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Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers? Reporting verbs + that: claim, argue, point out, deny

This B2 ESL lesson plan teaches reporting verbs with a that clause through the return of gray wolves to Yellowstone and the debate over what they changed.

Grammar
Claim, argue, suggest, point out, admit, deny, insist, explain and conclude + that (Vic denies that wolves moved the rivers.), what each verb says, and tenses after a past verb.
Topic
Wolves back in Yellowstone since 1995, fewer elk, taller willows and a popular video's river claim, with words such as predator, prey, browse and trophic cascade.
Activities
An explainer, a biologist's interview and a reader's voice memo, self-checking drills, a chat with Isaiah, a summary to put in order and debate boxes.

What's inside

  1. Chapter 1Warm-up: wolves, willows and wild claims

    • PictureUnlock
    • Spin the wheel and answerSpin the wheelUnlock
    • Study the words: wolves, willows and claimsVocabularyTry it
    • Look at the pictures and choose the wordChoose by pictureUnlock

  2. Chapter 2Let's read: the wolf, the willow and the video

    • Look at the photo: wolves in the snowPictureUnlock
    • Read Leona's explainer on The Why DeskArticleUnlock
    • Read and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
    • Read again and choose the correct answerQuizUnlock
    • Match the beginnings of the paragraphs and the headingsMatchUnlock

  3. Chapter 3Let's listen: keep the question mark

    • Listen to Leona and VicListeningTry it
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and choose the correct answerQuizUnlock
    • Listen to the Reader's Rebuttal: Ophelia's voice memoListeningUnlock
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock

  4. Chapter 4Grammar: the video claims that…

    • Study the scheme: reporting verbs + thatGrammar schemeTry it
    • Choose the correct option: report their wordsChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: use the verbs in bracketsFill in the gapsTry it
    • Choose the correct answer: which sentence is correct?QuizUnlock
    • Fill in the table: move the verb one step backFill in the tableUnlock
    • Put the words in the correct orderUnjumbleUnlock

  5. Chapter 5Let's talk: who said what?

    • Choose the right replies: tell Isaiah about the interviewChatTry it
    • Put the parts of the interview summary in the correct orderDrag and dropUnlock
    • Open a box and answer: join the debateOpen the boxUnlock

  6. Chapter 6Homework

    • Match the words and the meaningsMatchUnlock
    • Unscramble the wordsAnagramUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps with the lesson's wordsFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Find the matching pairs: words and meaningsMemory gameUnlock
    • Choose the correct option: new sentencesChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: use the verbs in bracketsFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Choose the correct answer: which sentence fits best?QuizUnlock
    • Put the words in the correct orderUnjumbleUnlock
    • Choose the correct option: a Why Desk news briefChoose the optionUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: Leona answers OpheliaDrag and dropUnlock

34 exercises in 6 chapters. Start a 7-day free trial to open all of them, copy any part into your own lessons, and teach the lesson live.

Nature vocabulary

12 words and phrases from the lesson, each with a picture and audio in edio.

+9 more with pictures and audio in the lessonMore words

  • prey
  • trophic cascade
  • reintroduce
  • browse
  • willow
  • scavenger
  • meander
  • raven
  • exaggerate

Grammar: reporting verbs + that clause

A reporting verb does more than say: it shows what the writer thinks of the words. The video claims that… sounds doubtful, while Vic points out that… presents a fact. Yellowstone's wolf debate has claims, doubts and admissions on every side, so learners choose the verb that matches the speaker's attitude, then add that and a full clause.

The video claims that… Vic points out that…

Reporting verbs + that clause tell us what someone said, and they show what the writer thinks of it.

Nine verbs and what each one tells the reader

Argue gives reasons, suggest says it might be true, admit means it's true but unwelcome, deny says it isn't true, insist repeats it firmly, explain makes it clear and conclude decides after study. Claim casts doubt; point out presents a fact.

Nine verbs, nine meanings

Verb + thatWhat it tells the readerExample
claim thatthey say it's true, but maybe it isn'tThe video claims that wolves moved the rivers.
argue thatthey give reasons for a viewRipple and Beschta argue that wolves helped the willows.
suggest thatit might be trueA 2013 experiment suggested that willows need beavers.
point out thata true and important factPark scientists point out that floods changed the streams.
admit thattrue, but they'd rather not say itLeona admitted that she didn't know much about willows.
deny thatthey say it isn't trueVic denies that wolves moved the rivers.
insist thatthey say it firmly, again, when others doubt itLeona insisted that the story still mattered.
explain (to someone) thatthey make the facts or reasons clearVic explained to Leona that elk are the main prey.
conclude thattheir decision at the end, after studyIn 2016, park scientists concluded that the debate wasn't over.

claim or point out? Your verb is your opinion

claim = maybe it isn't true: The video claims that wolves moved the rivers. point out = it's true, and it matters: Vic points out that floods changed the streams. suggest = maybe it's true: The tracks suggest that a wolf walked here.

