PASSIVES
Reporting passive
The reporting passive passes on what people in general say, think or believe, without naming them: It is said that ... or He is said to ... The verbs are say, think, believe, know, report and expect. Use to + verb for now or later, and to have + past participle for something earlier.
| It ... that | Subject ... to | Earlier event | |
|---|---|---|---|
| + | It is said that he is rich. | He is said to be rich. | He is said to have left. |
| − | It is not believed that he is rich. | He is not believed to be rich. | He is not believed to have left. |
| ? | Is it thought that he is rich? | Is he thought to be rich? | Is he thought to have left? |
- be + past participle of say, think, believe, know, report, expect
- After it, a full clause with that
- After a subject, to + base verb
- For an earlier event, to have + past participle: The castle is thought to have been built in 1200
Colours in the rules
- subject Who or what does it: I, she, my brother.
- verb The action or state: walk, work, go.
- other words Time words and the rest of the pattern.
B2 It is said that ...
Use it + is or was + said, thought, believed or reported + that + a full clause to pass on what people in general say or think. The people are not named.
It is said that clause
Examples
- It is believed that the old castle is haunted.Why: Is believed + that opens a full clause.
- It was reported that two people were hurt.Why: Was reported puts the news in the past.
Common mistake
Wrong:It is say that the shop opens early.
Right:It is said that the shop opens early.
B2 He is said to ...
Make the person or thing the subject: subject + is or was + said, thought, believed or expected + to + base verb. The verb after to is about the same time as the report, or later.
subject is said to base verb
Examples
- The owner is said to live in Spain.Why: To live is about now: the owner lives there.
- She is expected to win the race.Why: To win looks ahead: the race has not happened yet.
Common mistake
Wrong:The owner is said to lives in Spain.
Right:The owner is said to live in Spain.
C1 He is said to have done ...
Use subject + is or was + said, thought or believed + to have + past participle for something that happened before the report. It works for events that are finished.
subject is said to have past participle
Examples
- The castle is thought to have been built in 1200.Why: To have been built looks back: the castle is old.
- He is said to have left the country.Why: To have left shows he went before the report.
Common mistake
Wrong:He is said to leave the country last year.
Right:He is said to have left the country last year.
Practice all rules
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