B2–C1 · 9 patterns

Reported speech and attribution patterns for advanced English

Report what someone said, separate a source from your own position, and preserve the strength of the original claim.

01 · Use it when you need to

Communication goals

01
report a statement accurately
02
attribute a claim to a source
03
distance your own view from a reported judgement

02 · Study sets

Study the topic from these validated sets

01Reported speech and attributionReport what people said with accuracy. · REP 02Mood, modality and reported stanceExpress possibility, recommendation and reported judgement precisely. · KON

03 · Pattern examples

Start with a reusable structure

This is an editorial sample. The linked study sets contain the complete topic collection.

01[X] stressed that [Y] rather than [Z]The auditor stressed that the main weakness was inconsistent access reviews rather than a lack of security policies. · DE: Die Prüferin betonte, dass die größte Schwachstelle in uneinheitlichen Zugriffsprüfungen und nicht in fehlenden Sicherheitsrichtlinien lag.02If the evidence were stronger, we could decide today [X]If the evidence were stronger, we could decide today in a situation where the team was reviewing the new policy. · DE: Wenn die Belege überzeugender wären, könnten wir heute entscheiden in einem Zusammenhang, in dem das Team die neue Regelung prüfte.03I wish the process were less complicated [X]I wish the process were less complicated in a situation where the team was reviewing the new policy. · DE: Ich wünschte, das Verfahren wäre weniger kompliziert in einem Zusammenhang, in dem das Team die neue Regelung prüfte.04She said she would review the material later [X]She said she would review the material later in a situation where the team was reviewing the new policy. · DE: Sie sagte, sie werde das Material später prüfen in einem Zusammenhang, in dem das Team die neue Regelung prüfte.05The chair recommended that the team reconsider the timetable [X]The chair recommended that the team reconsider the timetable in a situation where the team was reviewing the new policy. · DE: Die Leitung empfahl dem Team, den Zeitplan noch einmal zu prüfen in einem Zusammenhang, in dem das Team die neue Regelung prüfte.06It is essential that every participant be informed [X]It is essential that every participant be informed in a situation where the team was reviewing the new policy. · DE: Es ist entscheidend, dass alle Teilnehmenden informiert werden in einem Zusammenhang, in dem das Team die neue Regelung prüfte.07Had the team acted earlier, the delay might have been avoided [X]Had the team acted earlier, the delay might have been avoided in a situation where the team was reviewing the new policy. · DE: Hätte das Team früher gehandelt, hätte die Verzögerung vielleicht vermieden werden können in einem Zusammenhang, in dem das Team die neue Regelung prüfte.08He seems to have misunderstood the instruction [X]He seems to have misunderstood the instruction in a situation where the team was reviewing the new policy. · DE: Er scheint die Anweisung missverstanden zu haben in einem Zusammenhang, in dem das Team die neue Regelung prüfte.09The report is said to contain a useful recommendation [X]The report is said to contain a useful recommendation in a situation where the team was reviewing the new policy. · DE: Der Bericht soll eine hilfreiche Empfehlung enthalten in einem Zusammenhang, in dem das Team die neue Regelung prüfte.

04 · Related paths

Continue by communication goal

01Opinions, stance, and hedgingState a position, control how strongly you commit to it, and discuss uncertainty without making vague claims.02Argumentation and evidenceBuild claims, connect them to evidence, and explain causes and consequences with reusable B2–C1 sentence patterns.03Advanced connectors and complex sentencesConnect ideas through concession, cause, contrast, sequence, and dependency while keeping the logic of a longer sentence visible.

Continue learning

Choose the next useful route.

Pattern PracticeFind a pattern you can reuseContinue through a canonical Metkagram learning surface already linked from this page.Pattern AtlasB2–C1 Pattern Atlas for advanced English and GermanContinue through a canonical Metkagram learning surface already linked from this page.Pattern PracticeReported speech and attributionContinue through a canonical Metkagram learning surface already linked from this page.