In the wolf story

  • The video claims that wolves changed Yellowstone's rivers.
  • Some scientists argue that it's a trophic cascade.
  • Others point out that bears and hunters took elk too.
  • Vic denied that wolves had moved the rivers.
  • Leona insisted that the video's story still mattered.
  • One study's authors admit that firm answers may be impossible.

Who comes after the verb?

Argue, claim, insist, admit, deny and conclude take that straight away, with no person: He argued that the video was wrong. Explain and point out need to before a person: She explained to me that… Only tell takes the person directly: He told me that…

VerbRightNot
argue, claim, insist, admit, deny, concludeHe argued that the video was wrong.He argued me that…
explainShe explained (to me) that elk eat willows.She explained me that…
point outHe pointed out (to us) that it was late.He pointed out us that…
suggest (= might be true)The tracks suggest that a wolf walked here.The tracks suggest to a wolf walked here.
tell (from B1.2)He told me that the video was wrong.He told that…

Now or then: present or past reporting verb

A present verb reports a view someone still holds or a text you can still read: The video claims that… A past verb reports one moment, and the tense moves back as in B1.2: She pointed out that the elk were there. Facts that are still true can stay present.

argue in every person: now and then

PersonA view nowAt a past moment
II argue that…I argued that…
youyou argue that…you argued that…
hehe argues that…he argued that…
sheshe argues that…she argued that…
itit (the article) argues that…it argued that…
wewe argue that…we argued that…
theythey argue that…they argued that…

Now or then?

Present: a view someone still holds, or a video or study you can still read. The video claims that… Past: one moment in the past. Yesterday Vic denied that… After a past verb, move the tense back as in B1.2 when the moment is over: “The elk are here!” (last winter) → She pointed out that the elk were there. For facts that are still true, the present is fine too.

Common mistakes

Four traps come up again and again: argued me that, explained me that, suggest to + a clause and denied to know. Drop the extra person and keep that + a clause: He denied that he knew about the video. With explain, add to: explained to me that.

  • Vic argued me that the video was wrong.

    Vic argued that the video was wrong.

    no me, us or them right after argue

  • Vic explained me that elk eat willows.

    Vic explained to me that elk eat willows.

    explain to + a person

  • The tracks suggest to a wolf walked here.

    The tracks suggest that a wolf walked here.

    suggest that + a clause

  • He denied to know about the video.

    He denied that he knew about the video.

    deny that + a clause

More lessons on this grammar: Reported speech lessons and exercises

Try the reporting verbs exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

More exercises

What's in the lesson

  • 19 auto-checked exercises
  • 6 games
  • 1 article
  • 1 grammar scheme
  • 1 set of word cards
  • 2 audio clips
  • 2 pictures
  • 2 transcripts

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

  • report a view and show what you think of it: The video claims that wolves changed the rivers. Park scientists point out that floods changed the streams.
  • choose argue, suggest, admit, deny, insist or conclude for what a speaker really did: Vic denied that wolves had moved the rivers.
  • keep the person out or add to: He argued that…, She explained to me that…, never argued me that or explained me that
  • use the present for a view people still hold and move the tense back for a past moment: Hattie pointed out that the elk were standing in the stream.
  • summarize an interview and join a debate: Some scientists argue that…, while others point out that…

Lesson 13 opens Wildlife comebacks, unit 4 of English B2.1 · How the World Works. It builds on the reported statements and tense changes of B1.2 lessons 13 and 14 and swaps said for verbs that judge what was said. Lesson 14 adds a person and an infinitive (warned me not to touch). A science debate built around one famous claim needs exactly these verbs: who claims, who doubts, who admits.

Students spin a wheel of questions about wolves, comebacks and stories that are only half true, then learn twelve words, from predator and prey to meander and exaggerate, with pictures and audio. They read Leona's explainer on what the wolves did and didn't change, then hear her interview Vic, a biologist who studies elk and willows, and Ophelia from Montana argue the other side, both AI-voiced. The grammar chapter has the scheme and five self-checking drills, among them a table that moves each verb one step back. In the speaking chapter, students tell Isaiah what Vic said, put a newsletter summary in order and open boxes to join the debate.

All ten homework tasks check themselves: a word match, an anagram, gaps and a memory game on the words; then verb choices in new sentences, gaps with the verbs in brackets, a quiz on which verb fits best, word order, a Why Desk news brief on the willow debate and Leona's reply to Ophelia.

