B2 · Upper Intermediate Chapter 9

Reporting and Passive Voice

4 Total Rules
48 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

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.

What You'll Learn

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.

Chapter Guide

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.

Key Examples (8)

1

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

Causative Verbs: Have/Get Something Done (Arranging Services)
2

She got her hair cut and styled for the wedding.

Causative Verbs: Have/Get Something Done (Arranging Services)
3

The email needs `to be sent` by 5 PM today.

The Passive Infinitive: Using 'to be done'
4

She was happy `to be invited` to the party.

The Passive Infinitive: Using 'to be done'
5

It is said that he commutes two hours every day.

Reporting with the Passive (It is said that...)
6

The new policy is expected to increase productivity.

Reporting with the Passive (It is said that...)
7

My friend suggested ordering pizza for the movie night.

Reporting Verbs Patterns (suggest doing, accuse of)
8

The politician denied accepting any illegal donations.

Reporting Verbs Patterns (suggest doing, accuse of)

Tips & Tricks (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: Causative Verbs: Have/Get Something Done (Arranging Services)
💡

The 'By' Test

If you can add 'by zombies' to the end of your infinitive and it makes sense, you probably need the passive form!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Passive Infinitive: Using 'to be done'
🎯

The 'That' vs 'To' Rule

If you start with 'It', you MUST use 'that'. If you start with a person/thing, you MUST use 'to'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting with the Passive (It is said that...)
💡

The 'Suggest' Rule

If you want to include a person with 'suggest', use 'suggest to someone that...'. Never say 'suggest someone to do'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Verbs Patterns (suggest doing, accuse of)

Key Vocabulary (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

Common Mistakes

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: Politeness and Logical Connections

Quick Practice (10)

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: Causative Verbs: Have/Get Something Done (Arranging Services)

Which is the most informal?

Select the informal version of 'I had my car repaired.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I got my car fixed.
'Get' is more informal than 'have' in causative structures.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Causative Verbs: Have/Get Something Done (Arranging Services)

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: Causative Verbs: Have/Get Something Done (Arranging Services)

Which sentence is correct for a past action?

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He is thought to have stolen the car.
Use 'to have + past participle' for actions that happened in the past.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting with the Passive (It is said that...)

Complete the sentence: 'It is ______ that the company is losing money.'

It is ______ that the company is losing money.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: thought
We need the past participle 'thought' for the passive structure.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting with the Passive (It is said that...)

Choose the correct form to complete the sentence.

There is a lot of work ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to be done
'To be done' is the standard passive infinitive for tasks.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Passive Infinitive: Using 'to be done'

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

He suggested ___ (take) the train instead of the bus.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: taking
Suggest is followed by the gerund (-ing).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Verbs Patterns (suggest doing, accuse of)

Complete the formal report sentence.

The suspect is believed ___ in London.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to be caught
Reporting verbs like 'believe' often take the passive infinitive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Passive Infinitive: Using 'to be done'

Which sentence is correct?

Select the correct negative form.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He asked not to be disturbed.
'Not' should precede 'to' in formal English, though 'to not be' is becoming common in speech.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Passive Infinitive: Using 'to be done'

Complete the past reporting: 'The suspect is alleged ______ the bank.'

The suspect is alleged ______ the bank.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to have robbed
Allegations of past crimes use 'to have + V3'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting with the Passive (It is said that...)

Score: /10

Common Questions (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).
Yes, in British English, 'needs doing' is a very common and slightly more informal way to say 'needs to be done'. Both are correct.
It is more formal than active structures, but it is used in everyday speech too, especially for chores and work tasks.
Because 'that' clauses in English usually follow an impersonal 'It'. When you start with a person, the grammar requires an infinitive ('to be') to link the subject to the description.
Yes, the meaning is identical, but 'It is said' is much more formal and used in writing, while 'They say' is used in casual conversation.
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Politeness and Logical Connections
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