Investigation into Two Cases of Child Neglect and Alleged Homicide

⚡ The 'Power-Up' Shift: From Simple to Precise

An A2 student says: "The police said..." or "The police think..." A B2 speaker uses 'Reporting Verbs' to show the exact mood of the information.

Look at these three words from the text. They all mean "said," but they change the entire meaning of the sentence:

1. Emphasized $\rightarrow$ (To make a point very strong)

   • Text: "Investigators emphasized that the video shows her using a mobile phone."
   • B2 Logic: The police aren't just talking; they are pointing out a crucial fact to prove she is guilty.

2. Asserted $\rightarrow$ (To say something with confidence/authority)

   • Text: "Detective Sergeant Henri Marsman asserted that the investigation is still ongoing."
   • B2 Logic: This is a formal statement of fact. It sounds more professional and certain than "said."

3. Claimed $\rightarrow$ (To say something that might not be true)

   • Text: "Pierrecius claimed that older children were watching the girl..."
   • B2 Logic: This is the most important shift. When you use "claimed," you are telling the reader: "She said this, but I don't believe her."

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🛠️ Practical Application: The Precision Scale

If you want to move toward B2, stop using "say" for everything. Use this scale instead:

• Low Certainty/Suspicious $\rightarrow$ Claimed (She claimed she was asleep).
• Strong Point/Focus $\rightarrow$ Emphasized (The boss emphasized the deadline).
• Official/Confident $\rightarrow$ Asserted (The scientist asserted that the theory is correct).

Quick Tip: Notice how these verbs are followed by "that" $\rightarrow$ Verb + that + sentence. This is the standard B2 structure for formal reporting.