Unit 10 · Global Challenges & Change · Lesson 47
Voices of Change
Learn to report leaders' words precisely with reporting verbs (claim, deny, urge). You'll present a leader's message so you can quote fairly.
Warm-up · §1
5 minGet talking
One leader or activist (any field, any era) whose voice you'd want in your inbox tomorrow.
Rank who you trust most for accurate quotes: primary interview, national paper, tabloid, social feed.
One recent movement (political, environmental, cultural) that surprised you with its speed.
Grammar focus · §2
8–10 minAdvanced reporting verbs & structures
Quick rule
Choose the verb by MEANING first (was it a claim? a denial? a warning?), then check the pattern (that-clause / to + verb / gerund).
Pattern builder
verb + that-clause
claim / admit / deny / insist / suggest + (that) + clause
e.g. She claimed that the report was leaked.
verb + object + to-verb
urge / warn / advise + object + to + verb
e.g. They urged the government to act.
verb + gerund
admit / deny / suggest + -ing
e.g. He admitted taking the documents.
verb + preposition + gerund
apologise for / accuse of + -ing
e.g. She apologised for missing the meeting.
Compare
| Verb | Meaning | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| claim | state without proof | claim (that) + clause |
| deny | reject an accusation | deny + -ing / (that) + clause |
| urge | strongly ask | urge + object + to + verb |
| warn | tell about danger | warn + object + (not) to + verb |
Examples
- →
She claimed that the numbers were misleading. (says without proof)
- →
He denied taking any money. (rejected an accusation)
- →
They urged the government to act. (strongly asked)
- →
Officials warned residents to stay indoors.
- →
She admitted making a mistake.
- →
He proposed introducing a new tax.
Common mistakes
He denied to take any money.
✓ He denied taking any money.
'Deny' takes -ing, not 'to + verb'.
They urged that the government acts.
✓ They urged the government to act.
'Urge' takes object + to-verb, not a that-clause with present tense.
She admitted to make a mistake.
✓ She admitted making a mistake.
'Admit' + gerund (or 'admit that + clause').
Natural English
News writers pick reporting verbs deliberately: 'claimed' (skeptical), 'confirmed' (accepted as true), 'insisted' (defensive). Reading news becomes clearer when you spot the verb choice.
Deep dive (full explanation)
Beyond 'said', B2+ uses specific reporting verbs that show HOW something was said: claim, deny, insist, urge, warn, admit, propose. Each has its own grammar pattern. Choosing the right verb changes the meaning entirely.
Question 1.'She ___ that the numbers were misleading.'
Question 2.'He ___ taking any money.'
Question 3.'They ___ the government to act.'
Question 4.'She ___ making a mistake.'
Question 5.Which is WRONG?
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.'She ___ that the numbers were misleading.'
Quick check 2.'He ___ taking any money.'
Vocabulary · §3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
activist
someone campaigning for change.
movement
an organised effort by many people for a shared goal.
grassroots
starting from ordinary people, not leaders.
campaign
an organised set of actions towards a goal.
petition
a formal request signed by many people.
boycott
refusing to buy or use something as protest.
protest
a public expression of disagreement.
advocate
someone who publicly supports a cause.
reform
an official change made to improve a system.
influence
the power to shape opinion or events.
spokesperson
the person officially speaking for a group.
coalition
a group of different actors joining forces.
Activate it now
Use each word about a real leader or movement.
- Make it yours#1
Have you ever signed a petition, boycotted a brand, or joined a protest? What happened next?
petitionboycottprotest - Your view#2
Grassroots or celebrity-led — which drives lasting change?
grassrootsmovementinfluence - Rank#3
Rank most effective forms of activism: protest, petition, boycott, social media campaign, direct lobbying.
campaignadvocate - Complete#4
Finish: 'A coalition I'd love to see formed would be between ___ and ___.'
coalition - Discuss#5
Are spokespeople necessary — or do they dilute grassroots voices?
spokespersongrassroots
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · §4
3–4 minStress in reporting verbs
Reporting verbs carry a lot of meaning. Stress the reporting verb clearly to let the listener know your attitude: 'She CLAIMED the numbers were fine' (skeptical) vs 'She conFIRMED the numbers were fine' (accepted). Wrong stress flattens the meaning.
- She CLAIMED the numbers were fine.
- He DEnied taking the money.
- They URGED the government to act.
- Officials WARNED residents to stay indoors.
- She admitted MAKing a mistake.
Reading · §5
8–10 minWho Speaks for a Movement?
Listen to the passage
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Every serious movement eventually faces the question: who gets to speak for it? The person with the microphone shapes what the world hears. A movement that started in a hundred kitchens becomes, in the news, the words of one photogenic spokesperson. This isn't always a betrayal. A skilled advocate can carry a grassroots message into rooms it would otherwise never reach. But it comes with a cost. The spokesperson becomes the story. Journalists claim what she claimed. Editors report what she denied. The messy, plural voice of the movement is quietly reduced to a single quotable line. Smart movements build in defences. They rotate spokespeople to prevent any one voice becoming synonymous with the cause. They train coalitions to speak in the same key. And they insist — often, and loudly — that the leaders being quoted are servants of the movement, not its owners. The hardest job for any advocate is to keep asking: whose voice am I amplifying, and whose am I quietly overwriting? The best ones never stop asking. The worst ones stop noticing.
