oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

PAGE 355
2 Offers, warnings, apologies etc
We can report these kinds of sentences with say or ask, or we can use offer, warn,
apologize etc.
'I can lend you some money.'
Sue offered to lend me some money.
Sue said she could lend me some money.
Here are some patterns we can use.
270 Reporting orders, requests, offers etc
a
b
c
d
A single clause
'I'm sorry.'
'Thank you very much.'
'I really must have a break.'
'Be careful. The path is slippery.'
Verb + to-infinitive
'I'm not going to walk all that way.'
Also: agree, offer, promise, threaten
Verb + object + to-infinitive
'You really ought to get some help.'
"Would you like to stay at our
house?'
Also: recommend, remind, warn
Verb + gerund
'Why don't we share the cost?'
'I'm afraid I've lost the photo.'
The man apologized.
I thanked the driver.
Jeff insisted on a break.
He warned us about the path.
Gary refused to walk.
Mark advised us to get some help.
Your friends have invited me to stay at
their house.
Someone suggested sharing the cost.
Lorna admitted losing the photo.
e
Verb + preposition + gerund
'I'm sorry I messed up the
Roland apologized for messing up the
arrangements.'
arrangements.
Also: complain about, confess to, insist on, object to
f Verb + object + preposition + gerund
'It was your fault. You didn't tell
us.'
They blamed James for not telling
them.
g Verb + that-clause
Jeff insisted (that) we had a break.
Lorna admitted (that) she had lost the photo.
Also: agree, complain, confess, object, promise, suggest, threaten, warn
NOTE
After agree, insist, promise and suggest we can use a clause with should. • 242(2)
Jeff insisted that we should have a break.
h
Verb + object + that-clause
He warned us that the path was slippery.
Also: advise, promise, remind