C1 · Fortgeschritten Kapitel 9

Reporting Information and Rumors

7 Gesamtregeln
83 Beispiele
6 Min.
Regeln in diesem Kapitel Schnelle Übung

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of relaying information and navigating rumors with confidence and professional flair.

  • Construct sophisticated passive sentences to report hearsay.
  • Convert direct inquiries into fluent reported questions.
  • Command and request information using precise reporting verbs.
Report with authority, speak with precision.

Was du lernen wirst

Ready to elevate your conversations, subtly sharing news or expertly relaying information? Dive into this chapter to confidently navigate reported questions and sophisticated passive structures, making your speech sound truly authoritative and refined.

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: relay gossip or business news using advanced impersonal passive structures.

Kapitel-Leitfaden

Overview

As a C1 English learner, you're not just speaking English; you're mastering its nuances, ready to express complex ideas with sophistication. This chapter,
Reporting Information and Rumors,
is your gateway to sounding truly fluent and authoritative. It equips you with the tools to share news, relay conversations, and even distance yourself from claims, all while maintaining impeccable grammar.
We'll delve into structures that allow you to subtly convey reported information and rumors, moving beyond basic direct speech to a more objective and refined communication style.
This mastery is crucial for professional settings, academic discussions, and even nuanced social interactions where clarity and precision are paramount. You’ll learn how to transform direct questions into smooth, integrated statements using reported questions with question words or reported Yes/No questions with 'if' or 'whether'. Furthermore, we’ll explore advanced C1 English grammar techniques like using passive reporting verbs –
It is said that...
or
He is said to be...
– to present information objectively, often hinting at its source without explicitly naming it.
Get ready to elevate your ability to report facts, claims, and even speculation with a confidence that truly reflects your advanced English proficiency.

How This Grammar Works

At its heart, reporting information involves transforming someone else's words or a general belief into your own statement, often from a different time or perspective. The core principle is typically backshifting tenses (e.g., present simple becomes past simple) and adjusting pronouns and time expressions. For example,
I am busy today,
becomes
She said she was busy that day.
This foundational understanding then branches into more complex, C1-level structures designed for objectivity and nuance.
When you encounter reported questions, the key is to turn them into statements, losing the question mark and inverted word order. A direct question like
What is he doing?
becomes
She asked what he was doing.
Notice the subject-verb order after the question word. Similarly, for reported Yes/No questions, we use 'if' or 'whether' as a connector: Are you coming? transforms into
He wondered if/whether I was coming.
For reported commands and requests, direct imperatives like Clean your room! convert into an infinitive structure, often with a specific reporting verb:
She told me to clean my room.
Here, verbs like *tell*, *ask*, *order*, *advise*, or *warn* are crucial for conveying the original tone.
The truly C1-level structures involve passive reporting verbs like
It is said that...
or
He is said to be...
. These are powerful for distancing yourself from the information, presenting it as a generally accepted fact or widespread rumor without attribution. For instance, instead of "People say he's very talented, you can say, It is said that he is very talented,
or even more elegantly,
He is said to be very talented." This latter form (He is said to be...) is particularly advanced as it shifts the focus directly to the subject of the rumor or belief, creating a more concise and sophisticated report.
You'll also learn to integrate modals into these passive structures, allowing for precision even when reporting possibilities or obligations, like
He is thought to have been working late.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Forgetting to backshift tenses in reported speech.
✗ He said he *is* coming tomorrow.
✓ He said he *was* coming the next day.
*Explanation:* When reporting something that was said in the past, the tense often shifts backward.
  1. 1Maintaining question word order in reported questions.
✗ She asked what *was his name?*
✓ She asked what *his name was*.
*Explanation:* Reported questions become statements, so the subject comes before the verb.
  1. 1Confusing
    It is said that...
    with
    He is said to be...
✗ The company is said that *it* is launching a new product.
✓ It is said that the company is launching a new product. (Correct, but less concise)
✓ The company is said to be launching a new product. (More advanced, C1)
*Explanation:*
He/She/It is said to be...
is a more advanced and often more elegant way to report information about a specific subject, directly linking the subject to the reported action or state.

Real Conversations

A

A

Did you hear about the new policy?
B

B

Oh, yes. It is rumored that the changes will be implemented by next month. The CEO is said to be announcing the full details on Friday.
A

A

I’m not sure if I should take on this extra project.
B

B

Well, the manager asked if you would be able to handle it. He also advised us to prioritize our current tasks before committing to new ones.
A

A

I wonder what the new client's expectations are.
B

B

I spoke with Sarah. She said she wasn't sure what their specific requirements were, but she did mention that they were hoping to finalize the contract soon.

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use

It is said that...
versus
He/She is said to be...
?

