Indirekte Rede mit Modalverben & passiver Berichterstattung (C1)
polished, objective und nuanced – versprochen!
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Shift modals back in time and use passive 'it' or 'subject' structures to report information objectively and formally.
- Shift 'can' to 'could' and 'will' to 'would' in reported speech. Example: 'I can go' becomes 'He said he could go'.
- Use 'It is said that...' for general beliefs. Example: 'It is said that the CEO will resign'.
- Use 'Subject + is thought + to + verb' for specific focus. Example: 'He is thought to be hiding'.
- Keep 'should', 'ought to', and 'might' unchanged in reported speech. Example: 'You should stay' becomes 'She said I should stay'.
Overview
It's rumored that he might have ghosted her, anstatt einfach: He ghosted her? Das ist die Kraft der indirekten Rede mit Modalverben und Passiv. Auf C1-Niveau geht es nicht nur um She said hello.How This Grammar Works
backshifting). Modalverben wie can werden zu could und will zu would. Aber should und might bleiben gleich.He is said to) verschiebt den Fokus von den anonymen 'Leuten' auf die Person selbst. Das ist in Journalismus und Wissenschaft extrem verbreitet.
Formation Pattern
can, must, might?
say, believe, claim (ideal bei Skepsis).
She said she could) oder Passiv (She is believed to be able to).
can → could, will → would, must → had to.
should, could, might bleiben gleich.
When To Use It
Common Mistakes
should. Ändere should nicht zu should have, es sei denn, es war bereits vergangen. Und bei Verpflichtungen: Nutze had to statt must, sonst klingt es wie eine Vermutung.Contrast With Similar Patterns
He said he was tired. Die Modal-Passiv-Kombination fügt eine Ebene der Unsicherheit oder des Konsenses hinzu. Es ist der Unterschied zwischen einer einfachen Tatsache und einer allgemein anerkannten Meinung.Quick FAQ
Ändert sich could?
Nein, es bleibt immer could. Q: Warum It is said that? A: Weil du C1 bist! Es klingt akademischer und professioneller.
Modal Shifts in Reported Speech
| Direct Speech Modal | Reported Speech Modal | Example Direct | Example Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Will
|
Would
|
I will help.
|
He said he would help.
|
|
Can
|
Could
|
I can swim.
|
She said she could swim.
|
|
May (Possibility)
|
Might
|
It may rain.
|
He said it might rain.
|
|
May (Permission)
|
Could
|
May I leave?
|
He asked if he could leave.
|
|
Must (Obligation)
|
Had to
|
You must stay.
|
She said I had to stay.
|
|
Must (Deduction)
|
Must (no change)
|
He must be tired.
|
She said he must be tired.
|
|
Should / Ought to
|
No change
|
You should go.
|
He said I should go.
|
Passive Reporting Infinitive Forms
| Infinitive Type | Structure | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Simple
|
to + verb
|
Present/Future state
|
He is said to be rich.
|
|
Continuous
|
to be + -ing
|
Action in progress
|
They are thought to be hiding.
|
|
Perfect
|
to have + past participle
|
Past action
|
She is believed to have left.
|
|
Perfect Continuous
|
to have been + -ing
|
Past action over time
|
He is alleged to have been lying.
|
Meanings
This grammar allows speakers to report information, beliefs, or rumors without taking personal responsibility for the truth of the statement, often used in journalism and academic writing.
Reporting Modals
Changing the tense of modal verbs when moving from direct to indirect speech to maintain temporal logic.
“Direct: 'I may arrive late.' Indirect: 'He mentioned he might arrive late.'”
“Direct: 'You must sign this.' Indirect: 'She insisted that I had to sign it.'”
Impersonal Passive Reporting
Using 'It + passive verb + that' to report general opinions or facts objectively.
“It is widely believed that the climate is changing rapidly.”
“It has been suggested that the meeting be postponed.”
Personal Passive Reporting
Using 'Subject + passive verb + to-infinitive' to focus on the person or thing being discussed.
“The suspect is understood to be cooperating with the police.”
“The painting is estimated to be worth millions.”
Reference Table
| Direkte Rede | Indirekte Rede (Modal) | Indirekte Rede (Passiv-Berichterstattung) |
|---|---|---|
|
"I can finish it."
|
She said she could finish it.
|
It was said that she could finish it.
|
|
"He will join us."
|
They claimed he would join them.
|
He is expected to join us.
|
|
"You must attend."
|
She told me I must/had to attend.
|
Attendance is said to be mandatory.
|
|
"It may rain."
|
The forecast warned it might rain.
|
It is believed it might rain.
|
|
"They should study."
|
I advised they should study.
|
They are understood to study diligently.
|
|
"She could be wrong."
|
He suggested she could be wrong.
|
It is thought that she could be wrong.
|
|
"He has stolen it."
|
N/A
|
He is alleged to have stolen it.
|
|
"She is building a company."
|
N/A
|
She is reported to be building a company.
|
Formalitätsspektrum
He is considered to be the most suitable candidate for the position. (Job recruitment)
It is thought that he is the best candidate. (Job recruitment)
Everyone says he's the best one for the job. (Job recruitment)
He's the GOAT for this role, no cap. (Job recruitment)
Indirekte Rede: Modale & Passive Berichterstattung
Mit Modalverben
- Can → Could She said she could go.
