Reporting with the passive (It is said that…)
News and formal texts report opinions without naming the source: It is said that…, He is believed to…. Common verbs: say, believe, think, expect, report, know.
| structure | example |
|---|---|
| It + is said + that… | It is said that the hotel is haunted. |
| subject + is said + to do | The hotel is said to be haunted. |
| subject + is said + to have done | He is believed to have left the country. |
Examples
- It is expected that prices will rise.
- She is thought to be the best candidate.
- The fire is reported to have started in the kitchen.
- He is said to be very rich.
- The missing hikers are believed to have survived.
Common mistakes
- ✗ She is thought be the best.✓ She is thought to be the best.After the passive reporting verb comes to and then the base verb.
- ✗ The hotel is said being haunted.✓ The hotel is said to be haunted.The structure takes to be, never the -ing form.
- ✗ It is reported that the prices to fall.✓ It is reported that the prices will fall.After it is expected that a full clause with a finite verb follows.
- ✗ He is believed to leaving the country.✓ He is believed to have left the country.An earlier action is shown with to have and the participle.
- ✗ The company is known to has lost money.✓ The company is known to have lost money.After to the verb is have, since an infinitive never takes the -s ending.