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.