It is said that...
is more general, like reporting common knowledge or rumors about a situation.
He/She is said to be...
focuses directly on a person or specific entity, making the sentence more concise and often more formal, emphasizing the subject as the focus of the reported information.

Q

Do I always have to backshift tenses in reported speech?

Not always. If the reported statement is still true in the present, or if it's a general truth, backshifting is optional. For example,

He said the Earth is round
is still correct, though
He said the Earth was round
is also acceptable. However, for specific events or past actions, backshifting is generally expected.

Q

Can 'if' and 'whether' be used interchangeably in reported Yes/No questions?

Often, yes. Both 'if' and 'whether' work for simple reported Yes/No questions. However, 'whether' is generally preferred in more formal contexts, or when reporting a choice between two alternatives (e.g.,

She asked whether I wanted coffee or tea
).

Q

Why is reporting commands with 'to-infinitive' better than just saying "He said, 'Do this!'"?

While direct speech is fine, using the 'to-infinitive' structure (

He told me to do this
) transforms the command into a grammatically integrated statement within your own sentence. This makes your speech flow more smoothly and demonstrates a higher level of syntactic control, essential for C1 English.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these structures to navigate social and professional discourse with precision. Passive reporting verbs like
It is believed that...
or
He is understood to be...
are particularly common in news reporting, academic papers, and business communications where objectivity, formality, and sometimes a degree of distance from the source are desired. In everyday conversation, using reported questions and commands is natural for relaying information efficiently.
There isn't significant regional variation in the grammar itself, but the *frequency* of using advanced passive structures might lean towards more formal environments. Mastering these allows you to sound less direct and more diplomatic when sharing sensitive or unconfirmed information, a valuable social skill.

Wichtige Beispiele (8)

1

It is said that laughter is the best medicine.

Man sagt, dass Lachen die beste Medizin ist.

Nachrichten & Gerüchte: Passiv mit Berichtsverben (Es wird gesagt, dass...)
2

It was reported that the flight would be delayed by two hours.

Es wurde berichtet, dass der Flug um zwei Stunden verspätet sein würde.

Nachrichten & Gerüchte: Passiv mit Berichtsverben (Es wird gesagt, dass...)
3

The celebrity is said to be filming a new movie in secret.

Man sagt, die Berühmtheit dreht heimlich einen neuen Film.

Fortgeschrittenes Passiv: Gerüchte & Überzeugungen berichten (Er soll sein...)
4

She is believed to be one of the top researchers in her field.

Man glaubt, sie sei eine der besten Forscherinnen auf ihrem Gebiet.

Fortgeschrittenes Passiv: Gerüchte & Überzeugungen berichten (Er soll sein...)
5

The project is expected to be finished by Friday.

Es wird erwartet, dass das Projekt bis Freitag fertig ist.

Passive Berichtsstrukturen (Er soll sein...)
6

She is known to be a talented artist.

Man weiß, dass sie eine talentierte Künstlerin ist.

Passive Berichtsstrukturen (Er soll sein...)
7

She asked `what my name was`.

Sie fragte, wie mein Name sei.

Berichtete Fragen mit Fragewörtern (Wer, Was, Warum)
8

I wondered `where the coffee shop was`.

Ich fragte mich, wo das Café war.

Berichtete Fragen mit Fragewörtern (Wer, Was, Warum)

Tipps & Tricks (4)

💡

Vary your verbs

Bleib nicht nur bei 'said'! Nutze 'believed', 'known', 'reported', 'thought', 'expected' oder 'alleged', um deine Aussagen nuancierter und präziser zu machen. Jeder dieser Verben hat eine leicht andere Bedeutung.
It is alleged that the company misused funds.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Nachrichten & Gerüchte: Passiv mit Berichtsverben (Es wird gesagt, dass...)
💡

Wechsle deine Verben ab

Bleib nicht nur bei 'said' und 'believed' hängen! Probiere auch 'known', 'thought', 'understood', 'alleged', 'expected' oder 'considered' aus, um deine Berichte präziser und stylischer zu machen.
He is known to be a brilliant scientist.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Fortgeschrittenes Passiv: Gerüchte & Überzeugungen berichten (Er soll sein...)
💡

Wähle dein Verb weise!

