B2 · Obere Mittelstufe Kapitel 9

Reporting and Passive Voice

4 Gesamtregeln
48 Beispiele
5 Min.
Regeln in diesem Kapitel Schnelle Übung

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of professional communication by reporting news and arranging services with confidence.

  • Arrange services efficiently using causative structures.
  • Describe actions clearly using passive infinitives.
  • Report information professionally using passive and specific verb patterns.
Report with precision, arrange with ease.

Was du lernen wirst

Ready to sound more natural when sharing news or describing actions? This chapter empowers you to report what *is said that* happened and confidently *have services done* without doing them yourself. You'll master sophisticated ways to express information clearly.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Explain that you had a service completed (e.g., car repaired) using causative verbs.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'it is said that' to share common knowledge or news professionally.

Kapitel-Leitfaden

Overview

As a B2 English learner, you're past the basics and ready to refine your communication for more sophisticated interactions. This chapter on English reporting and passive voice is your key to unlocking a more natural, nuanced way of speaking. We're going beyond simple statements to help you convey information with greater precision and fluency, enabling you to truly interact with native speakers fluently.
You'll discover how to report what others have said using patterns like 'It is said that...', making your reports sound objective and well-informed. We'll also dive into causative verbs like 'have/get something done', allowing you to talk about arranging services effortlessly. Plus, understanding the passive infinitive and various reporting verb patterns will give you the tools to shift focus, emphasize information, and interact more smoothly.
Get ready to elevate your B2 English grammar skills and sound more authentic!

How This Grammar Works

These grammar structures, while seemingly distinct, work together to provide flexibility and sophistication in your English communication. Let's start with Causative Verbs: Have/Get Something Done. This is all about outsourcing!
Instead of saying 'I repaired my car' (implying *you* did it), you'd say 'I had my car repaired yesterday' or 'I got my car repaired'. This clearly communicates that a professional service was arranged, like in 'I need to get my hair cut before the party'.
Building on the idea of shifting focus, the Passive Infinitive: to be done comes into play when the action or outcome is more important than the doer. For instance, 'There's a lot of work to be done before the deadline' emphasizes the task, not who specifically does it. Compare 'They have to finish the report' with 'The report needs to be finished by Friday'.
For reporting information without naming the source directly, we use Reporting with the Passive (It is said that...). This often uses verbs like *say, believe, know, think, report*. For example, 'People say he's very talented' becomes 'It is said that he's very talented.' Or, 'They believe the economy is improving' becomes 'The economy is believed to be improving.' This provides a more formal or impersonal tone, often used in news.
Finally, mastering Reporting Verb Patterns is crucial for accuracy. These verbs demand specific structures: 'He suggested doing the work later' (verb + gerund), 'She accused him of taking her pen' (verb + object + preposition + gerund), or 'They advised her to speak to the manager' (verb + object + infinitive). Understanding these patterns ensures your reported speech is grammatically correct and natural.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Confusing Causative with Active Voice
✗ I cut my hair. (Unless you literally did it yourself!)
✓ I had my hair cut.
*Explanation:* Use the causative form when someone else performs the service for you, indicating you arranged it.
  1. 1Incorrect Reporting Verb Pattern
✗ She suggested to go to the cinema.
✓ She suggested going to the cinema.
*Explanation:* Many reporting verbs like 'suggest' take a gerund (-ing form), not an infinitive. Always check the specific pattern for each verb.
  1. 1Overusing
    It is said that
    in informal contexts
✗ (At a casual BBQ) It is said that the food is delicious.
✓ (At a casual BBQ) I heard the food is delicious. / Everyone says the food is delicious.
*Explanation:* While grammatically correct,
It is said that
is more formal or for general public knowledge. In casual talk, direct reporting or 'I heard' is more natural.

