diff --git a/__tests__/commands/_init.js b/__tests__/commands/_init.js
index bb9b945daa..f95d48d257 100644
--- a/__tests__/commands/_init.js
+++ b/__tests__/commands/_init.js
@@ -28,12 +28,23 @@ export async function run(
   dir: string,
   checkInitialized: ?(config: Config) => ?Promise<void>,
 ): Promise<void> {
+  let out = '';
+  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
+    decodeStrings: false,
+    write(data, encoding, cb) {
+      out += data;
+      cb();
+    },
+  });
+
+  const reporter = new reporters.ConsoleReporter({stdout, stderr: stdout});
+
   const cwd = path.join(
     os.tmpdir(),
     `yarn-${path.basename(dir)}-${Math.random()}`,
   );
   await fs.unlink(cwd);
-  await fs.copy(dir, cwd);
+  await fs.copy(dir, cwd, reporter);
 
   for (const {basename, absolute} of await fs.walk(cwd)) {
     if (basename.toLowerCase() === '.ds_store') {
@@ -41,17 +52,6 @@ export async function run(
     }
   }
 
-  let out = '';
-  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
-    decodeStrings: false,
-    write(data, encoding, cb) {
-      out += data;
-      cb();
-    },
-  });
-
-  const reporter = new reporters.ConsoleReporter({stdout, stderr: stdout});
-
   // create directories
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, '.yarn'));
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, 'node_modules'));
diff --git a/__tests__/commands/_install.js b/__tests__/commands/_install.js
index df4505c34f..0eec1aae81 100644
--- a/__tests__/commands/_install.js
+++ b/__tests__/commands/_install.js
@@ -58,12 +58,23 @@ export async function run(
   beforeInstall: ?(cwd: string) => ?Promise<void>,
   cleanupAfterInstall: boolean,
 ): Promise<void> {
+  let out = '';
+  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
+    decodeStrings: false,
+    write(data, encoding, cb) {
+      out += data;
+      cb();
+    },
+  });
+
+  const reporter = new reporters.ConsoleReporter({stdout, stderr: stdout});
+
   const cwd = path.join(
     os.tmpdir(),
     `yarn-${path.basename(dir)}-${Math.random()}`,
   );
   await fs.unlink(cwd);
-  await fs.copy(dir, cwd);
+  await fs.copy(dir, cwd, reporter);
 
   for (const {basename, absolute} of await fs.walk(cwd)) {
     if (basename.toLowerCase() === '.ds_store') {
@@ -71,17 +82,6 @@ export async function run(
     }
   }
 
-  let out = '';
-  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
-    decodeStrings: false,
-    write(data, encoding, cb) {
-      out += data;
-      cb();
-    },
-  });
-
-  const reporter = new reporters.ConsoleReporter({stdout, stderr: stdout});
-
   if (beforeInstall) {
     await beforeInstall(cwd);
   }
diff --git a/__tests__/commands/add.js b/__tests__/commands/add.js
index 071bb0c085..06eef7b8ca 100644
--- a/__tests__/commands/add.js
+++ b/__tests__/commands/add.js
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ test.concurrent('add with new dependency should be deterministic 3', (): Promise
   return runAdd({}, [], 'install-should-cleanup-when-package-json-changed-3', async (config, reporter) => {
     // expecting yarn check after installation not to fail
 
