B2 · Intermédiaire supérieur Chapitre 9

Reporting and Passive Voice

4 Règles totales
48 exemples
5 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

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.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

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.

Guide du chapitre

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.

Conseils et astuces (4)

💡

Focus sur l'objet

L'important ici, c'est l'objet qui reçoit l'action, pas la personne qui travaille. On s'intéresse au résultat final !
I had my house painted.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbes Causatifs : Faire / Faire faire quelque chose (Organisation de services)
💡

Repère qui reçoit l'action

Demande-toi toujours : est-ce que le sujet fait l'action ou est-ce qu'il la subit ? Si c'est le deuxième cas, fonce sur le passif :
The car needs to be washed.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: L'Infinitif Passif : Utilisation de 'to be done'
💡

Choisis bien ton verbe de rapport

Le verbe change la nuance : 'claimed' suggère un doute, alors que 'known' est une certitude.
He is claimed to be a prince.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rapporter au Passif (On dit que...)
💡

Repère le -ing !

Quand tu vois un verbe de rapport, le gérondif n'est jamais loin, vérifie juste si une préposition s'intercale :
He suggested trying the new café.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Modèles de Verbes de Reportage (suggérer de faire, accuser de)

Vocabulaire clé (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

Erreurs courantes

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.
Correct: 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.
Correct: 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.
Correct: 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: L'art de la nuance : Politesse et fluidité

Pratique rapide (8)

Choisis la bonne forme pour compléter la phrase.

The children admitted ___ (break) the window.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: breaking
Le verbe 'admit' est directement suivi d'un gérondif (forme en -ing).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Modèles de Verbes de Reportage (suggérer de faire, accuser de)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

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.
Le verbe 'insist' nécessite la préposition 'on' avant le gérondif.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Modèles de Verbes de Reportage (suggérer de faire, accuser de)

Quelle phrase utilise correctement le verbe de rapport ?

Choisis la phrase correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She suggested going to the park.
Le verbe 'suggest' est suivi directement par un gérondif.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Modèles de Verbes de Reportage (suggérer de faire, accuser de)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

The instructions are to wrote clearly.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The instructions are to be written clearly.
Le participe passé de 'write' est 'written'. L'infinitif passif nécessite 'to be' suivi du participe passé.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: L'Infinitif Passif : Utilisation de 'to be done'

Choisis la bonne forme pour compléter la phrase.

It ___ that the new park will open next spring.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is expected
On utilise le présent passif 'is expected' pour une attente générale concernant un événement futur.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rapporter au Passif (On dit que...)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

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.
La structure 'Subject is said that...' est incorrecte. Il faut 'Subject is said to...' suivi d'un infinitif passé.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Rapporter au Passif (On dit que...)

Choisis la bonne forme pour compléter la phrase.

The report needs ___ by tomorrow morning.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to be finished
Le rapport reçoit l'action d'être terminé, donc l'infinitif passif 'to be finished' est correct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: L'Infinitif Passif : Utilisation de 'to be done'

Quelle phrase utilise correctement l'infinitif passif ?

Choisis la phrase correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I'm excited to receive the news.
Ici, 'receive' est actif car le sujet 'I' fait l'action. Si on voulait du passif, on dirait 'I'm excited to be given the news'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: L'Infinitif Passif : Utilisation de 'to be done'

Score: /8

Questions fréquentes (6)

C'est quand tu t'arranges pour que quelqu'un d'autre fasse le boulot à ta place. Tu es l'instigateur, pas l'exécutant. Par exemple :
I had my car washed
signifie que quelqu'un d'autre a lavé ta voiture.
La recette est simple : Sujet + have/get (conjugué) + Objet + Participe Passé. Comme dans :
She is having her kitchen renovated
.
C'est la forme passive d'un infinitif. On l'utilise quand le sujet de l'infinitif *reçoit* l'action au lieu de la faire. Sa structure est toujours to + be + participe passé.
Le 'to' d'un infinitif doit être suivi de la base verbale. Au passif, cette base est 'be', qui s'associe ensuite au participe passé pour créer la structure passive.
C'est une façon de partager une info sans dire précisément qui l'a dite. On se concentre sur l'info, pas sur la source.
It is said that...
Ça te donne un ton plus formel, objectif ou général. C'est idéal pour les infos ou l'académique.
It is believed that...
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Maîtrise les nuances : l'art de la précision anglaise
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