Etendre dire

Question

In the writing challenge "C1 Writers Block", I was wondering why, after les gens in the second line, the infinitive 'dire' is used and not a conjugated verb. Is it because of the indirect reporting expression "Entendre Dire.

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted Answer

Hi Michael,
"J'ai souvent entendu les gens dire ça" , the expression is 'entendre dire', to hear (someone say) when 'dire' will always be in the infinitive as it is the second verb, 'entendre' will be conjugated if required.
J'ai entendu dire que vous ne seriez pas là vendredi prochain.
(I heard that you would not be here next Friday.)
Je suis heureux de vous l'entendre dire. 
(I am happy to hear you say that.)
Hope this helps!

Michael Raymond · Answer

Thanks, that helps, thats what I thought. It was the << les gens>> that made me wonder if it was a different construction.