En C1 no basta con say / think. Los reporting verbs matizados te permiten indicar cómo se expresa una idea (afirmar, admitir, cuestionar, insistir) y a qué distancia te colocas de ella.
1) Mapa rápido
Neutral: Researchers say that…
Fuerte: Researchers argue that…
Distancia: Some critics allege that…
Concesión: The author concedes that…
El verbo cambia el tono de la frase incluso con el mismo contenido.
Piensa en los reporting verbs como “filtros” que añaden actitud: ¿la persona afirma, duda, admite, niega o simplemente informa?
2) Grupos principales de reporting verbs
Clasificamos los verbos según el tipo de actitud que comunican.
| Grupo | Verbos típicos | Ejemplos |
|---|---|---|
| Neutros / descriptivos | say, state, report, note, point out | The report states that productivity has increased. Several studies note that the data are incomplete. |
| Argumentativos (defender una idea) | argue, claim, contend, maintain, assert | The author argues that flexibility is essential. Some experts contend that the policy is ineffective. |
| Distancia / duda | allege, suggest, imply, suspect, question | Critics allege that the figures were manipulated. The results suggest that age may be a factor. |
| Acuerdo / concesión | admit, acknowledge, concede, agree, accept | The company acknowledges that mistakes were made. The writer concedes that the sample was small. |
| Oposición / rechazo | deny, reject, refute, dispute, challenge | The organisation denies that it broke any rules. The article challenges the idea that money is the main motivator. |
Para C1, intenta evitar repetir siempre say / think y elige un verbo que exprese con precisión la actitud que quieres.
3) Patrones gramaticales frecuentes
Muchos reporting verbs comparten patrones, pero algunos requieren formas específicas.
| Patrón | Verbos | Ejemplos |
|---|---|---|
| verb + that-clause | say, state, argue, claim, allege, suggest, acknowledge, concede, deny | They claim that the system is fair. She acknowledges that the evidence is limited. |
| verb + object + that-clause | tell, inform, remind, assure, convince | They assured us that the data were correct. The manager informed employees that changes were coming. |
| verb + obj + (not) to + infinitive | ask, tell, advise, encourage, persuade, warn, remind | They encouraged employees to share feedback. The doctor advised her not to ignore the symptoms. |
| verb + -ing / verb + obj + -ing | admit, deny, suggest, recommend | He admitted making several mistakes. They denied knowing about the problem. She suggested trying a different approach. |
| It is alleged / It is claimed… | Forma pasiva para distanciarse de la afirmación. | It is alleged that the figures were changed. It is claimed that the product reduces costs by 50%. |
No mezcles patrones: *he suggested to change* (incorrecto) → he suggested changing o he suggested that we (should) change.
4) Matizar tu relación con la opinión ajena
El reporting verb también indica si compartes, cuestionas o solo presentas la idea.
| Relación | Verbos útiles | Efecto |
|---|---|---|
| Presentar sin valorar | state, report, describe, note | Estilo neutro, simplemente transmites información. The report notes that customer satisfaction has improved. |
| Aproximarte a la idea | agree, support, confirm, demonstrate, show | Sugiere que ves la idea como razonable o apoyada por datos. Recent studies support the view that sleep affects performance. |
| Tomar distancia / ser escéptico | allege, claim, suggest, imply | Sugiere que no aceptas totalmente la idea. Some commentators claim that the crisis is over. |
| Aceptar parcialmente | admit, acknowledge, concede | Reconoces un punto de la otra parte, a menudo antes de contraargumentar. She concedes that the sample is small, but argues that the trend is clear. |
| Rechazar / atacar la idea | deny, reject, refute, challenge | Dejas claro que no compartes la opinión o que la evidencia va en contra. The article refutes the claim that money is the only motivator. |
Neutral: The author states that exams are stressful.
Crítico: The author claims that exams are stressful.
Apoyo: The author demonstrates that exams can be stressful.
Concesión: The author acknowledges that exams are stressful.