- May → Might He said it might rain.
- Will → Would They said they would help.
- Must / Had To We had to finish it.
Passive Berichterstattung (Typ 1)
- It is/was said that... It is believed that he left.
- It is/was reported that... It was reported the market fell.
Passive Berichterstattung (Typ 2)
- Subject is/was said to... She is said to be brilliant.
- Subject is/was believed to... He was believed to have lied.
Hauptanwendungen
- Nachrichten/Gerüchte It's rumored she's engaged.
- Objektivität It's understood that...
- Formalität He is expected to speak.
Direkte vs. Indirekte vs. Passive Indirekte Rede
Struktur für Indirekte Rede wählen
Ist es ein direktes Zitat?
Enthält die ursprüngliche Aussage ein Modalverb (can, will, may etc.)?
Möchtest du einen allgemeinen Glauben/Gerücht berichten oder Objektivität/Formalität betonen?
Verben für passive Berichterstattung
Glauben
- • believe
- • think
- • consider
- • suppose
Aussagen
- • say
- • state
- • declare
- • report
Erwartungen
- • expect
- • anticipate
Behauptungen
- • allege
- • claim
Verständnis
- • understand
- • know
Beispiele nach Niveau
He says, 'I can help.'
He says he can help.
She says, 'I will go.'
She says she will go.
They say, 'We are happy.'
They say they are happy.
I say, 'I must leave.'
I say I must leave.
He said he could help.
He said he could help.
She told me she would come.
She told me she would come.
They said they might be late.
They said they might be late.
He said he had to go.
He said he had to go.
It is said that he is very rich.
It is said that he is very rich.
She suggested that we should leave.
She suggested that we should leave.
He claimed he could speak five languages.
He claimed he could speak five languages.
They promised they would finish on time.
They promised they would finish on time.
The company is thought to be losing money.
The company is thought to be losing money.
It was reported that the strike had ended.
It was reported that the strike had ended.
He is believed to have left the country.
He is believed to have left the country.
She insisted that he must have been joking.
She insisted that he must have been joking.
The suspect is understood to have been residing in London for years.
The suspect is understood to have been residing in London for years.
It is widely acknowledged that the policy may have been flawed.
It is widely acknowledged that the policy may have been flawed.
The artifact is estimated to date back to the 4th century.
The artifact is estimated to date back to the 4th century.
He is alleged to have been embezzling funds since 2015.
He is alleged to have been embezzling funds since 2015.
The manuscript is purported to have been authored by Shakespeare himself.
The manuscript is purported to have been authored by Shakespeare himself.
It has been contended that such measures might prove counterproductive.
It has been contended that such measures might prove counterproductive.
The witness is reported to have been under considerable duress.
The witness is reported to have been under considerable duress.
The findings are presumed to be indicative of a larger trend.
The findings are presumed to be indicative of a larger trend.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners confuse 'He was told' (someone spoke to him) with 'He is said to' (people talk about him).
Using 'that' after the subject-passive structure.
Using 'must' for past obligation in reported speech.
Häufige Fehler
He say he can help.
He says he can help.
He said he will come.
He said he would come.
It is said him to be rich.
He is said to be rich.
The thief is reported to escape last night.
The thief is reported to have escaped last night.
Satzmuster
It is ___ that ___.
The ___ is thought to be ___.
He is alleged to have ___.
They are understood to be ___ing ___.
Real World Usage
Local Man Reported to Have Won Lottery Twice
It is widely acknowledged that further research is required.
She's rumored to be getting the promotion.
The defendant is alleged to have committed the offense on June 1st.
The new iPhone is said to be coming out in September! 📱
The patient is understood to have a history of heart disease.
Üb die Modalverben-Verschiebung
Try turning direct statements with modals into reported ones out loud to build fluency.
Vorsicht bei der 'To Have'-Falle
Wähl deine Struktur clever
It adds precision and polish to your message.
Nachrichten-Nuancen
It allows for reporting claims without fully endorsing them, adding a professional distance.Super nützlich auch für akademische Arbeiten!
Nicht übertreiben!
Sometimes direct reporting is clearer and more natural, especially in casual chats.
Smart Tips
Use 'allegedly' or 'is alleged to have' when talking about unproven events.
