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Reporting & Quoted Speech Verbs
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Past Tense Verb |
Example Sentences |
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Acknowledged |
Mr. Lee acknowledged the limitations of the article’s main
argument. |
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Added
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The anthropology professor added a few more comments on historical
analysis. |
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Alerted |
Atmospheric scientists alerted the government agency about the new ozone
data. |
| Analyzed |
Actuaries analyzed the insurance claims for the previous 5
years. |
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Announced |
The Nobel Foundation announced the Nobel Laureates in Economics, Peace,
Literature, Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine. |
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Apologized |
The speech writer apologized for plagiarizing certain key
phrases. |
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Argued |
In 1954, lawyers argued the Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka
case at the Supreme Court. |
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Asked |
The students asked useful questions while reviewing for the final
exam. |
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Asserted |
Some people asserted that it is too complicated to recycle, but
most people realize it is simple. |
| Attributed |
The article on mythology attributed the “follow your bliss” quote to Joseph
Campbell. |
| Believed |
Before Columbus, most people believed the earth was flat rather than
round. |
| Challenged |
The plaintiff’s lawyer challenged the decision in an appellate
court. |
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Claimed |
Some other people claimed that they were the first to climb the
mountain. |
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Clarified |
Through reading and writing, the literature
students clarified their understanding of
the poem. |
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Commented |
The researchers commented on their findings for the human genome
project. |
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Compared |
The psychologists compared the twin studies with other sibling data to
determine the influence of nature versus nurture. |
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Concluded |
The lecturer concluded with a review of the cinematic concepts
discussed in class that day. |
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Contended |
The losers contended that the game had been fixed and the score
was invalid. |
| Deduced |
Characters in the whodunit play incorrectly
deduced the one who had done it. |
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Debated |
The leaders debated the ideal health care reform
plan. |
| Defined |
As required, the researchers defined the parameters of their upcoming
study. |
| Described |
The job applicant described his relevant experience and educational
background. |
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Discounted |
The financial advisors discounted this month’s unemployment figures as an
anomaly in a bullish economy. |
| Discussed |
The volunteers discussed creative ways to raise money and
awareness. |
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Emphasized |
Dr. Patel, a medical statistician, emphasized the importance of accurate and timely
data. |
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Equated |
That poem equated love to the ocean because both are deep and
vastly unknowable. |
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Explained |
The city planners explained that building a train would ease
traffic. |
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Extolled |
The nutritionist extolled the benefits of eating a healthy diet and
exercising. |
| Expressed |
At the book signing, Harry Potter fans expressed their enthusiasm for all the HP
books. |
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Forecasted |
Meteorologists forecasted a snowy winter and an early
spring. |
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Foretold |
In the early1800s, Chief Seattle foretold many of the present-day
events. |
| Guessed |
Surveyors guessed that the age of the rocks were younger than
the carbon dating ultimately showed. |
| Highlighted |
The emcee highlighted the main accomplishments of the plenary
speaker. |
| Identified |
The etymologists identified the linguistic origin of those 1,000
words. |
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Interpreted |
Archeologists and linguists interpreted the ancient tablets as
important. |
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Interviewed |
The journalist interviewed over 30 local residents for the article
on community building. |
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Justified |
In the courtroom, the defendant justified his actions. |
| Listed |
The reporter listed the counties affected by the tornado
warning. |
| Mandated |
Congress mandated that by February 2009 all television
broadcasts will use digital television (DTV). |
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Mentioned |
The librarian mentioned at least 5 other relevant
journals. |
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Ordered |
The president of the company ordered that arbitration take place before a
strike. |
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Offered |
Dr. Smith, an epidemiologist, offered a new interpretation of the
data. |
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Predicted |
Doctors predicted the patient would make a full
recovery. |
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Promised |
The candidates promised to improve the situation. |
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Proved |
Mathematicians proved the theorem is valid. |
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Questioned |
The teacher questioned the students' understanding of the
Socratic Method. |
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Quoted |
The playwright quoted Confucius, “A superior man is modest in his
speech, but exceeds in his actions.” |
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Read |
The poet read his poem at the party. |
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Recommended |
Both job interviewers recommended that the applicant be
hired. |
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Refuted |
Copernicus refuted the theory that the earth is in the center
of the solar system. |
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Related |
Each storyteller related their own version of the fairy
tale. |
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Reported |
At the board of directors meeting Mr. Jones,
the chief financial officer (CFO), reported
on the expenses incurred during the fiscal year. |
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Requested |
Audience members at the concert requested two encores. |
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Restated |
During the review, the students restated some key ideas to make sure they understood
the material. |
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Said
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Ms. Garcia said
the literary essay would count 25% of the grade. |
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Sang |
The musicians sang every verse of the song. |
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Spoke |
The valedictorian spoke to the graduating class. |
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Stressed |
Visitors to the area stressed the importance of continuing to support the
survivors of this natural disaster. |
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Suggested |
The librarian suggested searching in a few more databases that
specialize in English literature. |
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Surmised |
Economists surmised
the causes were interrelated. |
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Thought |
Philosophers such as Plato thought about how form related to
substance. |
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Told |
The museum curator told the story of each piece of artwork. |
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Warned |
Climatologists warned the people living coastal areas about the
effects of global warming. |
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Welcomed |
The principal welcomed the high school freshman class. |
| Wondered | The marine biologist wondered about the impact of overfishing on the fish
population. |