5) Errores típicos con reporting verbs
| Error | Problema | Versión correcta / comentario |
|---|---|---|
| Usar solo say / think | Estilo pobre y poco preciso, especialmente en writing C1. | Alterna con argue, claim, suggest, point out, maintain, acknowledge… |
| Patrón incorrecto | *He suggested me to change the plan.* | He suggested changing the plan. He suggested that we (should) change the plan. |
| Verbo demasiado fuerte | *The results prove that…* cuando los datos no son concluyentes. | The results suggest/indicate that… Usa prove solo con evidencia muy sólida. |
| Confundir admit y agree | admit es “reconocer algo negativo”; agree es “estar de acuerdo”. | She admits that the method has limits. She agrees that the method is promising. |
| Cita poco clara | No queda claro quién dijo qué. | Asegúrate de mencionar siempre el autor/fuente antes del reporting verb: According to Smith (2020), the study suggests that… |
6) Mini-práctica
- Sustituye say/think por un reporting verb más preciso:
a) The author says that exams are bad for students.
b) Many experts think that remote work will continue.
c) Critics say that the company manipulated the data.
d) The report says that stress affects productivity.
e) The government thinks that the policy was successful. - Completa con un reporting verb adecuado (argue, claim, allege, concede, deny):
a) The manager ________ having any responsibility for the mistake.
b) The author ________ that technology can reduce inequality.
c) Some journalists ________ that the figures were changed.
d) The researcher ________ that the sample is small but still representative.
e) Several experts ________ that flexibility is more important than salary. - Corrige el patrón gramatical si es necesario:
a) He suggested to start the meeting earlier.
b) They denied to have made a mistake.
c) She admitted that to change the plan was necessary.
d) The study claims the new method is more effective.
e) The manager told that the project was delayed. - Elige el verbo que mejor exprese la actitud (nota: hay varias respuestas posibles):
a) The company ________ that its products are environmentally friendly.
b) The article ________ the idea that money is the only motivator.
c) The author ________ that remote work has important advantages, although it is not perfect.
d) Several commentators ________ that the crisis is under control, but the data are limited.
e) The study ________ that sleep has a strong effect on learning. - (Producción guiada) Escribe un párrafo breve (80–100 palabras) sobre exámenes, trabajo remoto o redes sociales, donde incluyas:
• 2 reporting verbs argumentativos (argue, claim, contend, maintain…)
• 1 verbo de concesión (admit, acknowledge, concede)
• 1 verbo de duda/distancia (allege, suggest, imply)
• al menos una estructura con that-clause y otra con verb + -ing o verb + obj + to + infinitive.
Respuestas ejemplo (orientativas):
1) a) The author argues that exams are bad for students.
b) Many experts predict / argue that remote work will continue.
c) Critics allege that the company manipulated the data.
d) The report indicates / suggests that stress affects productivity.
e) The government claims that the policy was successful.
2) a) denies b) argues / claims
c) allege d) concedes
e) argue / maintain / contend
3) a) He suggested starting the meeting earlier.
b) They denied having made a mistake.
c) She admitted that changing the plan was necessary.
d) Correcta: The study claims (that) the new method is more effective.
e) The manager said that the project was delayed. / The manager told us that the project was delayed.
4) Posibles soluciones:
a) The company claims that its products are environmentally friendly.
b) The article challenges / rejects / refutes the idea that money is the only motivator.
c) The author acknowledges / concedes that remote work has advantages, although it is not perfect.
d) Several commentators claim / suggest that the crisis is under control…
e) The study shows / demonstrates / suggests that sleep has a strong effect on learning.
5) Respuesta libre; revisa que los verbos encajen bien con la actitud que quieres transmitir (apoyo, duda, concesión, etc.).
7) Próximo paso
Continúa con Collocations C1 (make a compelling case, pose a threat…), donde trabajarás combinaciones léxicas de alto nivel para sonar natural y preciso en contextos académicos y profesionales.