-    await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock'));
-    await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json'));
+    await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock'), reporter);
+    await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json'), reporter);
 
     const lockfile = await createLockfile(config.cwd);
     const install = new Install({}, config, reporter, lockfile);
diff --git a/__tests__/commands/global.js b/__tests__/commands/global.js
index 358741c3ff..a4ee388f91 100644
--- a/__tests__/commands/global.js
+++ b/__tests__/commands/global.js
@@ -22,13 +22,24 @@ async function runGlobal(
   name: string,
   checkGlobal?: ?(config: Config, reporter: Reporter, out: string) => ?Promise<void>,
 ): Promise<void> {
+  let out = '';
+  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
+    decodeStrings: false,
+    write(data, encoding, cb) {
+      out += data;
+      cb();
+    },
+  });
+
+  const reporter = new reporters.JSONReporter({stdout});
+
   const dir = path.join(fixturesLoc, name);
   const cwd = path.join(
     os.tmpdir(),
     `yarn-${path.basename(dir)}-${Math.random()}`,
   );
   await fs.unlink(cwd);
-  await fs.copy(dir, cwd);
+  await fs.copy(dir, cwd, reporter);
 
   for (const {basename, absolute} of await fs.walk(cwd)) {
     if (basename.toLowerCase() === '.ds_store') {
@@ -36,17 +47,6 @@ async function runGlobal(
     }
   }
 
-  let out = '';
-  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
-    decodeStrings: false,
-    write(data, encoding, cb) {
-      out += data;
-      cb();
-    },
-  });
-
-  const reporter = new reporters.JSONReporter({stdout});
-
   // create directories
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, '.yarn'));
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, 'node_modules'));
diff --git a/__tests__/commands/install.js b/__tests__/commands/install.js
index 2580010dff..a407d820a5 100644
--- a/__tests__/commands/install.js
+++ b/__tests__/commands/install.js
@@ -402,8 +402,8 @@ test.concurrent(
         await fs.unlink(path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock'));
         await fs.unlink(path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json'));
 
-        await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock'));
-        await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json'));
+        await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock'), reporter);
+        await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json'), reporter);
 
         const reinstall = new Install({}, config, reporter, await Lockfile.fromDirectory(config.cwd));
         await reinstall.init();
@@ -434,8 +434,8 @@ test.concurrent(
         await fs.unlink(path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock'));
         await fs.unlink(path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json'));
 
-        await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock'));
-        await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json'));
+        await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'yarn.lock'), reporter);
+        await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json'), reporter);
 
         const reinstall = new Install({}, config, reporter, await Lockfile.fromDirectory(config.cwd));
         await reinstall.init();
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ test.concurrent('install should update a dependency to yarn and mirror (PR impor
       '2.0.0',
     );
 
-    await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json'));
+    await fs.copy(path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json.after'), path.join(config.cwd, 'package.json'), reporter);
 
     const reinstall = new Install({}, config, reporter, await Lockfile.fromDirectory(config.cwd));
     await reinstall.init();
diff --git a/__tests__/commands/list.js b/__tests__/commands/list.js
index b7d9799e2c..c50d7b281e 100644
--- a/__tests__/commands/list.js
+++ b/__tests__/commands/list.js
@@ -33,13 +33,15 @@ async function runList(
   name: string,
   checkList?: ?(config: Config, reporter: BufferReporter) => ?Promise<void>,
 ): Promise<void> {
+  const reporter = new reporters.BufferReporter({stdout: null, stdin: null});
+  
   const dir = path.join(fixturesLoc, name);
   const cwd = path.join(
     os.tmpdir(),
     `yarn-${path.basename(dir)}-${Math.random()}`,
   );
   await fs.unlink(cwd);
-  await fs.copy(dir, cwd);
+  await fs.copy(dir, cwd, reporter);
 
   for (const {basename, absolute} of await fs.walk(cwd)) {
     if (basename.toLowerCase() === '.ds_store') {
@@ -49,8 +51,6 @@ async function runList(
 
   const out = '';
 
