Reporting Verbs. Speaking activity conversation questions.

This is a speaking activity to practise using reporting verbs (such as deny or admit) in context with conversation questions. This activity is part of a complete lesson on reporting verbs in our free upper-intermediate English course.

1. Say:
   • Can you share a situation where you had to say something difficult to a friend?
   • Describe a situation where someone said something that you didn’t agree with. What did they say? How did you respond?
2. Tell:
   • Describe a time when you had to tell a colleague about a mistake they made.
   • Describe a time that someone told you to do something that you didn’t want to do. What did they tell you to do? How did you respond?
3. Explain:
   • Describe a time when someone explained how to do something to you.
   • Describe a time when you were wrong about something and someone explained why you were wrong.
4. Ask:
   • Share a moment when you had to ask someone for help, and what their response was.
   • Describe a time when you asked someone to do something and they refused.
5. Suggest:
   • Have you ever suggested anything that turned out to be a great idea?
   • Describe a time when someone suggested that you do something that worked well for you.
6. Advise:
   • Describe a time when someone advised you to be careful. What were you doing? What happened?
7. Mention:
   • Can you mention a recent conversation where someone mentioned a surprising fact?
   • What did your colleague mention about the upcoming company event?
8. Report:
   • Describe a time when someone reported having done something that you couldn’t believe.
9. Describe:
   • Talk about a time where someone described doing something exciting.
10. Claim:
    • What is the most surprising thing that anyone you know has ever claimed to be true?
11. Deny:
    • Can you share a situation where someone denied doing something that you are sure that they did?
12. Admit:
    • Have you ever admitted to doing something wrong? What was it? What was the result of your admission?
    • Share a time when you had to admit that you were wrong in an argument.
13. Acknowledge:
    • Can you acknowledge a mistake you made at work and how you handled it?
14. Confirm:
    • Describe a time when something confirmed that your suspicions about someone or something were correct.
15. Reveal:
    • Describe a situation where someone revealed a surprising fact about themselves.
16. Allege:
    • Has anyone ever alleged that you did something that you didn’t do? What was it? What happened?
17. Declare:
    • Describe a time when someone declared something that wasn’t true.
18. State:
    • Share a moment when you had to state something that was controversial.
19. Assure:
    • Describe a time when you assured someone that something was going to be okay.