How do I know whether B2 First wants suggest, advise or deny?

It depends on two things: the meaning and the structure that follows. In Part 1, Cambridge usually gives you four similar verbs and only one fits the exact idea in the text. In Part 4, you also have to transform the sentence while keeping the right verb and its pattern: suggest usually takes -ing or a that-clause, advise takes object + to infinitive, and deny takes -ing or a that-clause depending on context.

Can I use an infinitive after suggest in B2 First?

Usually not in the standard use the exam wants. The natural forms are suggest + -ing, suggest that + subject + verb, or suggest a noun. That's why phrases like "suggest to go" are typically penalised. In Key Word Transformation this error appears a lot because the instinct is to copy a "suggest to do something" logic with the infinitive.

Which reporting-verb structures show up in Key Word Transformation?

You'll usually see shifts from a direct verb to a reported structure: advise someone to do something, deny doing something, suggest doing something or suggest that... In Part 4 it's not enough to grasp the general idea: you have to produce the exact form, respect the key word and stay within the word limit. The typical error isn't vocabulary — it's the verb pattern.

Why do I confuse say, tell, argue and advise in Part 1?

Because several of them translate very broadly, but in English each one selects a different kind of complement. Cambridge exploits this: an option can sound logical by general meaning yet be impossible with the structure that follows. If you see a that-clause, a direct object or an infinitive, that alone rules out several options before you even think about context.

How do I avoid reported-speech errors with advise, suggest and deny at B2?

Don't study the verb in isolation: memorise the verb with its pattern. Think in exam-useful chunks: advise someone to do, suggest doing, suggest that we do, deny doing. In Part 1, look at the word that comes right after the gap. In Part 4, first work out whether you need an object, an infinitive or a gerund. That focus keeps you from matching the verb without its structure.

Reporting verbs in B2 First | Mastery

Where it appears in the exam

Cambridge format example

Some critics 4 that street art can quickly become repetitive, especially when artists rely on the same fashionable images.

A discuss

B report

C argue

D advise

The gap usually tests whether you spot if the author is giving an opinion, advice or a denial. The typical answer fails because the student chooses by general meaning rather than by the real verb pattern.

What is it?

This competency is about verbs like advise, suggest and deny when you report what someone said, recommended or denied. In English it's not enough to pick a verb with a similar meaning: each one demands a specific structure after it, and that's exactly where the instinct pushes you into errors like using an infinitive after suggest or forgetting the object after advise.

Why it matters in the exam

In B2 First it appears above all in Part 1 and Part 4. If you choose the right verb but the wrong pattern, you lose the answer anyway: Cambridge isn't assessing vocabulary alone, but the exact combination of meaning + structure.

The cognitive trap

Instinct

"Your instinct reaches for an infinitive after suggest: "the doctor suggested to go to work on foot""

This is a pattern-overgeneralisation slip: your brain knows that many verbs take a to-infinitive (want to go, decide to go), so it applies the same template to suggest. But suggest is one of the verbs that rejects the bare infinitive, and the instinct doesn't pause to check the pattern.

Rule

"The doctor suggested going to work on foot." / "The doctor advised me to walk to work."

In English, suggest doesn't normally take a direct infinitive in this exam use. If you want an infinitive, you usually need advise + object + to infinitive.

Recognition pattern

Which reporting verb and structure do I use

Do you want to express advice, a proposal or the denial of a past/real action?

YES

Is the idea to advise a specific person to do something?

YES

Use advise + object + to infinitive: "The doctor advised me to rest."

NO

Is the idea to propose an action, not to give a personal order?

YES

Use suggest + -ing or suggest that + subject + verb: "She suggested leaving early." / "She suggested that we leave early."

NO

If the idea is to deny having done something, use deny + -ing or deny that...: "He denied taking the money."

NO

If you're not reporting advice, a proposal or a denial, you probably need another group: say/tell, reported questions or reported commands.

In the exam, look for the key signal first. The answer follows.

Signals that tell you the structure

Signal Form

Advice aimed at a specific person advise + object + to infinitive

"The instructor advised us to book the tickets early."

