Passive Reporting Structures: It Is Said That and He Is Believed To
Quick Answer
Passive reporting structures let you report what people say or think without naming them. There are two patterns, both formal and impersonal.
People say he is rich. → It is said that he is rich. · He is said to be rich.
See the Two Patterns
Start from a normal sentence like “People believe the plan will work.” You can report it two ways:
- It + is + reporting verb + that… → It is believed that the plan will work.
- Subject + is + reporting verb + to… → The plan is believed to work.
For an earlier action, the second pattern uses to have + past participle:
- Same time: He is thought to be abroad. (thinking and being are now)
- Earlier: He is thought to have left the country. (leaving happened before)
| Normal sentence | It is… that | Subject is… to |
|---|---|---|
| People say she is talented. | It is said that she is talented. | She is said to be talented. |
| Reports claim prices rose. | It is claimed that prices rose. | Prices are claimed to have risen. |
When and Why You Use Passive Reporting
These structures are the voice of news and academic writing. They let you report an idea while staying neutral — you don’t have to name your source, and you don’t have to take sides.
Common reporting verbs here include say, believe, think, know, report, consider, expect, claim, and understand. Pick to be / to do for the same time, and to have done for something earlier.
The Rule in One Line: Report opinions impersonally — “It is said that…” or “He is said to…” (use “to have done” for earlier actions).
Real-Life Examples You Will Read and Write
- It is reported that talks will resume next week. (news)
- The suspect is believed to have fled the country. (journalism)
- The medicine is known to cause mild side effects. (academic / medical)
- It is widely thought that the policy failed. (essay writing)
- The company is expected to announce results tomorrow. (business)
Every one of these keeps the writer safely in the background — that neutral, careful tone is exactly the point. You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With Passive Reporting
These structures have a lot of moving parts, so even proficient writers trip on them. If they feel fiddly, you are in good company.
Mistake 1: Forgetting “to” in the second pattern
✗ He is said being very generous.
✓ He is said to be very generous.
The “Subject is… to” pattern needs a to-infinitive, not an -ing form.
Mistake 2: Wrong infinitive for the time
✗ The thieves are thought to escape last night.
✓ The thieves are thought to have escaped last night.
The escape happened earlier, so use “to have + past participle”.
Mistake 3: Leaving the reporting verb active
✗ It says that the bridge is unsafe.
✓ It is said that the bridge is unsafe.
The reporting verb must be passive: is said, is believed, is reported.
How to remember: Two frames — “It is [said] that…” and “[Subject] is [said] to…”. For anything that happened earlier, switch the second one to “to have + past participle”.
Test Yourself: Report It Impersonally
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. People say the house is haunted. Complete: ‘It ___ that the house is haunted.’
2. Experts believe he is innocent. Complete: ‘He ___ innocent.’
3. They think the thieves escaped last night. Complete: ‘The thieves ___ last night.’
4. Which sentence is correct?
5. Complete: ‘It ___ that thousands attended the concert.’
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned how news reporters and academics stay neutral — reporting claims without ever pointing a finger. It is a genuinely professional skill.
There is one more way advanced English shifts emphasis: it can split a sentence in two to spotlight the important part. “John broke the window” becomes “It was John who broke the window.” Do you know how these “cleft” sentences work?
Next lesson: Cleft Sentences — How English Splits a Sentence for Emphasis
Source
Cambridge Dictionary — The passive (British Grammar)
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.