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Reporting Verbs Exercise
Use these verbs in the spaces below - grammar is important too!
States, conclude, claim, argue, mention, note, reject, suggest, question, emphasise,
discuss, point out, explain
0. Wills (2020) states that genetically modified (GM) food can be harmful for the body.
(says directly)
1. Jones (2018) ____________the importance of building restoration to a country’s
economy. (refers to briefly)
2. Harris (2021) ______________ that Bitcoin has no value whatsoever. (says indirectly
that something is true)
3. Ackroyd et al. (2020) _________________whether the use of facial recognition
software is ethical. (suggests it is inaccurate)
4. Krashen (1981) ________________ that language acquisition does not need extensive
use of grammar rules. (to examine the key points)
5. Samuel and Preston (2021) __________________that the increase spending for
councils in England is not adequate enough to address the issues in the care sector.
(they give reasons for their view)
6. Watson (2021) claims that he has had a major breakthrough in the fight against
cancer. (says something is true directly, and firmly, often used when others disagree)
7. Asprey (2018) ____________________ that exercise is a powerful anti-aging tool. (to
highlight an important point)
8. Banks (2021) ___________________how the UK government plans to launch a rocket
into orbit next year. (give clear details about something)
9. Parker (2019) ___________________that a reduction in the manufacturing of singleuse
plastics is necessary to reduce plastic pollution. (the final point or summary)
10. Robinson and Williams (2022) ___________________the claims that 5G technology
poses a threat to humans. (disagree with somebody or a theory)
11. Dawes et al. (2021) _________________ that a quarter of all adults in the UK used
mobile payments in 2020. (states but does not develop at length)
12. Madley (2022) ___________________ that robots will be an important investment
in most industries. (to say just briefly)
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Answers
1. Jones (2018) mentions the importance of building restoration to a country’s
economy. (refers to briefly)
2. Harris (2021) suggests that Bitcoin has no value whatsoever.
(says indirectly that something is true)
3. Ackroyd et al. (2020) questions whether the use of facial recognition software is
ethical. (suggests it is inaccurate)
4. Krashen (1981) discusses that language acquisition does not need extensive use of
grammar rules. (to examine the key points)
5. Samuel and Preston (2021) argue that the increase spending for councils in England is
not adequate enough to address the issues in the care sector. (they give reasons for
their view)
6. Watson (2021) claims that he has had a major breakthrough in the fight against
cancer. (says something is true directly, and firmly, often used when others disagree)
7. Asprey (2018) emphasises that exercise is a powerful anti-aging tool. (to highlight an
important point)
8. Banks (2021) explains how the UK government plans to launch a rocket into orbit next
year. (give clear details about something)
9. Parker (2019) concludes that a reduction in the manufacturing of single-use plastics is
necessary to reduce plastic pollution. (the final point or summary)
10. Robinson and Williams (2022) reject the claims that 5G technology poses a threat to
humans. (disagree with somebody or a theory)
11. Dawes et al. (2021) points out that a quarter of all adults in the UK used mobile
payments in 2020. (states but does not develop at length)
12. Madley (2022) notes that robots will be an important investment in most industries.
(to say just briefly)