Question 1.According to the writer, who shapes what the world hears?
Question 2.What cost does having one spokesperson bring?
Question 3.What defence do smart movements build in?
Question 4.What must the best advocates keep asking?
Q1.The writer says having a spokesperson is always a betrayal.
Q2.According to the writer, smart movements rotate spokespeople.
Q3.The best advocates, per the writer, never question their own role.
Listening · §6
8–10 minA short newsroom brief (about 1:20)
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Editor:What have we got on today's protest?
Reporter:The spokesperson claimed the coalition now includes over sixty groups.
Editor:Verifiable?
Reporter:Partly. The coalition confirmed forty; twenty are still being checked.
Editor:Any denials?
Reporter:The minister denied receiving the petition. His office insists it wasn't formally submitted.
Editor:And the boycott?
Reporter:Activists urged customers to switch brands for a week. Two major retailers have already warned of stock disruption.
Editor:Grassroots or celebrity-led?
Reporter:Genuinely grassroots. The spokesperson admitted the leadership rotates monthly to prevent any single voice dominating.
Editor:Good. Lead with that.
Question 1.How many groups are confirmed in the coalition?
Question 2.What did the minister deny?
Question 3.What did activists urge?
Question 4.Why does leadership rotate monthly?
Exam skills · §7
5 minStrategy focus — Reporting fairly in Speaking Part 3
Task
Weak: 'She said X, and then she said Y.' Strong: uses varied reporting verbs to signal your reading of what she meant.
Strategy
Alternate one skeptical verb (claim), one neutral verb (say, state), one committed verb (urge, insist). This shows editorial control.
Example
The spokesperson insisted the coalition was growing, though she admitted that verification takes time. Officials, for their part, denied receiving the petition and warned that public disruption would not help the cause.
Practice · §8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.She ___ that the numbers were misleading.
Question 2.He ___ taking any money.
Question 3.They ___ the government to act.
Question 4.The person officially speaking for a group = the ___.
Question 5.Starting from ordinary people = ___.
Question 6.Different actors joining forces = a ___.
Q1.Fill: 'She a___ making a mistake.' (accept responsibility)
Q2.Fill: 'Officials w___ residents to stay indoors.' (danger warning + object + to)
Q3.'Refusing to buy as protest' = a b___.
Writing · §9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 140–180 word news-style report on any real or invented movement. Use at least FIVE different reporting verbs (claim, deny, urge, warn, admit, insist, propose) and FIVE items of activism vocabulary.
Your answer
Show model answer
A growing grassroots coalition urged the government yesterday to introduce a new tax on high-carbon exports. The spokesperson claimed the coalition now includes over sixty organisations and warned that public support for reform was 'reaching a tipping point'. Officials denied receiving the group's formal petition, though they admitted that similar proposals had been discussed internally. The minister insisted her department was 'listening carefully' but refused to commit to a timetable. Activists have called for a week-long consumer boycott of two major retailers. Both companies confirmed that stock had been disrupted and urged customers to be patient. One retailer's advocate proposed introducing a voluntary carbon label rather than face a legal tax. Movement organisers, meanwhile, admitted that leadership rotates monthly to prevent any single voice becoming synonymous with the cause. That structure, they argue, is exactly what has made the campaign so hard to dismiss — and, so far, harder to ignore.
Speaking · §10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
ROLEPLAY — Newsroom briefing. Your teacher/partner asks: 'What's the latest on the [issue]?' Answer in 60–90 seconds using FIVE different reporting verbs and FIVE activism vocabulary items.
Useful phrases
- • The spokesperson claimed ___
- • Officials denied ___
- • Activists urged ___
- • Retailers warned ___
- • She admitted ___
- • They proposed ___
- EditorWhat's the latest on the coalition's petition?
- You_______________
- EditorWhat about the boycott?
- You_______________
- EditorAnyone admit anything?
- You_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Optional group extensions. ~20 min total
Homework · §11
Take-homeTake it home
Write a 150-word news brief using five reporting verbs correctly.
Record a 90-second voice note summarising a recent news story using varied reporting verbs.
Write true sentences with: activist, movement, grassroots, coalition, boycott, spokesperson.
Watch a 3-minute news bulletin and note four different reporting verbs used.
Recap · §12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- You can use reporting verbs: claim, deny, urge, warn, admit, insist, propose.
- You can quote and paraphrase leaders with the correct grammar pattern.
- You can talk about movements with B2+ activism vocabulary.
- You're ready for Lesson 48 — 'Make It Happen'.