REPORTING INTENTIONS, HOPES AND PROMISES
When reporting intentions, hope or promise, we use an appropriate reporting verb followed by a 'that' clause with 'would' in it, or a to-infinitive clause. Verbs used in this pattern include: hope, promise, threaten, guarantee, & swear. Note that the word 'that' is optional when using a that clause, as in the first example below.
EXAMPLES
| Direct speech | Indirect speech |
|---|---|
| "I'll pay you the money tomorrow," he said. | He promised to pay me the money the next day. OR He promised that he would pay me the money the next day. OR He promised he would pay me the money the next day. |
| "I'll be back by lunchtime," he said. | He promised to be back by lunchtime. OR He promised that he would be back by lunchtime. |
| "We should arrive in London before nightfall," they said. | They hoped to arrive in London before nightfall. OR They hoped they would arrive in London before nightfall. |
| "Give me the keys to the safe or I'll shoot you!" he shouted. | He threatened to shoot me if I didn't give him the keys to the safe. OR He threatened that he would shoot me if I didn't give him the keys to the safe. |
| "I will not tell anyone your secret" he said. | He swore that he would not tell anyone my secret. OR He swore not to tell anyone my secret. |
Another explanation:
To report a promise, hope or intention we use an appropriate reporting verb followed by a that-clause or a to-infinitive.
- He said, "I will pay you the money tomorrow."
- He promised to pay me the money the next day.
- He promised that he would pay me the money the next day.
Other verbs used to report hopes, intentions, and promises include: hope, propose, threaten, guarantee and swear.
- "I will be back by lunch time," he said.
- He promised to be back by lunchtime.
- He promised that he would be back by lunchtime.
- "We would arrive in London before nightfall," they said.
- They hoped to arrive in London before nightfall.
- They hoped that they would arrive in London before nightfall.
- "Give me the money or I will shoot you."
- He threatened to shoot me if I didn't give him the money.
- He threatened that he would shoot me if I didn't give him the money.
Verbs that can be followed by either a that-clause or a to-infinitive include: decide, expect, guarantee, hope, promise, swear, and threaten.