Reporting intentions, hopes, and promises

REPORTED SPEECH: hopes,intentions & promises

HOPES, INTENTIONS & PROMISES

When we report an intention, hope or promise, we use an appropriate reporting verb followed by a that-clause or a to-infinitive:

  • "I'll 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 in this pattern include:
hope, propose, threaten, guarantee, swear.

Examples

  • "I'll be back by lunchtime."
  • => He promised to be back by lunchtime.
  • => He promised that he would be back by lunchtime.
     
  • "We should arrive in London before nightfall."
  • => They hoped to arrive in London before nightfall.
  • => They hoped they would arrive in London before nightfall.
     
  • "Give me the keys to the safe or I'll shoot you!"
  • => He threatened to shoot me if I didn't give him the keys to the safe.
  • => He threatened that he would shoot me if I didn't give him the keys to the safe.