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C1 — Reporting Information and Rumors

C1 · Advanced Chapter 9

Reporting Information and Rumors

Q: Can I use any verb in this structure?

No, it only works with 'reporting verbs' like `say, think, believe, know, report, allege, expect, consider, understand, rumor`.

Q: Can I use any verb in this structure?

No, only 'reporting verbs' like `say`, `think`, `believe`, `claim`, `allege`, `report`, `understand`, and `expect` work.

7 Total Rules

83 examples

6 min

Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

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.

What You'll Learn

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.

News & Rumors: Passive with Reporting Verbs (It is said that...)
Mastering 'It is said that...' elevates your reporting, adding formality and objectivity to your English.
Advanced Passive: Reporting Rumors & Beliefs (He is said to be...)
Master this C1 passive structure to report rumors and beliefs with authority and nuance, sounding truly advanced.
Passive Reporting Structures (He is said to be...)
Mastering these structures makes your English sound authoritative and nuanced, like a true C1 speaker.
Reported Questions with Question Words (Who, What, Why)
Reported 'wh-' questions turn inquiries into statements, shifting word order and backshifting tenses.
Reported Yes/No Questions (If/Whether)
Master reported Yes/No questions to relay inquiries smoothly and professionally, elevating your C1 English conversations.
Reported Commands and Requests: Telling others what to do
Master reported commands and requests to sound polite, professional, and clear when relaying instructions.
Reported Speech with Modals & Passive Reporting (C1)
Master advanced reporting to sound polished, objective, and nuanced in C1 English.

Learning Objectives

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

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

Chapter Guide

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

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.

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.

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

Did you hear about the new policy?

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.

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

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.

I wonder what the new client's expectations are.

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

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.

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.

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").

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.

Key Examples (8)

It is said that laughter is the best medicine.

News & Rumors: Passive with Reporting Verbs (It is said that...)

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

News & Rumors: Passive with Reporting Verbs (It is said that...)

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

Advanced Passive: Reporting Rumors & Beliefs (He is said to be...)

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

Advanced Passive: Reporting Rumors & Beliefs (He is said to be...)

The project is expected to be finished by Friday.

Passive Reporting Structures (He is said to be...)

She is known to be a talented artist.

Passive Reporting Structures (He is said to be...)

She asked `what my name was`.

Reported Questions with Question Words (Who, What, Why)

I wondered `where the coffee shop was`.

Reported Questions with Question Words (Who, What, Why)

Tips & Tricks (4)

🎯

The 'Alleged' Shortcut

In journalism, if you want to avoid the whole 'is alleged to have' structure, you can just use 'alleged' as an adjective: 'The alleged thief'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: News & Rumors: Passive with Reporting Verbs (It is said that...)

🎯

Use 'Reputed' for positive rumors

While 'said' is neutral, 'reputed' is often used for high-quality things. 'He is a reputed scholar.'

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advanced Passive: Reporting Rumors & Beliefs (He is said to be...)

🎯

Use for Objectivity

In essays, use 'It is often claimed that...' to introduce an argument you disagree with. It makes you sound more academic and less aggressive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive Reporting Structures (He is said to be...)

🎯

The 'Do' Deletion

Always double-check for the words 'do', 'does', or 'did'. If they are in your reported question, the sentence is likely wrong. Delete them and adjust the main verb's tense.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Questions with Question Words (Who, What, Why)

Key Vocabulary (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

Common Mistakes

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.

Correct: 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.

Correct: He asked me what I did.

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

Wrong: She told to me to wait.

Correct: She told me to wait.

Rules in This Chapter (7)

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

Quick Practice (10)

Which sentence correctly reports: 'Please, please help me!'

Choose the best option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He begged me to help him.

'Begged' captures the emotional intensity of 'please, please'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Commands and Requests: Telling others what to do

Which sentence is correct for a past action?

The building is thought ___ in the fire.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to have been destroyed

We need the passive perfect infinitive 'to have been + past participle' because the building was destroyed by the fire in the past.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: News & Rumors: Passive with Reporting Verbs (It is said that...)

Complete the sentence using the correct form of the verb 'to have'.

The suspect is believed ___ (flee) the country last week.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to have fled

We use the perfect infinitive 'to have + past participle' for past actions in passive reporting.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech with Modals & Passive Reporting (C1)

Identify the error in this sentence: 'She asked why did I leave the party early.'

Find and fix the mistake:

She asked why did I leave the party early.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Remove 'did' and change 'leave' to 'had left'

Reported questions do not use 'did'. Since the original was past simple, it backshifts to past perfect.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Questions with Question Words (Who, What, Why)

Fill in the blank with 'if' or 'whether'. Use 'whether' if it's the only grammatical option.

We discussed ___ to buy a new car.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b

Only 'whether' can be used before a to-infinitive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Yes/No Questions (If/Whether)

Find the error in this sentence: 'It is thought him to be the best player.'

Find and fix the mistake:

It is thought him to be the best player.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change 'It' to 'He'

The 'Subject + to-infinitive' structure requires the person (He) as the subject, not 'It'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reported Speech with Modals & Passive Reporting (C1)

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

He is thought ___ (be) the mastermind behind the robbery.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to be

The personal construction 'He is thought' requires 'to + infinitive'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: News & Rumors: Passive with Reporting Verbs (It is said that...)

Complete the sentence with the correct infinitive form: 'The thief is believed ___ the country last night.'

The thief is believed ___ the country last night.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to have left

Since the action happened 'last night', we need the perfect infinitive 'to have left'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advanced Passive: Reporting Rumors & Beliefs (He is said to be...)

Which verb is most appropriate for a legal accusation?

The defendant is ___ to have stolen the documents.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: alleged

'Alleged' is the standard legal term for unproven claims.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advanced Passive: Reporting Rumors & Beliefs (He is said to be...)

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

It is believed him to have left the country.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change 'It' to 'He'

You cannot have an object (him) after 'It is believed'. It must be 'He is believed to have left' or 'It is believed that he has left'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: News & Rumors: Passive with Reporting Verbs (It is said that...)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

No, only 'reporting verbs' related to thinking (believe, think, consider), saying (say, report, allege), or knowing (know, understand). You can't use verbs like 'eat' or 'run'.

Yes, but 'It is said that' is much more formal and common in writing, while 'They say' is common in spoken English.

The passive version is more formal and objective. It focuses on the person being discussed rather than the people talking, which is preferred in news and academic writing.

No, it only works with 'reporting verbs' like say, think, believe, know, report, allege, expect, consider, understand, rumor.

No, only 'reporting verbs' like say, think, believe, claim, allege, report, understand, and expect work.

The meaning is the same, but 'He is said' focuses on the person, while 'It is said' focuses on the whole situation. 'He is said' is generally considered more advanced.