Passive Reporting Structures

C1 · AdvancedPassive Voice

It is said that... / She is said to... Two ways to report what people say, believe, or think.

What you'll learn

It is said/believed/reported/thought + that-clause is the impersonal passive reporting structure
Subject + is said/believed/reported/thought + infinitive is the personal passive reporting structure
The personal structure is usually more natural, especially in writing about a specific person or thing
For a past event, use 'to have' + past participle: is said to have left, is believed to have happened

Reporting what 'people say'

English has two passive structures for reporting claims, beliefs, or opinions without naming exactly who holds them — useful for news, rumors, and general knowledge.

"It is said that the company is struggling."

"The company is said to be struggling."

Impersonal: It is said/believed/reported that...

This structure starts with 'it,' followed by the passive verb, then a full that-clause. It's common but can feel a little formal or distant.

"It is reported that the road will be closed tomorrow."

"It is thought that prices will rise next year."

Personal: Subject + is said/believed to...

This structure promotes the subject of the reported clause into the main clause's subject position, followed by an infinitive. It's usually more natural, especially when the reported claim is specifically about a person or thing.

"She is believed to be one of the best in her field."

"The team is expected to win the championship."

Reporting a past event

When the reported event happened before now, use 'to have' + past participle instead of a plain infinitive.

"He is thought to have left the country."

"The suspect is believed to have fled by car."

Real English

"It is known that the region has a rich history."

"The bridge is said to be over 200 years old."

"The painting is believed to have been stolen decades ago."

"It is expected that turnout will be high."

Watch out

✗She is believed that she is very talented.

✓She is believed to be very talented.

The personal structure uses an infinitive, not a that-clause — 'that' belongs only to the impersonal structure.

✗He is thought to leave the country.

✓He is thought to have left the country.

For a past event, use 'to have' + past participle, not a plain infinitive, which suggests the present or future.

✗It is said the company is struggling that.

✓It is said that the company is struggling.

'That' introduces the reported clause right after the passive verb — it doesn't move to the end of the sentence.

Real life — Discussing a rumor

"Did you hear the rumors about the new manager?"

"Yeah, she's said to be really strict."

"Really? It's also reported that she completely reorganized her last team."

"Guess we'll find out soon enough."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct impersonal passive reporting structure.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct personal passive reporting structure.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct structure for a past event

Choose the correct personal structure for a past event.

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 9 · Rewrite using the impersonal passive

Rewrite using the impersonal passive: 'People say that the restaurant is excellent.'

Exercise 10 · Rewrite using the personal passive

Rewrite using the personal passive: 'People believe that she is very talented.'

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

It is said that the economy is improving.

The economy is said to be improving.

It is believed that he left early.

He is believed to have left early.

0 / 4 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct sentence.

You learned

It is said/believed/reported/thought + that-clause is the impersonal reporting structure.
Subject + is said/believed to + infinitive is the more natural personal structure.
The personal structure is usually preferred, especially about a specific person or thing.
For a past event, use 'to have' + past participle: is said to have left.

AdvancedPassive Voice

Advanced Passive Structures

Learn more advanced passive patterns — passivizing an indirect object, passive infinitives and gerunds, and needs-to-be-done structures.

Upper IntermediatePassive Voice

Have / Get Something Done

Learn the causative structure — have/get + object + past participle — for talking about services someone else does for you.

Upper IntermediatePassive Voice

Get-Passive

Learn how 'get' + past participle works as an informal alternative to 'be' + past participle, especially for sudden or unexpected events.

IntermediatePassive Voice

Passive Voice by Tense

Learn how the passive voice changes across tenses — the past participle stays fixed, and only the form of 'be' changes.