B2 · Intermedio alto Capítulo 9

Más allá de lo básico: Informa con precisión y delega con éxito

4 Reglas totales
48 ejemplos
5 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

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.

Lo que aprenderás

¡Hola! Ya estás en un nivel donde los pequeños detalles marcan la diferencia entre sonar como un estudiante y sonar como un experto. En este capítulo, vamos a darle ese toque de sofisticación a tu inglés que tanto buscas. ¿Alguna vez has querido explicar que te cortaron el cabello o que mandaste a reparar tu computadora? Aquí dominarás los verbos causativos como 'have' y 'get something done' para hablar con naturalidad sobre servicios que otros hacen por ti, algo esencial para tu vida cotidiana. Pero eso es solo el comienzo. Elevaremos tu nivel de formalidad al aprender estructuras de reporte avanzadas como 'It is said that...' y el uso del infinitivo pasivo ('to be done'). Imagina que estás compartiendo una noticia importante o participando en una reunión de negocios; estas herramientas te permiten sonar objetivo, elegante y seguro. Además, perfeccionaremos los patrones de verbos de reporte (como 'suggest doing' o 'accuse of'), para que dejes de depender siempre del simple 'said' y ganes una precisión increíble al contar lo que otros dicen. Al terminar estas lecciones, no solo sabrás gramática, sino que tendrás la confianza para navegar situaciones complejas, desde reportar un incidente hasta gestionar servicios profesionales. ¡Es momento de que tu inglés suene más natural y profesional que nunca!

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.

Guía del capítulo

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.

Ejemplos clave (2)

1

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

Necesito que reparen mi coche antes del viaje por carretera.

Verbos Causativos: Hacer/Conseguir que algo se haga (Organizar Servicios)
2

She got her hair cut and styled for the wedding.

Ella se cortó y peinó el pelo para la boda.

Verbos Causativos: Hacer/Conseguir que algo se haga (Organizar Servicios)

Consejos y trucos (4)

💡

The 'By' Rule

Only use 'by [person]' if the specific person is important. Usually, we know a barber cuts hair, so 'by the barber' is unnecessary.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos Causativos: Hacer/Conseguir que algo se haga (Organizar Servicios)
💡

Identifica al receptor

Pregúntate siempre: ¿el sujeto hace la acción o la recibe? Si la recibe, usa el infinitivo pasivo:
The package is to be delivered.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: El Infinitivo Pasivo: Uso de 'to be done'
💡

Elige tu verbo de reporte con sabiduría

El verbo que elijas cambia el matiz; 'claimed' implica duda, mientras que 'understood' sugiere aceptación general:
The suspect is claimed to be innocent.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reportar con la Pasiva (Se dice que...)
💡

¡Detecta el -ing!

Cuando veas un verbo de reporte seguido de una forma '-ing', suele ser un patrón de gerundio:
He suggested trying the new café.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Patrones de Verbos de Reporte (sugerir hacer, acusar de)

Vocabulario clave (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

Errores comunes

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.
Correcto: 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.
Correcto: 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.
Correcto: 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

Práctica rápida (10)

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs.

She is ___ her house ___ (have / paint) at the moment.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: having / painted
Present continuous 'is having' + object + V3 'painted'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos Causativos: Hacer/Conseguir que algo se haga (Organizar Servicios)

Elige la forma correcta para completar la oración.

The children admitted ___ (break) the window.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: breaking
El verbo 'admit' va seguido directamente de un gerundio (forma -ing).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Patrones de Verbos de Reporte (sugerir hacer, acusar de)

¿Qué oración usa correctamente el patrón del verbo de reporte?

Selecciona la oración correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She suggested going to the park.
El verbo 'suggest' se sigue directamente de un gerundio.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Patrones de Verbos de Reporte (sugerir hacer, acusar de)

Complete the future plan.

Next week, I ___ my wisdom teeth ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: will have / removed
Future 'will have' + object + V3 'removed'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos Causativos: Hacer/Conseguir que algo se haga (Organizar Servicios)

¿Qué oración usa correctamente el infinitivo pasivo?

Elige la oración correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I'm excited to receive the news.
En este caso, 'receive' es activo porque el sujeto 'I' realiza la acción. Si fuera pasivo, sería 'to be given'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: El Infinitivo Pasivo: Uso de 'to be done'

Identify the error in this 'unpleasant experience' sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

He got his window broken in the storm.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change 'got' to 'had'
For accidents/unpleasant events, 'had' is much more natural than 'got'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos Causativos: Hacer/Conseguir que algo se haga (Organizar Servicios)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración.

Find and fix the mistake:

The instructions are to wrote clearly.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The instructions are to be written clearly.
El participio de 'write' es 'written'. La estructura requiere 'to be' seguido del participio pasado.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: El Infinitivo Pasivo: Uso de 'to be done'

Elige la forma correcta para completar la oración.

The report needs ___ by tomorrow morning.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to be finished
El informe recibe la acción de ser terminado, por lo que el infinitivo pasivo es la opción correcta.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: El Infinitivo Pasivo: Uso de 'to be done'

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence means someone else fixed the computer?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I had my computer fixed.
The structure 'have + object + V3' indicates a service performed by someone else.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos Causativos: Hacer/Conseguir que algo se haga (Organizar Servicios)

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

I got repaired my watch yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Move 'repaired' after 'watch'
The object 'my watch' must come before the past participle 'repaired'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbos Causativos: Hacer/Conseguir que algo se haga (Organizar Servicios)

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

Almost, but avoid it for accidents. 'I got my wallet stolen' sounds like you wanted it to happen. Use 'I had my wallet stolen' instead.
The first is the causative (someone else did it). The second is the Past Perfect (you did it yourself before another past action).
Es la forma pasiva de un infinitivo que usamos cuando el sujeto recibe la acción:
The task needs to be done.
Porque después de 'to' necesitamos el verbo base, y en pasiva ese verbo es siempre 'be':
It has to be checked.
Es una forma de transmitir lo que alguien dijo o creyó sin decir quién fue exactamente.
It is said that...
Te hace sonar más formal y objetivo, ideal para noticias o textos académicos.
It is believed that...
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