Lesson

Reporting what people say using nouns and adjectives

Noun-based reporting

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Reporting what people say using nouns and adjectives

This lesson explains how to report speech not with direct quotes or reporting verbs, but by using reporting nouns (e.g., suggestion, complaint, response) and adjectives that describe the tone or quality of what was said (e.g., helpful, blunt, detailed). This style is common in business English and formal writing because it is concise and impartial.

  • Reporting nouns turn speech into noun phrases: 'He made a suggestion.'
  • Adjectives describe the type or tone of the utterance: 'a detailed explanation', 'a blunt remark'.
  • Nominalized phrases are often preferred in reports, emails and minutes for formal tone.

Table

Common reporting nouns and adjectives

Reporting noun Typical adjective(s) Example
suggestion helpful / constructive She offered a helpful suggestion to reduce costs.
complaint formal / written The client filed a formal complaint about the delay.
explanation detailed / clear His detailed explanation satisfied the audit team.
response positive / prompt We received a prompt response from the supplier.
remark blunt / dismissive The manager's blunt remark affected team morale.
claim false / unsubstantiated They denied the unsubstantiated claim in the report.

Tip

How to build a reporting noun phrase

Use an article or possessive + adjective + reporting noun, or use verbs that 'make' or 'issue' the noun:

  • Structure: [article/possessive] + [adjective] + [reporting noun] + [optional preposition phrase].
  • Use verbs: make/issue/file/receive + reporting noun (e.g., 'file a complaint').
  • Prefer noun phrases for formal reports: 'A detailed explanation was provided' vs 'He explained in detail.'

In English, adjectives usually come before nouns ('a prompt response'), and reporting nouns usually need an article or determiner.

Example

Examples in context

He made a formal complaint about the shipment delay.

Her detailed explanation clarified the budget questions.

They received a positive response from the client.

The manager's blunt remark worried the team.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Learners often make the same universal errors when forming noun + adjective reports. Watch for these:

  • Missing determiner: saying 'made suggestion' instead of 'made a suggestion'.
  • Wrong word order: placing the adjective after the noun ('remark blunt' instead of 'blunt remark').
  • Using an adjective alone where a noun phrase is required: 'He was blunt' vs the report 'a blunt remark'.
  • Confusing adjective/adverb pairs: 'a quick response' (noun phrase) vs 'responded quickly' (verb + adverb).

Always check for the article/determiner and correct adjective position before submitting a report or email.

Quiz

Choose the sentence that correctly reports speech using a noun + adjective:

Hint: Look for an adjective before a reporting noun (adjective + noun).

Quiz

Complete: The client sent _____ about the invoice.

Hint: Think of a noun phrase that includes an adjective + a reporting noun.

Quiz

Which sentence correctly transforms the direct quote into a noun + adjective report? Direct quote: "We must improve quality," the engineer said.

Hint: Choose the option that uses a reporting noun + describes the content of the quote.

Key Points

Vocabulary

suggestion

noun CEFR B1 //səˈdʒɛstʃən//

an idea or plan offered for consideration

She made a helpful suggestion during the meeting.

Vocabulary

complaint

noun CEFR B1 //kəmˈpleɪnt//

a statement that something is wrong or unsatisfactory

The customer filed a complaint about the damaged goods.

Vocabulary

detailed

adjective CEFR B2 //ˈdiːteɪld//

including many small facts or aspects; thorough

Please send a detailed explanation of the costs.

Vocabulary

blunt

adjective CEFR B2 //blʌnt//

direct and possibly rude or harsh in speech

His blunt remark surprised everyone in the meeting.

Vocabulary

response

noun CEFR B1 //rɪˈspɒns//

an answer or reaction to something said or done

We are waiting for a formal response from headquarters.

GrammarPoint

make a complaint

expression CEFR B1 //meɪk ə kəmˈpleɪnt//

to formally state dissatisfaction (verb + noun collocation)

If the issue isn't resolved, the client may make a complaint.

GrammarPoint

reporting noun

grammar_point CEFR B2 //rɪˈpɔːtɪŋ naʊn//

a noun that summarizes or names what someone said (e.g., suggestion, complaint)

Use a reporting noun to summarize speech: 'Their suggestion was practical.'