C1 · Avançado Capítulo 9

A Arte de Relatar: Da Fofoca à Notícia Oficial

7 Regras totais
83 exemplos
6 min

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.

O que você vai aprender

Oi! Chegou a hora de levar o seu inglês para um nível de sofisticação que separa os bons dos excelentes. No nível C1, não basta apenas repetir o que alguém disse; você precisa saber como filtrar a informação com autoridade e distanciamento. Neste capítulo, vamos mergulhar nas estruturas passivas avançadas, como 'It is said that...' e a forma mais refinada 'He is said to be...', essenciais para soar imparcial em ambientes corporativos ou ao relatar fatos sem se comprometer diretamente. Imagine que você está em uma reunião estratégica e precisa resumir as preocupações da equipe ou repassar diretrizes de forma diplomática e elegante. Vamos aprender a transformar perguntas diretas em relatos fluidos usando 'if', 'whether' e pronomes interrogativos (Wh- questions), além de dominar o reporte de comandos e o uso preciso de verbos modais no passado. Ao final destas lições, você será capaz de navegar por conversas complexas, transmitindo notícias, rumores e instruções com uma precisão cirúrgica e um tom extremamente profissional. Prepare-se para soar não apenas fluente, mas verdadeiramente influente!

Learning Objectives

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

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

Guia do capítulo

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

  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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

A

A

Did you hear about the new policy?
B

B

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.
A

A

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

B

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.
A

A

I wonder what the new client's expectations are.
B

B

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

Q

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.

Q

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.

Q

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
).

Q

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.

Exemplos-chave (8)

1

It is said that laughter is the best medicine.

Diz-se que o riso é o melhor remédio.

Notícias e Rumores: Passiva com Verbos de Relato (Diz-se que...)
2

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

Foi reportado que o voo atrasaria duas horas.

Notícias e Rumores: Passiva com Verbos de Relato (Diz-se que...)
3

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

Dizem que a celebridade está filmando um novo filme em segredo.

Passiva Avançada: Reportando Rumores e Crenças (Diz-se que ele é...)
4

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

Acredita-se que ela seja uma das melhores pesquisadoras em sua área.

Passiva Avançada: Reportando Rumores e Crenças (Diz-se que ele é...)
5

The project is expected to be finished by Friday.

Espera-se que o projeto esteja finalizado até sexta-feira.

Estruturas de Relato Passivo (Diz-se que ele é...)
6

She is known to be a talented artist.

Sabe-se que ela é uma artista talentosa.

Estruturas de Relato Passivo (Diz-se que ele é...)
7

She asked `what my name was`.

Ela perguntou qual era meu nome.

Perguntas Reportadas com Palavras Interrogativas (Quem, O quê, Por que)
8

I wondered `where the coffee shop was`.

Me perguntei onde estava a cafeteria.

Perguntas Reportadas com Palavras Interrogativas (Quem, O quê, Por que)

Dicas e truques (4)

💡

Varie seus verbos

Não fique só no 'said'. Experimente 'believed', 'known', 'reported', 'thought', 'expected' ou 'alleged' para dar mais profundidade e precisão aos seus relatos. Cada verbo tem um toque diferente!
It is believed that she is innocent.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Notícias e Rumores: Passiva com Verbos de Relato (Diz-se que...)
💡

Varie seus verbos

Não se prenda só ao 'said' e 'believed'! Experimente com 'known', 'thought', 'understood', 'alleged', 'expected' e 'considered' para dar mais precisão e estilo ao seu relato. Por exemplo, se você quer falar de algo que todo mundo sabe:
The CEO is known to be a tough negotiator.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passiva Avançada: Reportando Rumores e Crenças (Diz-se que ele é...)
💡

Escolha seu verbo com sabedoria!

A escolha do verbo de relato (say, believe, expect) muda sutilmente a nuance da sua frase. It is alleged (alega-se) traz uma implicação de erro muito mais forte do que It is said (diz-se).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estruturas de Relato Passivo (Diz-se que ele é...)
💡

Pratique a Regra 'Sem Inversão'

É muito fácil manter a ordem da pergunta por acidente. Lembre-se sempre que perguntas indiretas são afirmações, então o sujeito vem antes do verbo, como em qualquer frase normal. Esse é o ajuste número 1 que você vai fazer!
He asked what I was doing.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Perguntas Reportadas com Palavras Interrogativas (Quem, O quê, Por que)

Vocabulário-chave (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

Erros comuns

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.
Correto: 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.
Correto: He asked me what I did.

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

Wrong: She told to me to wait.
Correto: She told me to wait.

Regras neste capítulo (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.

Prática rápida (10)

Encontre e corrija o erro na pergunta indireta.

