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Reporting Verbs
[This topic is rather complex just try to understand the main points if you can't understand everything.]
When we talk (or write) about what someone said or thought, we use what are called, "reporting verbs".
Examples: (The blue shows a suitable way to say the sentence in a less formal way. The overly formal phrases are highlighted in yellow.)
"It is said that people from cold climates have cold personalities." "Some people say that people from cold climates have cold personalities."
"It is well known that smoking can cause lung cancer." "Most people know that smoking can cause lung cancer."
"It cannot be denied that students need to do some homework." "No-one denies that students need to do some homework." "Most people agree that students need to do some homework."
"It is now believed that intelligence is largely a product of one's childhood environment." "Many people now believe that intelligence is largely a product of a person's childhood environment."
Some of these verbs can have other words as the subject, besides, "it". These are also too formal for everyday speech.
Examples: "Social status is assumed to be important." "Many people assume (that) social status is important."
"He is said to have been married three times." "People say (that) he's been married three times."
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Examples: "I'm supposed to be studying right now" (but I'm not studying) "You're not supposed to smoke in here." (but you are smoking here) "I'm supposed to be back home before midnight." (= I have to be home before midnight, so I must leave now.)
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news." These two are not too formal because it is clear what convinced me, and what reassured me. In these examples, we see that the passive voice can be used when it is not important who spoke the words that are reported, or it not known who spoke the words, or it is obvious who spoke the original words. For example, in the last example, "She was told that the road was closed" the important things are that she (the 'hearer') was told this information and what the information was. Who told her is not important here. In these cases, the impersonality of the passive voice does not seem too formal.
Table 2 Reporting Verb advise assure command convince encourage inform instruct invite notify persuade reassure remind tell
Example He was advised to change his job. They were assured that help was on the way. They were commanded to attack the city. I'm convinced that his story is true. She was encouraged to keep trying. The public was informed that a typhoon was approaching. He was instructed to deliver the parcel before 5 o'clock. We were invited to dinner. She was notified that her phone bill was overdue. He was persuaded to return the money. I was reassured by the good news. We were reminded to put on our seat belts. She was told that the road was closed.
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