Reporting verbs with that clauses:
Some verbs introduce a report, an idea or a summary. These verbs have the pattern:
N + V + (that) + clause
When we want to say what someone says or thinks we can use a clause with that;
He said that I had to see a doctor.
I thought that he was being silly.
We can leave out the word that:I thought that he was being silly.
He said I had to see a doctor.
I thought he was being silly.
With some verbs we can mention the hearer as the object of the verb:I thought he was being silly.
She reminded him that it was time to go.
He told me he was a friend of yours.
These verbs have the pattern;He told me he was a friend of yours.
N + V + N + (that) + clause.
Reporting verbs with wh- and if clauses
Some verbs introduce summaries, reports, questions or problems:
She explained what we had to do.
He asked if I was ready
I didn’t know what to do.
These verbs have the pattern:He asked if I was ready
I didn’t know what to do.
N + V + wh- + clause:
She wondered where she was.
orShe wondered where she was.
N + V + if + clause:
Ken asked if we wanted to go.
With some verbs we can mention the hearer as the object of the verb:Ken asked if we wanted to go.
She asked me if I was ready.
He told me what I had to do.
These verbs have the pattern:He told me what I had to do.
N + V + N + wh- + clause:
I told them what he was doing.
orI told them what he was doing.
N + V + N + if + clause:
Ken asked us if we wanted to go.
Ken asked us if we wanted to go.