Real Conversations

A

A

Your garden looks fantastic! Did you do all that work yourself?
B

B

Oh, definitely not! I had the landscaping done last month. It was a huge job, so I outsourced it.
A

A

So, what did Sarah say about the proposal? Is it ready?
B

B

Not quite. She suggested making a few revisions before the final submission. She also advised us to present it next week instead, to allow for more preparation.
A

A

I heard there's a new cafe opening downtown next week. Any details?
B

B

Yes, it is believed to be a French patisserie. The pastries are supposed to be made with authentic ingredients, and there’s a lot of buzz about it. I can't wait to get some coffee there!

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the difference between have something done and get something done?

While often interchangeable, get something done can be slightly more informal and sometimes implies a greater effort or persuasion to arrange the service. For example,

I finally got my car fixed after weeks of trying.

Q

Can

It is said that
be used in spoken English?

Yes, but it's more common in formal contexts like news reports, academic discussions, or when reporting general knowledge without a specific source. In casual conversation, you might hear People say that... or I heard that... more often.

Q

Are there any common reporting verbs that *don't* follow the gerund or infinitive patterns?

Absolutely! Some verbs take a 'that' clause, like 'He claimed that he was innocent' or 'She explained that she couldn't make it.' Others might just take a direct object, like 'He denied the accusation.'

Cultural Context

Native speakers use these patterns to convey nuance and tone. The passive voice, especially
It is said that...
, lends authority or impersonality, common in news reports or academic writing. Causatives like
have/get something done
are everyday expressions across all registers.
Reporting verbs' precise patterns are key for sounding fluent; misusing them can make you sound less natural, though you'll still be understood. Regional differences are minor here, mainly pertaining to formality.

Wichtige Beispiele (2)

1

I need to have my car repaired before the road trip.

Ich muss mein Auto vor der Reise reparieren lassen.

Kausative Verben: Etwas erledigen lassen (Dienstleistungen arrangieren)
2

She got her hair cut and styled for the wedding.

Sie hat sich die Haare für die Hochzeit schneiden und stylen lassen.

Kausative Verben: Etwas erledigen lassen (Dienstleistungen arrangieren)

Tipps & Tricks (4)

💡

Fokus auf das Objekt

Bei have/get something done ist das Wichtigste das Objekt, das die Aktion empfängt, nicht die Person, die es tut. Es geht rein um das Ergebnis!
I had my house painted.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Kausative Verben: Etwas erledigen lassen (Dienstleistungen arrangieren)
💡

Wer macht was?

Frag dich immer: Tut das Subjekt gerade etwas oder passiert etwas mit dem Subjekt? Wenn es die Aktion empfängt, ist der Passive Infinitive perfekt:
The car needs to be washed.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Der Passiv-Infinitiv: Verwendung von 'to be done'
💡

Wähle dein Reporting-Verb weise

Das Verb bestimmt die Nuance; 'claimed' deutet oft Zweifel an, während 'known' Fakten betont:
He is claimed to have lied about his age.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichten im Passiv (Man sagt, dass...)
💡

Achte auf das -ing!

Wenn ein Reporting Verb direkt eine Handlung beschreibt, nutzt du oft das Gerundium. Denk an den Besuch in einem neuen Café:
He suggested trying the new café.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Muster von Berichtsverben (vorschlagen zu tun, beschuldigen)

Wichtige Vokabeln (5)

Repair fix something broken Allegedly supposedly/as claimed Suggest propose an idea Accuse claim someone did wrong Facility a place for a service

Real-World Preview

Building

Renovating the Office

Review Summary

  • have/get + object + past participle
  • to + be + past participle
  • It + is + passive verb + that clause
  • verb + gerund/infinitive

Häufige Fehler

The causative structure requires the object (car) to be between the verb and the participle. 'I had fixed my car' implies you did the fixing yourself.

Wrong: I had fixed my car.
Richtig: I had my car fixed.

You must use the correct passive auxiliary tense. 'Be' is not a tense marker here.

Wrong: It is said that he is be promoted.
Richtig: It is said that he will be promoted.

The verb 'suggest' is followed by a gerund (-ing), not an infinitive.

Wrong: He suggested to go out.
Richtig: He suggested going out.

