Intermediate 📐 Grammar · #104 of 305

Passive Reporting Verbs

It is said that... / He is said to...

Examples

  • He is believed to be abroad.

Key rules

  • Pattern: It is said/believed/thought that + clause
  • Pattern: Subject + is said/believed + to-infinitive
  • Use to have + participle for earlier events: He is said to have left
  • Common with say, think, believe, report, know

Common mistakes

  • He is said that he is rich → It is said that he is rich / He is said to be rich
  • She is believed to left → She is believed to have left
💡 Tip: Common in news and formal writing to avoid naming the source.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Intermediate quiz
← Passive with ModalsCausative: Have/Get Something Done →

Related Intermediate topics

See all Intermediate grammar lessons →

Present Perfect Continuous

have been + -ing stresses duration up to now.

Past Perfect

had + past participle for an earlier past action.

Past Perfect Continuous

had been + -ing for duration before a past moment.

Future Continuous

will be + -ing for actions in progress at a future time.

Future Perfect

will have + past participle for completion before a future time.

Future Perfect Continuous

will have been + -ing for duration up to a future point.