I heard that they said that they hated me

[navi tasan]

1) I heard that they said that they hated me.

I think this sentence could have two different meanings.

a) I heard them say that they hated me.
b) I was told that they said that they hated me.

Is that correct?

 

[SoothingDave]

No. If you heard them directly you would say so.

"I heard them say that they hate me."

 

[Tarheel]

1) I heard that they said that they hated me.


I was told that they said that they hated me.

Is that correct?

Yes, but there's no reason to use past tense.

 

[5jj]

Yes, but there's no reason to use past tense.

It's acceptable to backshift in reported speech.

 

[Annabel Lee]

1) I heard that they said that they hated me.

I think this sentence could have two different meanings.

a) I heard them say that they hated me.
b) I was told that they said that they hated me.

Is that correct?

I agree with SoothingDave that "1)" can't mean "a)," but I do think"1)" can have a meaning related to actual hearing:

c) I heard a comment to the effect that "they" (had) said that they hated me.​

It's not that you heard them say that, as in "a)." Rather, it's that you heard someone say that "they" (had) said that.