Find and fix the mistake:

He asked me why did I leave early.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He asked me why I had left early.
Em perguntas indiretas, did é omitido e o verbo muda de tempo. 'Why did you leave?' (Past Simple) vira 'why I had left' (Past Perfect). A ordem invertida (did I) também é corrigida para I had.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Perguntas Reportadas com Palavras Interrogativas (Quem, O quê, Por que)

Qual frase reporta corretamente a declaração direta 'You must submit your essay by Friday'?

Escolha a frase correta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Para obrigações, 'must' pode permanecer 'must' ou mudar para 'had to' no discurso indireto, dependendo do contexto e da ênfase.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Discurso Indireto com Modais e Relato Passivo (C1)

Qual frase relata corretamente a pergunta 'Where is the nearest ATM?'

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She asked where the nearest ATM was.
A pergunta indireta correta exige a ordem sujeito-verbo ('the nearest ATM was') e muda 'is' para 'was', já que a pergunta foi feita no passado.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Perguntas Reportadas com Palavras Interrogativas (Quem, O quê, Por que)

Escolha a forma correta para completar a frase.

The ancient city ___ to have existed for over 2,000 years.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is believed
A cidade é um sujeito singular, então is believed é a forma passiva correta. O infinitivo to have existed mostra corretamente que a ação aconteceu no passado.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Estruturas de Relato Passivo (Diz-se que ele é...)

Qual frase usa corretamente a estrutura de relato passivo?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It is said that the project is behind schedule.
A estrutura correta de relato passivo é 'It + be + particípio passado + that + oração'. 'It is said that' segue este padrão.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Notícias e Rumores: Passiva com Verbos de Relato (Diz-se que...)

Escolha a forma correta para completar o discurso indireto.

The weather forecast said it ___ rain tomorrow.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: might
O modal 'may' muda para 'might' quando reportamos no passado. 'Can' mudaria para 'could', e 'will' para 'would'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Discurso Indireto com Modais e Relato Passivo (C1)

Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

She asked if was he coming to the meeting.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She asked if he was coming to the meeting.
Em perguntas indiretas, a ordem das palavras depois de 'if' ou 'whether' deve ser sujeito + verbo, não a ordem de pergunta. Além disso, o tempo verbal precisa ser recuado ('is coming' -> 'was coming').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Perguntas Reportadas Sim/Não (If/Whether)

Escolha a forma correta do verbo de relato.

It ___ that the new policy will improve efficiency.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is expected
A estrutura passiva exige 'It + be + particípio passado'. 'Is expected' forma corretamente o passivo no presente.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Notícias e Rumores: Passiva com Verbos de Relato (Diz-se que...)

Escolha a forma correta para completar a frase.

The athlete ___ to have trained intensely for months before the competition.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is said
A estrutura de relato passivo exige 'is/are' + particípio passado do verbo de relato, seguido de um infinitivo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passiva Avançada: Reportando Rumores e Crenças (Diz-se que ele é...)

Qual frase relata corretamente a pergunta direta: "Are you feeling better?"

Escolha a frase correta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He asked if I was feeling better.
A pergunta indireta correta usa 'if', recua o tempo verbal ('are' -> 'was') e volta à ordem de afirmação ('I was feeling').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Perguntas Reportadas Sim/Não (If/Whether)

Score: /10

Perguntas comuns (6)

A estrutura básica é It + be (no tempo verbal correto) + um verbo de relato no particípio passado (ex: said, believed, reported) + that + uma oração. Por exemplo,
It is believed that the meeting starts at ten.
Usar 'It is said that...' torna sua afirmação mais formal, objetiva e geral, focando na informação em si, e não nas pessoas que a estão dizendo. 'People say that...' é mais direto e informal.
É uma forma de relatar o que as pessoas geralmente dizem, pensam ou acreditam sobre alguém ou algo, sem mencionar quem especificamente disse. Isso faz sua declaração soar mais objetiva, tipo:
He is said to be a genius.
Ambos são relatos passivos, mas
He is said to be a genius
é geralmente mais conciso e foca diretamente na pessoa em questão.
It is said that...
usa 'it' como um sujeito placeholder.
É usado para relatar o que as pessoas geralmente dizem, pensam ou acreditam, sem nomear diretamente a fonte. Adiciona uma camada de objetividade e muitas vezes implica que a informação é de conhecimento comum ou um boato, por exemplo,
The ancient city is said to be built on gold.
A forma ativa enfatiza people como o sujeito, enquanto
He is said to be rich
muda o foco para he, tornando a afirmação sobre ele mais central. Também é mais formal e concisa, por exemplo,
People say the boss is busy
vira
The boss is said to be busy.