Grammar:
reporting verbs · reporting verbs + that clause · claim, argue, suggest, point out · admit, deny, insist, explain, conclude
Topic:
Yellowstone National Park · gray wolves · elk and willows · trophic cascades · science debates · wildlife comebacks · The Why Desk

Teaching tips

  • Put a claim on the board before the reading: Wolves changed Yellowstone's rivers. Students vote true, false or not sure, then read Leona's explainer to find who supports the claim and who doubts it.
  • Sort the verbs on a line from doubt to fact: claim and suggest at one end, point out and admit at the other. Students report one fact with two verbs and say how the message changes.
  • Play the interview twice: first for Vic's view of the rivers and the willows, then for every reporting verb. Students list who denied, insisted, pointed out and concluded what.
  • Fix the extra person before the chat: write argued me that, explained me that and pointed out us that on cards. Students correct each one aloud, then report Vic's interview to Isaiah.

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The whole course: English B2.1 · How the World Works

32 lessons for adults at B2 in American English, each answering one question about how the world works. The team of The Why Desk, a small online magazine in Pittsburgh, takes on one question a week, from the day a computer beat the world chess champion to eight people sealed inside Biosphere 2. Learners tell stories with narrative tenses, speculate about the past and the future, and report what experts claim. The practice exercises check themselves.See the course

  1. Unit 1 AI and the future of work

    narrative tenses, by and until, be bound to and be likely to, the future perfect

    1. Lesson 1Checkmate: the day a computer beat the championNarrative tenses: past simple, past continuous and past perfect
    2. Lesson 2The robot car that crossed the desertTime prepositions: by, until, within, throughout, in time and on time
    3. Lesson 3Can a chatbot fool you?Probability about the future: be bound to, be likely to, the chances are
    4. Lesson 4By 2035, what will AI have designed?The future perfect simple: will have + past participle

  2. Unit 2 Health breakthroughs

    the third conditional, the past perfect and past continuous passive, have something done, the passive with two objects

    1. Lesson 5The moldy melon that changed medicineThe third conditional: if + had done, would have done
    2. Lesson 61.8 million Polio PioneersThe past perfect passive and the past continuous passive
    3. Lesson 7One clinic, many doctorsHave / get something done
    4. Lesson 8A kidney from a twinThe passive with two objects

  3. Unit 3 Moving people

    the past perfect continuous, the passive infinitive and -ing form, it's worth and there's no point, the future in the past

    1. Lesson 9Six years to the golden spikeThe past perfect continuous vs the past perfect simple
    2. Lesson 10Riding a pod with no driverThe passive infinitive and the passive -ing form
    3. Lesson 11The town that painted bike lanes firstIt's worth, there's no point and it's no use + -ing
    4. Lesson 12The highways that were supposed to take 13 yearsThe future in the past

  4. Unit 4 Wildlife comebacks

    reporting verbs with a that clause, with an object and infinitive and with -ing, verbs of perception

    1. Lesson 13 · you're hereDid wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers?Reporting verbs + that clause
    2. Lesson 14Bringing a parrot back from the edgeReporting verbs + object + (not) to + base form
    3. Lesson 15The beavers that came by parachuteReporting verbs + -ing and verb + preposition + -ing
    4. Lesson 16Fifteen bison take the trainVerbs of perception + object + base form or -ing

  5. Unit 5 Pop culture goes global

    comment adverbs, wish and if only for the present and the past, have someone do and get someone to do

    1. Lesson 17The party that started hip hopComment adverbs: apparently, supposedly, undoubtedly
    2. Lesson 18Slide to the left!Wish and if only for wishes about now
    3. Lesson 19If only they'd kept SupermanWish and if only + past perfect for regrets
    4. Lesson 20The hit factory on West Grand BoulevardCausative have and get: have someone do, get someone to do

  6. Unit 6 Money and smart choices

    -ever words and no matter, should have and could have, prepositions for numbers and change, it's time and would rather

    1. Lesson 21The bank that never closed-ever words and no matter
    2. Lesson 22One marshmallow now or two later?Should have, shouldn't have and could have
    3. Lesson 23Benjamin Franklin's 200-year giftPrepositions for numbers and change
    4. Lesson 24Why buy a drill you'll use once?It's (high) time and would rather + past simple

  7. Unit 7 Language and communication

    must have, might have and can't have, verb prefixes and suffixes, past modals in continuous and passive forms, agreement with quantities

    1. Lesson 25How did one man write down a language?Past modals of deduction: must have, might have, can't have
    2. Lesson 26Why do Americans write “color”?Verb prefixes and suffixes: misspell, rewrite, simplify, shorten
    3. Lesson 27The joke that needed a smileyPast modals in continuous and passive forms
    4. Lesson 28Can preschoolers save a language?Subject-verb agreement with quantities and collective nouns

