reporting verbs help to clearly communicate the key points discussed.
✏️ Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
1. The manager ____ that the project was on schedule. (said / explained / recommended)
2. She ____ increasing the advertising budget next year. (warned / suggested / announced)
3. Tom ____ that we should be careful with expenses. (recommended / agreed / warned)
4. Sarah ____ that the product launch would happen in May. (announced / suggested / explained)
5. The team leader ____ holding weekly meetings to improve communication. (recommended / warned / agreed)
6. John and the CEO ____ about the new marketing strategy. (agreed / warned / explained)
7. He ____ that the technical problems delayed the development. (explained / suggested / agreed)
8. The director ____ us about the importance of meeting the deadline. (warned / recommended / agreed)
🔗 Exercise 2 – Matching
1. Suggested
2. Warned
3. Explained
4. Announced
5. Recommended
6. Agreed
7. Deadline
8. Budget
✅ Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
1. Which verb fits: The CEO ____ that the company would expand next year.
2. Which verb fits: The manager ____ that the project was delayed due to technical issues.
3. Which verb fits: She ____ holding more frequent meetings to improve communication.
4. Which verb fits: The team ____ that the new plan would increase sales.
5. Which verb fits: The finance officer ____ that we must reduce costs immediately.
6. Which verb fits: The project leader ____ the reasons for the delayed timeline.
7. Which verb fits: He ____ a plan to increase customer satisfaction.
8. Which verb fits: They ____ that the deadline could not be changed.
📝 Writing Practice
1. Write 3–5 sentences describing a business meeting you attended or imagine a meeting. Use at least two different reporting verbs to explain what people said, suggested, or warned.
📚 Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| suggested | offered an idea or plan |
| agreed | had the same opinion |
| warned | advised about a possible problem |
| explained | made something clear or understood |
| announced | officially said something important |
| recommended | gave advice or suggestions |
| deadline | the date by which something must be done |
| budget | money planned to be spent |
| strategy | a plan for achieving a goal |
| expenses | money spent |
| development | the process of creating something new |
| progress | movement forward or improvement |
| technical | related to technology or machines |
| customer satisfaction | how happy customers are |
🔎 Answer Key
- exercise_1_fill_blanks: 1.explained 2.suggested 3.warned 4.announced 5.recommended 6.agreed 7.explained 8.warned
- exercise_2_matching: 1.Suggested – offered an idea or plan 2.Warned – advised about a problem 3.Explained – made something clear 4.Announced – officially stated 5.Recommended – gave advice 6.Agreed – had the same opinion 7.Deadline – date for completion 8.Budget – planned money to spend
- exercise_3_multiple_choice: 1.announced 2.explained 3.suggested 4.agreed 5.warned 6.explained 7.recommended 8.announced
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