-  const reporter = new reporters.BufferReporter({stdout: null, stdin: null});
-
   // create directories
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, '.yarn'));
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, 'node_modules'));
diff --git a/__tests__/commands/outdated.js b/__tests__/commands/outdated.js
index 2ea66d2b6e..f55fae5e0b 100644
--- a/__tests__/commands/outdated.js
+++ b/__tests__/commands/outdated.js
@@ -21,13 +21,24 @@ async function runOutdated(
   name: string,
   checkOutdated?: ?(config: Config, reporter: Reporter, out: string) => ?Promise<void>,
 ): Promise<void> {
+  let out = '';
+  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
+    decodeStrings: false,
+    write(data, encoding, cb) {
+      out += data;
+      cb();
+    },
+  });
+
+  const reporter = new reporters.JSONReporter({stdout});
+
   const dir = path.join(fixturesLoc, name);
   const cwd = path.join(
     os.tmpdir(),
     `yarn-${path.basename(dir)}-${Math.random()}`,
   );
   await fs.unlink(cwd);
-  await fs.copy(dir, cwd);
+  await fs.copy(dir, cwd, reporter);
 
   for (const {basename, absolute} of await fs.walk(cwd)) {
     if (basename.toLowerCase() === '.ds_store') {
@@ -35,17 +46,6 @@ async function runOutdated(
     }
   }
 
-  let out = '';
-  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
-    decodeStrings: false,
-    write(data, encoding, cb) {
-      out += data;
-      cb();
-    },
-  });
-
-  const reporter = new reporters.JSONReporter({stdout});
-
   // create directories
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, '.yarn'));
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, 'node_modules'));
diff --git a/__tests__/commands/remove.js b/__tests__/commands/remove.js
index c5f482f7aa..19602e702f 100644
--- a/__tests__/commands/remove.js
+++ b/__tests__/commands/remove.js
@@ -22,13 +22,24 @@ async function runRemove(
   name: string,
   checkRemove?: ?(config: Config, reporter: Reporter) => ?Promise<void>,
 ): Promise<void> {
+  let out = '';
+  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
+    decodeStrings: false,
+    write(data, encoding, cb) {
+      out += data;
+      cb();
+    },
+  });
+
+  const reporter = new reporters.ConsoleReporter({stdout, stderr: stdout});
+
   const dir = path.join(fixturesLoc, name);
   const cwd = path.join(
     os.tmpdir(),
     `yarn-${path.basename(dir)}-${Math.random()}`,
   );
   await fs.unlink(cwd);
-  await fs.copy(dir, cwd);
+  await fs.copy(dir, cwd, reporter);
 
   for (const {basename, absolute} of await fs.walk(cwd)) {
     if (basename.toLowerCase() === '.ds_store') {
@@ -36,17 +47,6 @@ async function runRemove(
     }
   }
 
-  let out = '';
-  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
-    decodeStrings: false,
-    write(data, encoding, cb) {
-      out += data;
-      cb();
-    },
-  });
-
-  const reporter = new reporters.ConsoleReporter({stdout, stderr: stdout});
-
   // create directories
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, '.yarn'));
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, 'node_modules'));
diff --git a/__tests__/commands/run.js b/__tests__/commands/run.js
index 1912e76413..7c14c4d830 100644
--- a/__tests__/commands/run.js
+++ b/__tests__/commands/run.js
@@ -25,13 +25,15 @@ async function runRun(
   name: string,
   checkRun?: ?(config: Config, reporter: BufferReporter) => ?Promise<void>,
 ): Promise<void> {
+  const reporter = new reporters.BufferReporter({stdout: null, stdin: null});
+
   const dir = path.join(fixturesLoc, name);
   const cwd = path.join(
     os.tmpdir(),
     `yarn-${path.basename(dir)}-${Math.random()}`,
   );
   await fs.unlink(cwd);
-  await fs.copy(dir, cwd);
+  await fs.copy(dir, cwd, reporter);
 
   for (const {basename, absolute} of await fs.walk(cwd)) {
     if (basename.toLowerCase() === '.ds_store') {
@@ -41,8 +43,6 @@ async function runRun(
 
   const out = '';
 