Don't try to change them! They are already 'past' enough.
Look for the word 'that'. It's the signal that a full sentence is coming next.
Use the 'Subject + is said to' structure. It's the most natural way to describe what people think of someone.
Aussprache
Weak forms of 'to'
In the structure 'is said to be', the word 'to' is usually reduced to a schwa /tə/.
Stress on the reporting verb
The main stress usually falls on the reporting verb (said, thought, rumored), not the 'is' or 'to'.
Falling intonation for certainty
It is widely believed that the economy will recover. ↘
Conveys a sense of established fact or high confidence.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
W.C.M. (Will to Would, Can to Could, May to Might) - The 'Wicked Cool Modals' shift back!
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a news anchor sitting behind a desk. They aren't saying 'I think,' they are saying 'It is reported that...' This desk represents the 'Passive Reporting' structure that protects them from being wrong.
Rhyme
When reporting what they say, shift the modal back a day. If the source you want to hide, let the Passive be your guide.
Story
A detective is reporting on a mystery. He doesn't know the truth yet, so he tells his boss: 'The suspect is thought to have fled. It is believed that he might be in Paris. He was said to be carrying a red bag.'
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write three sentences about a famous person using 'is rumored to', 'is said to have', and 'is thought to be'.
Kulturelle Hinweise
The BBC and other UK broadsheets frequently use 'is understood to' or 'is alleged to' to maintain a neutral, objective stance and avoid libel.
In US and UK universities, using 'It is argued that' is preferred over 'I think' to make the writing sound more scholarly and less biased.
In corporate 'office speak', passive reporting is used to deliver bad news gently or to distance the speaker from the decision.
Passive reporting structures evolved from Old English 'man sagt' (one says), similar to modern German.
Gesprächseinstiege
What is something that is rumored to be true about a famous person?
It is said that technology makes us lonelier. Do you agree?
What are some things that were once thought to be impossible but are now common?
If you heard a colleague was said to be leaving, would you ask them about it?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
The weather forecast said it ___ rain tomorrow.
Find and fix the mistake:
He is said to stole the ancient artifact.
Wähle den korrekten Satz:
Translate into English: 'Se cree que el precio aumentará.'
Answer starts with: ["I...
Score: /4
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesHe said he ___ help me the next day.
The suspect is believed ___ (flee) the country last week.
Find and fix the mistake:
It is thought him to be the best player.
He is said to be a genius. -> ___
The modal 'should' always changes to 'would' in reported speech.
A: Did you hear about the CEO? B: Yes, she is rumored ___.
Select the modal that stays the same.
believed / to / is / have / the / painting / stolen / been
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesShe told me she ___ call me back later.
It is rumored that he has been fire from his job.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate: 'Ella dijo que podría ayudarnos.'
Arrangiere diese Wörter zu einem Satz:
Ordne die Modalverben zu:
It ___ that the new policy will face strong opposition.
The documents are thought to have be destroyed.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate: 'Se entiende que la empresa está contratando.'
Arrangiere diese Wörter zu einem Satz:
Ordne die Strukturen zu:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Use `It is said that...` when you want to emphasize the information itself. Use `He is said to...` when you want to focus on the person you are talking about. The latter is slightly more common in descriptions of people.
No. If `must` expresses a logical deduction (e.g., 'He must be tired'), it stays as `must`. If it expresses an obligation (e.g., 'You must go'), it changes to `had to`.
Yes, but it's very formal. In daily speech, we often use `is supposed to` or `is rumored to` instead of `is said to`.
`Is thought to be` refers to a present state (He is thought to be rich now). `Is thought to have been` refers to a past state (He is thought to have been rich in the 90s).
Not really. In informal English, we just say 'People say...' or 'I heard that...'. The passive version is for news, books, and formal reports.
Usually, no. `Allege` is almost always used for crimes or wrongdoings that haven't been proven yet.
We use `to have been` (the perfect infinitive) to show that the action happened *before* the reporting. It's like a 'past tense' for infinitives.
Yes. `Should`, `ought to`, `might`, and `could` (when expressing possibility) usually stay the same in reported speech.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Se dice que / Se cree que
Spanish lacks the 'Subject + to-infinitive' reporting structure.
On dit que / Il est dit que
French uses the pronoun 'On' much more frequently than English uses 'It is said'.
Soll-Konstruktion / Man sagt
German uses a modal verb ('sollen') instead of a passive verb ('is said').
~rashii / ~sou desu
Japanese reporting is handled by particles/auxiliaries, not by changing the main verb to passive.
يُقال أن (Yuqal anna)
Arabic rarely uses the personal 'Subject + to-infinitive' structure in this context.
据说 (Jùshuō)
Chinese has no verb conjugation or passive infinitive shifts.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Englische Modalverben: can, should, must
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