Die Wahl des Berichtsverbs (say, believe, expect) verändert die Nuance deiner Aussage subtil. Wenn du einen Klatsch über jemanden erzählst, ist die Wahl des Verbs entscheidend. It is alleged klingt viel ernster als It is said.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive Berichtsstrukturen (Er soll sein...)
💡

Übe die 'Keine Inversion'-Regel

Es passiert schnell, dass man die Satzstellung der direkten Frage beibehält. Aber Achtung: Indirekte Fragen sind Aussagesätze! Das Subjekt kommt immer vor dem Verb, genau wie in einem normalen Satz. Das ist der häufigste Fehler, den du vermeiden kannst. Stell dir vor, du schreibst eine wichtige E-Mail und möchtest professionell klingen:
He asked where I was going.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichtete Fragen mit Fragewörtern (Wer, Was, Warum)

Wichtige Vokabeln (5)

Allege to claim something is true without proof Rumor a currently circulating story of uncertain truth Inquiry an act of asking for information Diplomatic having the ability to deal with people in a sensitive way Objective not influenced by personal feelings

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Corporate Office Gossip

Review Summary

  • It + be + verb(past participle) + that...
  • Subject + be + verb(past participle) + to + infinitive

Häufige Fehler

You cannot use a 'that' clause after a personal subject in this passive structure. Use an infinitive instead.

Wrong: He is said that he is rich.
Richtig: He is said to be rich.

In reported questions, the word order must return to statement form (subject + verb).

Wrong: He asked me what did I do.
Richtig: He asked me what I did.

The verb 'tell' takes an object directly without the preposition 'to'.

Wrong: She told to me to wait.
Richtig: She told me to wait.

Regeln in diesem Kapitel (7)

1

Nachrichten & Gerüchte: Passiv mit Berichtsverben (Es wird gesagt, dass...)

C1
Mit
It is said that...
gibst du deinen Berichten einen formelleren und objektiveren Ton. Denk an formell, objektiv und Gerüchte.
It is said that laughter is the best medicine.
11 Beispiele
2

Fortgeschrittenes Passiv: Gerüchte & Überzeugungen berichten (Er soll sein...)

C1
Wenn du diese C1-Passivstruktur meisterst, kannst du Gerüchte und Überzeugungen mit echter authority und nuance berichten. Du klingst dann richtig advanced!.
The celebrity is said to be filming a new movie in...
12 Beispiele
3

Passive Berichtsstrukturen (Er soll sein...)

C1
Diese Strukturen zu beherrschen, lässt dein Englisch super professionell und nuanciert klingen, wie ein echter C1-Sprecher. Du wirst zum Meister der Nuancen und kannst Informationen objektiv und präzise wiedergeben.
The project is expected to be finished by Friday.
12 Beispiele
4

Berichtete Fragen mit Fragewörtern (Wer, Was, Warum)

C1
Indirekte Wh-Fragen verwandeln direkte Anfragen in Aussagesätze. Denk dabei an die richtige 'word order' und den 'tense backshift'.
She asked `what my name was`.
12 Beispiele
5

Indirekte Ja/Nein-Fragen (If/Whether)

C1
Meistere indirekte Ja/Nein-Fragen, um Anfragen smoothly und professionally weiterzugeben und deine C1-Englisch-Konversationen aufzuwerten.
My manager asked `if I could meet by Friday`.
12 Beispiele
6

Indirekte Befehle und Bitten: Anderen sagen, was sie tun sollen

C1
Meistere indirekte Befehle und Bitten, um höflich, professionell und klar zu klingen, wenn du Anweisungen weitergibst. Stichworte: polite, professional, clear.
My boss asked me to finish the project by Friday.
12 Beispiele
7

Indirekte Rede mit Modalverben & passiver Berichterstattung (C1)

C1
Wenn du wirklich fortgeschritten klingen willst, meisterst du das hier. Dein Englisch wird viel polished, objective und nuanced – versprochen!
She said she `could meet` us for coffee tomorrow.
12 Beispiele

Next Steps

You have mastered the mechanics of professional reporting. Keep practicing these structures in your daily writing to truly own them!

Listen to a news podcast and note down three examples of passive reporting structures.

Continue to: Streamlining with Participle Clauses

Schnelle Übung (10)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im Satz.

Find and fix the mistake:

My mom told don't stay out late.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My mom told me not to stay out late.
Der indirekte Befehl benötigt ein Objekt ('me') nach 'told' und den negativen Infinitiv 'not to stay'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte Befehle und Bitten: Anderen sagen, was sie tun sollen

Vervollständige die indirekte Frage mit der korrekten Verbform.

She wanted to know what I ___ (do) that evening.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was doing
Die direkte Frage war wahrscheinlich 'What are you doing this evening?' (Present Continuous), was zu Past Continuous verschoben wird.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichtete Fragen mit Fragewörtern (Wer, Was, Warum)

Wähle die korrekte Form des Berichtsverbs.

It ___ that the new policy will improve efficiency.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is expected
Die Passivstruktur erfordert 'It + be + Partizip Perfekt'. 'Is expected' bildet korrekt das Präsens Passiv.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Nachrichten & Gerüchte: Passiv mit Berichtsverben (Es wird gesagt, dass...)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im Satz.