Signal Form

General proposal of an action suggest + -ing

"They suggested meeting outside the station."

Signal Form

Proposal with an explicit subject suggest that + subject + verb

"She suggested that we wait a few minutes."

Signal Form

Denial of an action that was carried out deny + -ing

"The player denied breaking the team rules."

Signal Form

Gap followed by a that-clause stating an opinion think argue/report, not advise

"Some experts argue that the plan is unrealistic."

The errors that Cambridge exploits

Wrong

"The teacher advised to revise the vocabulary list."

Cambridge penalises it because the object is missing. With advise, stating only the advice without saying who it was aimed at is usually wrong in this pattern.

Right

"The teacher advised us to revise the vocabulary list."

Correct because advise usually takes object + to infinitive when you advise someone to do something.

Wrong

"They suggested to take the train instead of driving."

This is the classic overgeneralisation. After suggest, the to-infinitive isn't the expected structure in this exam context.

Right

"They suggested taking the train instead of driving."

Correct because suggest fits very well with the gerund when you propose a general action.

Wrong

"The athlete denied to break the rules."

Cambridge penalises it because deny doesn't select the to infinitive in this use. The correct pattern here is deny + -ing.

Right

"The athlete denied breaking the rules."

Correct because deny usually takes the gerund to deny having done something.

Wrong

"Some critics advise that street art can become repetitive."

Here the problem isn't only grammar but meaning. Advise expresses advice, not a critical opinion. In this textual context, the verb doesn't fit the idea.

Right

"Some critics argue that street art can become repetitive."

Correct because argue introduces a developed opinion, very common in Part 1 texts with a that-clause.

Wrong

"She suggested us to leave earlier."

This is a very typical transfer error. The student tries to insert an object after suggest the way they do with advise, but that structure isn't the natural one Cambridge wants.

Right

"She suggested that we leave earlier."

Correct because suggest can also take a that-clause when you introduce a proposal for a specific group.

Why your brain gets it wrong

The learner's short circuit

Analyse the trap by exam format

Part 1 — Multiple Choice Cloze

Several local doctors 1 teenagers to reduce their screen time before bed if they want to sleep better.

A suggested ← your instinct

B advised ✓ correct

C denied

D reported

Many students choose suggested because it feels like the obvious match, but the structure rules it out: after the gap comes teenagers to reduce (object + to infinitive), and only advise accepts that pattern. Suggest takes -ing or a that-clause (suggest reducing / suggest that they reduce), never object + to. Deny and report don't fit in meaning or structure either.

In Part 1 the tense isn't the problem: the exact verb is

The real difficulty is that several options feel like they all mean "say" or "suggest". Cambridge forces you to distinguish opinion, advice and denial, not just to recognise a familiar word.

Strategy

Before looking at the general meaning of the text, work out what kind of message the gap expresses: advice, opinion, denial? Then check which structure would fit after it: advise + object + to, suggest + -ing / that, deny + -ing.

Reporting verbs (advise/suggest/deny) is 1 of 82

The exam tests 82 grammar competencies across 19 families. Mastering one is the first step. Automating all 82 is passing.

Tiempos verbales 6

Modales 5

Pasiva y causativa 2

Condicionales 6

Infinitivo, gerundio y participio 5

Énfasis y orden de palabras 4

Oraciones de relativo 4

Reported Speech 4

Comparativos y superlativos 5

Conectores 5

Preposiciones 4

Colocaciones y phrasal verbs 4

Formación de palabras 6

Determinantes y cuantificadores 4

Adjetivos y adverbios 5

Preguntas y negación 4

Patrones verbales 3

Concordancia y ortografía 3

Vocabulario 3

Related competencies

Practise this topic with real exercises

Reporting verbs (advise/suggest/deny) in B2 First

Where it appears in the exam

Part 1 — Multiple Choice Cloze

Part 4 — Key Word Transformation

Recognition pattern

The learner's short circuit

Reporting verbs (advise/suggest/deny) is 1 of 82