Next Steps

You've mastered a very difficult part of English grammar. Keep practicing, and you'll soon be speaking like a native!

Listen to a news podcast and note three instances of reporting verbs.

Continue to: Politeness and Logical Connections

Schnelle Übung (8)

Wähle die richtige Form, um den Satz zu vervollständigen.

The children admitted ___ (break) the window.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: breaking
Das Verb 'admit' wird direkt von einem Gerundium (-ing Form) gefolgt.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Muster von Berichtsverben (vorschlagen zu tun, beschuldigen)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im Satz.

Find and fix the mistake:

She needs to get her hair cut tomorrow.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She needs to get her hair cut tomorrow.
Der ursprüngliche Satz ist bereits korrekt. Das Past Participle von 'cut' ist ebenfalls 'cut'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Kausative Verben: Etwas erledigen lassen (Dienstleistungen arrangieren)

Wähle die richtige Form, um den Satz zu vervollständigen.

It ___ that the new park will open next spring.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is expected
Wir nutzen das Präsens-Passiv 'is expected' für eine allgemeine Erwartung über ein zukünftiges Ereignis.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichten im Passiv (Man sagt, dass...)

Welcher Satz nutzt die Kausativ-Struktur korrekt?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They had their garden landscaped.
'Landscaped' ist das korrekte Past Participle, das anzeigt, dass der Garten die Aktion empfangen hat.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Kausative Verben: Etwas erledigen lassen (Dienstleistungen arrangieren)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im Satz.

Find and fix the mistake:

He insisted paying for the whole meal.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He insisted on paying for the whole meal.
Das Verb 'insist' benötigt zwingend die Präposition 'on' vor dem Gerundium.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Muster von Berichtsverben (vorschlagen zu tun, beschuldigen)

Welcher Satz nutzt das Reporting-Verb-Muster korrekt?

Wähle den richtigen Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She suggested going to the park.
Nach 'suggest' folgt immer direkt die -ing-Form, kein 'to'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Muster von Berichtsverben (vorschlagen zu tun, beschuldigen)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im Satz.

Find and fix the mistake:

The athlete is said that he trained rigorously.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The athlete is said to have trained rigorously.
Die Struktur 'Subject is said that...' ist falsch. Wir brauchen 'Subject is said to...' gefolgt von einem Infinitiv.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichten im Passiv (Man sagt, dass...)

Wähle die richtige Form, um den Satz zu vervollständigen.

I usually ____ my car serviced at the local garage.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: have
Im Present Simple ist 'have' das Standard-Kausativverb für regelmäßige Services. 'Get' ginge auch, aber 'have' ist hier sehr üblich.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Kausative Verben: Etwas erledigen lassen (Dienstleistungen arrangieren)

Score: /8

Häufige Fragen (6)

Du nutzt es, wenn du jemanden beauftragst, etwas für dich zu tun, statt es selbst zu machen. Du bist der Auslöser, aber nicht der Ausführende. Zum Beispiel:
I had my car washed
bedeutet, jemand anderes hat es gewaschen.
Das Muster ist Subjekt + have/get (konjugiert) + Objekt + Past Participle. Ein Beispiel wäre:
She is having her kitchen renovated.
Es ist die Passiv-Form eines Infinitivs. Du nutzt ihn, wenn das Subjekt die Aktion nicht selbst macht, sondern sie 'erleidet' oder empfängt:
It needs to be done.
Nach 'to' steht im Englischen immer die Grundform eines Verbs. Da das Passiv immer mit 'be' gebildet wird, ist dies die notwendige Basis:
The work has to be finished.
Es ist eine Methode, Informationen weiterzugeben, ohne explizit zu sagen, wer sie geäußert hat. Zum Beispiel:
It is said that the company is growing.
Es lässt deine Aussagen förmlicher und objektiver klingen, besonders in den Nachrichten:
It is believed that the trend will continue.
Vorheriges Kapitel
Mastering Verb Patterns and Actions
Nächstes Kapitel
Politeness and Logical Connections
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