Reporting nouns are nouns such ascomment,criticism,remark,statement. We can represent indirect speech with reporting nounsas well as with reporting verbs. These are more common in writing than speaking, and are usually quite formal. (Reported speech is underlined.)
Hisremarkthat we hadn’t worked hard enoughupset everyone.(original remark:‘You haven’t worked hard enough.’)
The Prime Minister’scommentthat this was not the right time for an electionhas made headlines in all today’s papers.
Jason’sclaimthat he was ignored by everyoneis hard to believe.
Herexcusethat she had been abroad at the timewas not accepted by the court.
Common reporting nouns
announcement | complaint | explanation | response |
answer | criticism | news | statement |
argument | demand | offer | suggestion |
claim | denial | promise | threat |
comment | excuse | remark | warning |
Reporting nouns and reported clauses
The reported clause after a reporting noun is usually athat-clause which acts as the complement of the noun. We do not usually omitthatafter reporting nouns:
For years, nobody listened to the warningsthatglobal temperatures were rising.
Not:For years, nobody listened to the warnings global temperatures were rising.
We can also use some reporting nouns (for exampleclaim, offer, promise,suggestionandthreat) with ato-infinitive:
She made apromiseto visit him at least once a month.
Nobody took seriously herthreatto sell the business.
Reporting nouns and adjectives
We often use adjectives with reporting nouns to describe particular qualities of what someone said:
Hersuddenannouncementthat she was getting divorced came at 5 pm yesterday.
Hisfeebleexcusethat he had missed the train convinced nobody.