Hearsay report

Hearsay reporting

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Hearsay reports describe what people say, report, believe, think, consider, know 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.
• that's what people say now about the present situation.

present infinitive

passive

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

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present verb + past reference

• we use a present reporting verb and refer to a state or action in the past.
• that's what people say now about the past situation.

passive

past infinitive

The robbers are thought to have stolen more than $4 milion

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present verb + past reference

• we use a present reporting verb and refer to a state or action in the past.
• that's what people say now about the past situation.

passive

past infinitive

The robbers are thought to have stolen more than $4 milion

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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
• that's what people said then about the situation then..

past simple passive

present infinitive

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

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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
• that's what people said then about something that had happened earlier.

past simple passive

past infinitive

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

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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.

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Strona bierna- konstrukcje bezosobowe

• It is said that we’re not alone in the universe.Mówi się, że nie jesteśmy sami we wszechświecie.
• It is believed that global warming will have disastrous consequences.Uważa się, że ocieplenie klimatu będzie miało katastrofalne skutki.
• It is thought that vitamin C can cure your cold.Uważa się, że witamina C potrafi wyleczyć przeziębienie.
• It is estimated that people will spend more money on vacation this year.Szacuje się, że ludzie wydadzą więcej pieniędzy na wakacje w tym roku.

Konstrukcje bezosobowe

W języku angielskim w stronie biernej występują tzw. konstrukcje bezosobowe. Są to zdania, które po polsku przetłumaczylibyśmy jako “uważa/mówi/szacuje się, że…” W języku polskim również są to konstrukcje bezosobowe.

Henry is very old. Nobody knows how old he is, but:

1. It is said that he is 108 years old.
2. He is said to be 108 years old

Both these sentences mean: “ People say that he is 108 years old" You can use these structures with a number of other verbs, especially: Thought believed considered reported known expected alleged understood

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The police are looking for a missing boy. He's wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. 1. 2. A friend of mine has been arrested. He kicked a policeman. 1. 2.

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ćwiczenia