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English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate (Unit 45: Speaking)


A. Reporting verbs

We can use these verbs to report people's speech and how they speak (including how loudly and what their mood is).

verb loudness most likely mood
whisper very soft telling someone a secret*
murmur soft romantic or complaining
mumble soft (and unclear) nervous or insecure
mutter soft irritated
shout loud angry or excited
scream loud (usually without words) frightened or excited
shriek loud (and shrill) frightened or amused
stutter, stammer neutral nervous or excited**

*People also whisper in places where it would be impolite to speak loudly.
**Stuttering and stammering may also be the result of a speech impediment.

'I'm sick of this. I'm going home,' he muttered.
Suddenly, someone shouted 'Help!'
She whispered that she was not happy with the way the meeting was going.

B. Describing feelings

These verbs indicate the speaker's feelings or intentions. (sb = someone, sth = something)

verb patterns feeling
boast to sb about sth proud of yourself
insist on sth determined
object to + -ing unhappy with a situation
threaten to do sth aggressive
argue with sb about sth not in agreement
groan that despair, pain
complain to sb about sth displeased
confess to + -ing repentant
maintain that confident
urge sb to do sth encouraging
beg sb to do sth desperate
grumble about sth displeased

C. Adverbs related to speech

To indicate someone's feelings, you can use a speaking verb plus an adverb. For example,
'He said anxiously.' She spoke angrily: This is common in written style.

If someone feels angry: angrily, furiously, bitterly

If someone feels unhappy: gloomily, miserably, sadly

If someone feels happy: happily, cheerfully, gladly, hopefully

If someone feels worried: anxiously, nervously, desperately

Other useful adverbs: excitedly, impatiently, reluctantly, shyly.

Language help

Most of the verbs in B above can also be used with a that clause.
She boasted, that, she had scored 20 goals in one season.
He threatened, (that), he would call the police.
Exercise-45.1


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