-  const reporter = new reporters.BufferReporter({stdout: null, stdin: null});
-
   // create directories
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, '.yarn'));
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, 'node_modules'));
diff --git a/__tests__/commands/upgrade.js b/__tests__/commands/upgrade.js
index e16c88e951..ab4dadb61c 100644
--- a/__tests__/commands/upgrade.js
+++ b/__tests__/commands/upgrade.js
@@ -22,13 +22,24 @@ async function runUpgrade(
   name: string,
   checkUpgrade?: ?(config: Config, reporter: Reporter) => ?Promise<void>,
 ): Promise<void> {
+  let out = '';
+  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
+    decodeStrings: false,
+    write(data, encoding, cb) {
+      out += data;
+      cb();
+    },
+  });
+
+  const reporter = new reporters.NoopReporter({stdout});
+
   const dir = path.join(fixturesLoc, name);
   const cwd = path.join(
     os.tmpdir(),
     `yarn-${path.basename(dir)}-${Math.random()}`,
   );
   await fs.unlink(cwd);
-  await fs.copy(dir, cwd);
+  await fs.copy(dir, cwd, reporter);
 
   for (const {basename, absolute} of await fs.walk(cwd)) {
     if (basename.toLowerCase() === '.ds_store') {
@@ -36,17 +47,6 @@ async function runUpgrade(
     }
   }
 
-  let out = '';
-  const stdout = new stream.Writable({
-    decodeStrings: false,
-    write(data, encoding, cb) {
-      out += data;
-      cb();
-    },
-  });
-
-  const reporter = new reporters.NoopReporter({stdout});
-
   // create directories
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, '.yarn'));
   await fs.mkdirp(path.join(cwd, 'node_modules'));
diff --git a/__tests__/lifecycle-scripts.js b/__tests__/lifecycle-scripts.js
index 8632d9fb51..def8a5cc4e 100644
--- a/__tests__/lifecycle-scripts.js
+++ b/__tests__/lifecycle-scripts.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /* @flow */
 
+import NoopReporter from '../src/reporters/base-reporter.js';
 import makeTemp from './_temp';
 import * as fs from '../src/util/fs.js';
 
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ async function execCommand(cmd: string, packageName: string): Promise<string> {
   const srcPackageDir = path.join(fixturesLoc, packageName);
   const packageDir = await makeTemp(packageName);
 
-  await fs.copy(srcPackageDir, packageDir);
+  await fs.copy(srcPackageDir, packageDir, new NoopReporter);
 
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     const env = Object.assign({}, process.env);
diff --git a/src/cli/index.js b/src/cli/index.js
index 0ce1c0e904..8977619a3a 100644
--- a/src/cli/index.js
+++ b/src/cli/index.js
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ for (let i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
 // set global options
 commander.version(pkg.version);
 commander.usage('[command] [flags]');
+commander.option('--verbose', 'output verbose messages on internal operations');
 commander.option('--offline', 'trigger an error if any required dependencies are not available in local cache');
 commander.option('--prefer-offline', 'use network only if dependencies are not available in local cache');
 commander.option('--strict-semver');
@@ -185,6 +186,7 @@ if (commander.json) {
 }
 const reporter = new Reporter({
   emoji: commander.emoji && process.stdout.isTTY && process.platform === 'darwin',
+  verbose: commander.verbose,
   noProgress: !commander.progress,
 });
 reporter.initPeakMemoryCounter();
@@ -379,6 +381,8 @@ config.init({
     return run().then(exit);
   }
 }).catch((err: Error) => {
+  reporter.verbose(err.stack);
+  
   if (err instanceof MessageError) {
     reporter.error(err.message);
   } else {
diff --git a/src/fetchers/base-fetcher.js b/src/fetchers/base-fetcher.js
index 388622550d..824844d628 100644
--- a/src/fetchers/base-fetcher.js
+++ b/src/fetchers/base-fetcher.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /* @flow */
 /* eslint no-unused-vars: 0 */
 
