hearsay

reporting

Hearsay reports describe what people say, report, believe, think, consider, know, etc, and are often used in news reporting.

They are introduced by a passive form of the report verb, either in present simple or past simple form with a to-infinitive.

The report can refer to the present, or past, or a time before the time of reporting.

present verb, present reference

• We use a present reporting verb and refer to a state or action in the present.

The patient is said to be as well as can be expected.

Passive: is said

Present infinitive: to be

(That's what people say now about the present situation.)

present verb, past reference

• We use a present reporting verb and refer to a state or action in the past.

The robbers are thought to have stolen more than £3million.

Passive: are thought

Past infinitive: to have stolen

(That's what people say now about the past situation.)

past verb, reference to time of reporting

• We use a past reporting verb and refer to a state or action at the time the report was made

Last week, the Prime Minister was said to be undecided.

past simple passive: was said

present infinitive: to be

(That's what people said then about the situation then.)

past verb, reference before time of reporting

• We use a past reporting verb and refer to a state or action at the time before the report was made

Mr Smith was believed to have taken the car by mistake.

past simple passive: was believed

past infinitive: to have taken

(That's what people said then about something that had happened earlier.)

continuous forms

• Continuous infinitive forms are also possible.

The escaped men are believed to be wearing prison clothes.

The injured man is thought to have been trying to climb the cliff

present continuous infinitive

wear

to be wearing

past continuous infinitive

wear

to have been wearing

passive infinitives • Hearsay report expressions can also be followed by

passive infinitives.

• There are a number of diseases which are known to be caused by poor hygiene.

• The men are said to have been recaptured.

• At the time of the wreck, the diamonds were thought to have been lost.

present passive infinitive eat to be eaten

past passive infinitive eat to have been eaten

passive participles • These can be used with report verbs like appreciate,

deny, enjoy, remember etc.

I appreciated being met at the airport.

Mr Archwood denied having been convicted of any crime.

• Note that there may be no difference between using past and and present participles

He denied being there.

He denied having been there. present passive continuous Eat being eaten

past passive continuous Eat having been eaten

Rewrite each sentence so that it begins with the words underlined.

a People say that the company's European division is having a good year.

b In contrast, they say that the Far East division has been suffering from rising costs.

c People believe that the company has been talking to a competitor about a possible merger.

d People know some directors have been thinking on these lines for some time.

e People believe the CEO, Carl Graham, is making an attempt to focus the business more sharply in some areas.

f People say he is also looking at the possibility of job cuts.

g People think the company is holding a top-level meeting about these matters next week.

Answers a The company's European division is said to be having a good

year. b In contrast, the Far East division is said to have been suffering

from rising costs. c The company is believed to have been talking to a competitor

about a possible merger. d Some directors are known to have been thinking on these

lines for some time. e The CEO, Carl Graham, is believed to be making an attempt to

focus the business more sharply in some areas. f He is also said to be looking at the possibility of job cuts. g The company is thought to be holding a top-Ievel meeting

about these matters next week.

Rewrite each sentence using appreciate, deny, enjoy, like or remember and the word in capitals.

a Thanks for taking me to the station. TAKEN

b I was shown around the school, and I enjoyed it. BEING

c I don't remember when they arrested me! BEING

d He said he liked it when people took him seriously. TAKEN

e Tina said she hadn't been paid to appear in the play. HAVING

f I don't remember when they gave me the anesthetic. BEING

g Thanks for giving me another chance. GIVEN

a I appreciate being taken to the station.

b I enjoyed being shown around the school.

c I don't remember being arrested!

d He said he liked being taken seriously.

e Tina denied having been paid to appear in the play.

f I don 't remember being given the anesthetic.

g I appreciate being given another chance