Find and fix the mistake:

She asked if was he coming to the meeting.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She asked if he was coming to the meeting.
In indirekten Fragen muss die Wortstellung nach 'if' oder 'whether' Subjekt + Verb sein, nicht die Frage-Wortstellung. Außerdem muss die Zeitform zurückverschoben werden ('is coming' -> 'was coming').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte Ja/Nein-Fragen (If/Whether)

Wähle die korrekte Form, um die indirekte Frage zu vervollständigen.

My friend wanted to know ___ I had finished the report.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: if
Für indirekte Ja/Nein-Fragen verwenden wir 'if' oder 'whether', um den indirekten Satz einzuleiten, nicht 'what' (das ist für W-Fragen) oder 'that' (das ist für indirekte Aussagen).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte Ja/Nein-Fragen (If/Whether)

Welcher Satz gibt die direkte Frage korrekt wieder: "Are you feeling better?"

Wähle den korrekten Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He asked if I was feeling better.
Die korrekte indirekte Frage verwendet 'if', verschiebt die Zeitform zurück (are -> was) und kehrt zur Satzstellung zurück (I was feeling).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte Ja/Nein-Fragen (If/Whether)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler in der indirekten Frage.

Find and fix the mistake:

He asked me why did I leave early.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He asked me why I had left early.
In indirekten Fragen wird 'did' weggelassen und das Verb wird zurückverschoben. 'Why did you leave?' (Past Simple) wird zu 'why I had left' (Past Perfect). Die invertierte Satzstellung ('did I') wird ebenfalls zu 'I had' korrigiert.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Berichtete Fragen mit Fragewörtern (Wer, Was, Warum)

Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im Satz.

Find and fix the mistake:

She is believed earning a significant salary.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She is believed to earn a significant salary.
Das passive Berichtsverb 'is believed' muss von einem Infinitiv gefolgt werden. 'To earn' oder 'to be earning' sind korrekt, je nachdem, ob die Aktion ein allgemeiner Zustand oder gerade im Gange ist.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Fortgeschrittenes Passiv: Gerüchte & Überzeugungen berichten (Er soll sein...)

Welcher Satz verwendet die passive Berichtsstruktur korrekt?

Wähle den korrekten Satz aus:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She is known to have studied abroad last year.
Die Handlung des 'Studierens im Ausland' geschah 'last year' (in der Vergangenheit), daher ist der Perfekt-Infinitiv to have studied erforderlich.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive Berichtsstrukturen (Er soll sein...)

Welcher Satz gibt die direkte Aussage 'You must submit your essay by Friday' korrekt wieder?

Wähle den korrekten Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Bei Verpflichtungen kann 'must' in der indirekten Rede entweder 'must' bleiben oder sich je nach Kontext und Betonung in 'had to' ändern.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirekte Rede mit Modalverben & passiver Berichterstattung (C1)

Score: /10

Häufige Fragen (6)

Die Grundstruktur ist It + be (in der richtigen Zeitform) + ein Berichtsverb im Partizip Perfekt (z.B. said, believed, reported) + that + ein Nebensatz. Zum Beispiel: 'It is believed that the meeting starts at ten.'
Die Verwendung von 'It is said that...' macht deine Aussage formeller, objektiver und allgemeiner. Der Fokus liegt auf der Information selbst, nicht auf den Personen, die sie sagen. 'People say that...' ist direkter und informeller.
Es ist eine Art, zu berichten, was Leute im Allgemeinen über jemanden oder etwas sagen, denken oder glauben, ohne genau zu erwähnen, wer es gesagt hat. Es lässt deine Aussage objektiver klingen, wie
He is said to be a genius
.
Beide sind passive Berichtsformen, aber
He is said to be a genius
ist oft prägnanter und rückt die Person, über die gesprochen wird, direkt in den Fokus. 'It is said that...' benutzt 'it' als Platzhalter-Subjekt.
Der Hauptzweck ist, Informationen neutral wiederzugeben, ohne die Quelle direkt zu nennen. Es verleiht der Aussage Objektivität und deutet oft an, dass die Information allgemein bekannt ist oder ein Gerücht. Stell dir vor, du sprichst über eine alte Legende: The ancient city is said to be built on gold.
Die aktive Form betont die 'people' als Subjekt, während He is said to be rich den Fokus auf 'he' verschiebt und die Aussage über ihn zentraler macht. Es ist auch formeller und prägnanter. Denk an eine Bürosituation: Aus People say the boss is busy wird The boss is said to be busy. Klingt viel eleganter, oder?
Vorheriges Kapitel
Advanced Passive Perspectives
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Streamlining with Participle Clauses
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