+import type Reporter from '../reporters/base-reporter.js';
 import type {PackageRemote, FetchedMetadata, FetchedOverride} from '../types.js';
 import type {RegistryNames} from '../registries/index.js';
 import type Config from '../config.js';
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ const path = require('path');
 
 export default class BaseFetcher {
   constructor(dest: string, remote: PackageRemote, config: Config) {
+    this.reporter = config.reporter;
     this.reference = remote.reference;
     this.registry = remote.registry;
     this.hash = remote.hash;
@@ -19,6 +21,7 @@ export default class BaseFetcher {
     this.dest = dest;
   }
 
+  reporter: Reporter;
   remote: PackageRemote;
   registry: RegistryNames;
   reference: string;
diff --git a/src/fetchers/copy-fetcher.js b/src/fetchers/copy-fetcher.js
index 9c8f89e552..1dca5c1624 100644
--- a/src/fetchers/copy-fetcher.js
+++ b/src/fetchers/copy-fetcher.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import * as fs from '../util/fs.js';
 
 export default class CopyFetcher extends BaseFetcher {
   async _fetch(): Promise<FetchedOverride> {
-    await fs.copy(this.reference, this.dest);
+    await fs.copy(this.reference, this.dest, this.reporter);
     return {
       hash: this.hash || '',
       resolved: null,
diff --git a/src/fetchers/tarball-fetcher.js b/src/fetchers/tarball-fetcher.js
index 2b9c01574f..64c274c8fc 100644
--- a/src/fetchers/tarball-fetcher.js
+++ b/src/fetchers/tarball-fetcher.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export default class TarballFetcher extends BaseFetcher {
 
     // copy the file over
     if (!await fsUtil.exists(mirrorPath)) {
-      await fsUtil.copy(tarballLoc, mirrorPath);
+      await fsUtil.copy(tarballLoc, mirrorPath, this.reporter);
     }
 
     const relativeMirrorPath = this.getRelativeMirrorPath(mirrorPath);
diff --git a/src/package-linker.js b/src/package-linker.js
index 346ff6fd7b..b637348374 100644
--- a/src/package-linker.js
+++ b/src/package-linker.js
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ export default class PackageLinker {
 
     //
     let tick;
-    await fs.copyBulk(Array.from(queue.values()), {
+    await fs.copyBulk(Array.from(queue.values()), this.reporter, {
       possibleExtraneous,
       phantomFiles,
 
diff --git a/src/reporters/base-reporter.js b/src/reporters/base-reporter.js
index 4018c193ae..49eaba4ef6 100644
--- a/src/reporters/base-reporter.js
+++ b/src/reporters/base-reporter.js
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ const util = require('util');
 type Language = $Keys<typeof languages>;
 
 export type ReporterOptions = {
+  verbose?: boolean,
   language?: Language,
   stdout?: Stdout,
   stderr?: Stdout,
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ export default class BaseReporter {
     this.stdin = opts.stdin || process.stdin;
     this.emoji = !!opts.emoji;
     this.noProgress = !!opts.noProgress || isCI;
+    this.isVerbose = !!opts.verbose;
 
     // $FlowFixMe: this is valid!
     this.isTTY = this.stdout.isTTY;
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@ export default class BaseReporter {
   isTTY: boolean;
   emoji: boolean;
   noProgress: boolean;
+  isVerbose: boolean;
   format: Formatter;
 
   peakMemoryInterval: ?number;
@@ -92,6 +95,14 @@ export default class BaseReporter {
     });
   }
 
+  verbose(msg: string) {
+    if (this.isVerbose) {
+      this._verbose(msg);
+    }
+  }
+
+  _verbose(msg: string) {}
+
   initPeakMemoryCounter() {
     this.checkPeakMemory();
     this.peakMemoryInterval = setInterval(() => {
diff --git a/src/reporters/console/console-reporter.js b/src/reporters/console/console-reporter.js
index 214475f144..a3114810c9 100644
--- a/src/reporters/console/console-reporter.js
+++ b/src/reporters/console/console-reporter.js
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ export default class ConsoleReporter extends BaseReporter {
     this._log(`${this.format[color](category)} ${msg}`);
   }
 
