'to be killed' vs 'to have been killed'

Status
Not open for further replies.

Tan Elaine

Key Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
English
Home Country
Hong Kong
Current Location
Hong Kong
The Britain-based Syrian observatory for Human Rights said 160 people were reported to be killed in Syria last Friday.

Would it be wrong if I replaced 'to be killed' with 'to have been killed'?

Thanks.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
The Britain-based Syrian observatory for Human Rights said 160 people were reported to be killed in Syria last Friday.

Would it be wrong if I replaced 'to be killed' with 'to have been killed'?
No. You would be correcting a mistake.
 

anhnha

Senior Member
Joined
May 5, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Vietnamese
Home Country
Vietnam
Current Location
Vietnam
No. You would be correcting a mistake.
Hi,
I get confused with "to have been killed".
Why it is not "were killed" or "had been killed"?
Thanks!


 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
Hi,
I get confused with "to have been killed".
Why it is not "were killed" or "had been killed"?
Thanks!

Neither would work after "reported". These would be correct:
The Britain-based Syrian observatory for Human Rights said 160 people were reported to have been killed in Syria last Friday.
The Britain-based Syrian observatory for Human Rights said 160 people were reported killed in Syria last Friday.
The Britain-based Syrian observatory for Human Rights said 160 people had been killed in Syria last Friday.
The Britain-based Syrian observatory for Human Rights said 160 people were killed in Syria last Friday.
 

Tan Elaine

Key Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
English
Home Country
Hong Kong
Current Location
Hong Kong
Many thanks,Bhaisahab, for the sentences you provided. They give a very clear answer to Anhnha's question.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top