Reporting verbA part of speech that expresses an action or a state. E.g.: John seldom plays tennis.s expressing opinion

In case of reporting verbs expressing opinion (assume, expect, suppose, think etc.) usually it is the main clauseA clause that could be a sentence in itself. E.g.: I wouldn’t go there if I were you. ("I wouldn't go there") When I arrived he was surfing. ("he was surfing") that is negated.

If the reporting and the reported actionA general term expressing that somebody or something does something happen at the same time, we use simple or continuousThe aspect expressing duration, formed with be + verb-ing. E.g.: What are you doing? infinitives.

This football coach is said to be strict but fair. (= They say this football coach is strict but fair.)

If the reported actionA general term expressing that somebody or something does something happens earlier than the reporting itself, we use perfectThe aspect expressing completion. E.g.: He’s finished university. or perfect continuousThe aspect expressing duration, formed with be + verb-ing. E.g.: What are you doing? infinitives.

He is believed never to have smiled at anyone. (= They believe he (has) never smiled at anyone.)

Everybody knows that my grandfather likes red wine.

In indirect speech, if we want to avoid the use of the general subjectThe person or thing that performs the action of a verb or that is described by a verb. E.g.: Andy has never been to Brunei. ("Andy")s everybody, they, people, one etc., we often use the passive voiceThe form of the transitive verb that shows whether the subject acts (active voice) or is acted upon (passive voice)., especially with reporting verbA part of speech that expresses an action or a state. E.g.: John seldom plays tennis.s such as believe, know, say, think, assume, claim, consider, find, presume or report.