+  _verbose(msg: string) {
+    this._logCategory('verbose', 'grey', msg);
+  }
+
   table(head: Array<string>, body: Array<Row>) {
     //
     head = head.map((field: string): string => this.format.underline(field));
diff --git a/src/reporters/json-reporter.js b/src/reporters/json-reporter.js
index fe3b100fa6..de79dfe4fc 100644
--- a/src/reporters/json-reporter.js
+++ b/src/reporters/json-reporter.js
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ export default class JSONReporter extends BaseReporter {
     stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify({type, data})}\n`);
   }
 
+  _verbose(msg: string) {
+    this._dump('verbose', msg);
+  }
+
   list(type: string, items: Array<string>) {
     this._dump('list', {type, items});
   }
diff --git a/src/reporters/lang/en.js b/src/reporters/lang/en.js
index 6a7cd3f44c..8fc99d5327 100644
--- a/src/reporters/lang/en.js
+++ b/src/reporters/lang/en.js
@@ -32,6 +32,17 @@ const messages = {
   manifestDependencyCollision: '$0 has dependency $1 with range $2 that collides with a dependency in $3 of the same name with version $4',
   manifestDirectoryNotFound: 'Unable to read $0 directory of module $1',
 
+  verboseFileCopy: 'Copying $0 to $1.',
+  verboseFileSymlink: 'Creating symlink at $0 to $1.',
+  verboseFileSkip: 'Skipping copying of file $0 as the file at $1 is the same size ($2) and mtime ($3).',
+  verboseFileSkipSymlink: 'Skipping copying of $0 as the file at $1 is the same symlink ($2).',
+  verboseFileRemoveExtraneous: 'Removing extraneous file $0.',
+  verboseFilePhantomExtraneous: "File $0 would be marked as extraneous but has been removed as it's listed as a phantom file.",
+  verboseFileFolder: 'Creating directory $0.',
+
+  verboseRequestStart: 'Performing $0 request to $1.',
+  verboseRequestFinish: 'Request $0 finished with status code $1.',
+
   configSet: 'Set $0 to $1.',
   configDelete: 'Deleted $0.',
   configNpm: 'npm config',
diff --git a/src/util/fs.js b/src/util/fs.js
index b00d023708..19c57a9dea 100644
--- a/src/util/fs.js
+++ b/src/util/fs.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /* @flow */
 
+import type Reporter from '../reporters/base-reporter.js';
 import BlockingQueue from './blocking-queue.js';
 import * as promise from './promise.js';
 import {promisify} from './promise.js';
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ async function buildActionsForCopy(
   queue: CopyQueue,
   events: CopyOptions,
   possibleExtraneousSeed: PossibleExtraneous,
+  reporter: Reporter,
 ): Promise<CopyActions> {
   const possibleExtraneous: Set<string> = new Set(possibleExtraneousSeed || []);
   const phantomFiles: Set<string> = new Set(events.phantomFiles || []);
@@ -105,13 +107,17 @@ async function buildActionsForCopy(
 
   // simulate the existence of some files to prevent considering them extraenous
   for (const file of phantomFiles) {
-    possibleExtraneous.delete(file);
+    if (possibleExtraneous.has(file)) {
+      reporter.verbose(reporter.lang('verboseFilePhantomExtraneous', file));
+      possibleExtraneous.delete(file);
+    }
   }
 
   // remove all extraneous files that weren't in the tree
   if (!noExtraneous) {
     for (const loc of possibleExtraneous) {
       if (!files.has(loc)) {
+        reporter.verbose(reporter.lang('verboseFileRemoveExtraneous', loc));
         await unlink(loc);
       }
     }
@@ -157,13 +163,18 @@ async function buildActionsForCopy(
       if (bothFiles && srcStat.size === destStat.size && +srcStat.mtime === +destStat.mtime) {
         // we can safely assume this is the same file
         onDone();
+        reporter.verbose(reporter.lang('verboseFileSkip', src, dest, srcStat.size, +srcStat.mtime));
         return;
       }
 