  8. Unit 8 Exploring the extremes

    dimension nouns, the future continuous and future perfect continuous, compound adjectives, only, even and just

    1. Lesson 29A walk on the ocean floorDimension nouns and phrases: depth, width, height
    2. Lesson 30Six months of night at the South PoleThe future continuous and the future perfect continuous
    3. Lesson 31Flying on pedal powerCompound adjectives with numbers and participles
    4. Lesson 32Two years under glassFocus adverbs: only, even, just and at all

Questions about this lesson

What are reporting verbs?
Reporting verbs such as claim, argue, point out, admit and deny tell what someone said and also show how the writer sees it. The video claims that wolves moved the rivers hints that it may be wrong; Park scientists point out that floods changed the streams presents a true, important fact. The B2 lesson Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers? on edio.ai teaches nine of them with a that clause.
How do you use reporting verbs with a that clause?
Put that and a full clause after the verb: Some scientists argue that it's a trophic cascade. Most of these verbs take no person, so it's argued that, never argued me that; explain and point out take to + a person. Use the present for a view held now and the past for one moment, moving the tense back when it's over. The scheme in Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers? on edio.ai shows all nine verbs.
What are some examples of reporting verbs?
Six from Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers?, a B2 lesson on edio.ai: The video claims that wolves changed the rivers. Others point out that bears and hunters took elk too. Vic denied that wolves had moved the rivers. Leona insisted that the story still mattered. Park scientists concluded that the debate wasn't over. One study's authors admit that firm answers may be impossible. Each verb adds a judgment that said leaves out.
What's the difference between claim and point out?
Both report what someone said, but claim hints that it may not be true, while point out presents a true, important fact. The video claims that wolves moved the rivers shows doubt; Park scientists point out that floods changed the streams shows trust. Suggest sits in between: it might be true. In Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers? on edio.ai, a quiz asks which verb fits a doubtful claim and which fits a fact.
Is it “explained me that” or “explained to me that”?
It's explained to me that, or explained that with no person: Vic explained to Leona that elk are the main prey. Point out works the same way: He pointed out to us that it was late. Verbs like argue, claim, insist and deny take no person at all, so argued me that is wrong too. The chat in Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers? on edio.ai offers these slips as wrong replies.
When were wolves brought back to Yellowstone?
The first 14 wolves arrived in January 1995, caught in Canada. They spent about ten weeks in large pens to get used to the park, and the gates were opened in late March. Seventeen more came from Canada in 1996 and ten from northwest Montana in 1997: 41 in all. For decades the park had killed predators, and by the 1930s no packs were left. Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers? on edio.ai tells the story.
Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers?
Scientists still argue about it. A popular 2014 video claimed that wolves made the rivers meander less, and scientists dispute it. A 2006 river study looked at what happened after wolves were removed a century earlier, not after 1995, and near-record floods in 1996 and 1997 changed stream courses. Elk numbers fell and many willows grew taller, but how much wolves caused is still debated. The B2 lesson of that name on edio.ai lays out both sides.
How do I teach reporting verbs to B2 students?
Start with attitude, then form: report one fact with claim, then with point out, and ask which speaker the writer trusts. Then show who comes after each verb and when the tense moves back. Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers? on edio.ai moves from Leona's explainer and her interview with a biologist to the scheme, a gap-fill, a tense table and three more drills, then a chat and a summary to order.
What's a good game for practicing reporting verbs?
Try “Who said it?”: each student writes a strong opinion on a card, the cards are mixed, and the class reports each one with a verb that fits: Someone insists that pizza is a breakfast food. Someone admits that they never read instructions. Then everyone guesses the writer. For speaking, the boxes in Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers? on edio.ai ask what some scientists argue and what others point out.
What's good homework for reporting verbs?
Good homework makes students pick the verb, not only the form: a quiz such as Nobody believes Ted, but he says he's the best cook. Ted claims / points out / admits that…, plus gaps with the verbs in brackets and sentences to order. All ten homework tasks in Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers? on edio.ai check themselves, and two return to the wolves: a news brief on the willow debate and Leona's reply to a reader.
How do you practice reporting verbs one-to-one?
Report a real disagreement together: teacher and student pick a news story with two sides and sum it up with argue, point out, deny and conclude, then swap who reports. The chat in Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers? on edio.ai works without a partner: Isaiah missed Leona's interview, and the student tells him what Vic denied, admitted and concluded.
Are there interactive exercises for reporting verbs?
Yes. This page plays three parts of Did wolves really change Yellowstone's rivers?, a B2 lesson on edio.ai, with no account: Leona's interview with Vic, a gap-fill with the verbs in brackets and a chat in which the student tells Isaiah about the interview. Everything beyond these three needs an account.
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