-      if (bothSymlinks && await readlink(src) === await readlink(dest)) {
-        // if both symlinks are the same then we can continue on
-        onDone();
-        return;
+      if (bothSymlinks) {
+        const srcReallink = await readlink(src);
+        if (srcReallink === await readlink(dest)) {
+          // if both symlinks are the same then we can continue on
+          onDone();
+          reporter.verbose(reporter.lang('verboseFileSkipSymlink', src, dest, srcReallink));
+          return;
+        }
       }
 
       if (bothFolders && !noExtraneous) {
@@ -196,6 +207,7 @@ async function buildActionsForCopy(
       });
       onDone();
     } else if (srcStat.isDirectory()) {
+      reporter.verbose(reporter.lang('verboseFileFolder', dest));
       await mkdirp(dest);
 
       const destParts = dest.split(path.sep);
@@ -239,12 +251,13 @@ async function buildActionsForCopy(
   }
 }
 
-export function copy(src: string, dest: string): Promise<void> {
-  return copyBulk([{src, dest}]);
+export function copy(src: string, dest: string, reporter: Reporter): Promise<void> {
+  return copyBulk([{src, dest}], reporter);
 }
 
 export async function copyBulk(
   queue: CopyQueue,
+  reporter: Reporter,
   _events?: {
     onProgress?: ?(dest: string) => void,
     onStart?: ?(num: number) => void,
@@ -261,7 +274,7 @@ export async function copyBulk(
     phantomFiles: (_events && _events.phantomFiles) || [],
   };
 
-  const actions: CopyActions = await buildActionsForCopy(queue, events, events.possibleExtraneous);
+  const actions: CopyActions = await buildActionsForCopy(queue, events, events.possibleExtraneous, reporter);
   events.onStart(actions.length);
 
   const fileActions: Array<CopyFileAction> = (actions.filter((action) => action.type === 'file'): any);
@@ -279,6 +292,8 @@ export async function copyBulk(
       const readStream = fs.createReadStream(data.src);
       const writeStream = fs.createWriteStream(data.dest, {mode: data.mode});
 
+      reporter.verbose(reporter.lang('verboseFileCopy', data.src, data.dest));
+
       readStream.on('error', reject);
       writeStream.on('error', reject);
 
@@ -309,7 +324,9 @@ export async function copyBulk(
   // we need to copy symlinks last as the could reference files we were copying
   const symlinkActions: Array<CopySymlinkAction> = (actions.filter((action) => action.type === 'symlink'): any);
   await promise.queue(symlinkActions, (data): Promise<void> => {
-    return symlink(path.resolve(path.dirname(data.dest), data.linkname), data.dest);
+    const linkname = path.resolve(path.dirname(data.dest), data.linkname);
+    reporter.verbose(reporter.lang('verboseFileSymlink', data.dest, linkname));
+    return symlink(linkname, data.dest);
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/request-manager.js b/src/util/request-manager.js
index 12d9ae40d5..b1995d002d 100644
--- a/src/util/request-manager.js
+++ b/src/util/request-manager.js
@@ -350,6 +350,8 @@ export default class RequestManager {
 
         successHosts[parts.hostname] = true;
 
+        this.reporter.verbose(this.reporter.lang('verboseRequestFinish', params.url, res.statusCode));
+
         if (body && typeof body.error === 'string') {
           reject(new Error(body.error));
           return;
@@ -393,6 +395,7 @@ export default class RequestManager {
 
     const request = this._getRequestModule();
     const req = request(params);
+    this.reporter.verbose(this.reporter.lang('verboseRequestStart', param.method, params.url));
 
     req.on('error', onError);