Grammar › Passive Voice › Passive Reporting Structures
Passive Reporting Structures
To report general opinion without naming who says it, use two structures:
- Impersonal — It is said that he is rich (It + is said/believed + that…).
- Personal — He is said to be rich (subject + is said + to-infinitive).
For an earlier action use 'to have + participle': She is thought to have left. Common verbs: say, believe, think, know, report, expect.
The two patterns
Both report general opinion without naming the source.
| Pattern | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Impersonal | It + is/was + said/believed + that… | It is said that the castle is haunted. |
| Personal | subject + is/was + said/believed + to-infinitive | The castle is said to be haunted. |
| Earlier time | …+ to have + past participle | He is believed to have left the country. |
Common verbs: say, believe, think, know, report, expect, consider, understand.
When and how to use them
1. Impersonal — start with ‘It’
- It is believed that the painting is a fake.
- It was reported that no one was hurt.
2. Personal — the person as subject
- The painting is believed to be a fake.
- She is known to speak five languages.
3. An earlier action — to have + participle
- The suspect is thought to have fled overnight.
- They are said to have made a fortune.
⚠️ Match the infinitive to the time: is said to be (now) vs is said to have been (earlier).
Common mistakes
1. Mixing the two patterns. He is said that he is rich → It is said that he is rich or He is said to be rich.
2. Wrong form for an earlier time. She is believed to left → She is believed to have left.
3. Forgetting ‘to’ in the personal pattern. He is said be honest → He is said to be honest.
✏️ Practice: Passive Reporting Structures
1. It ___ that the company is in trouble.
2. The company ___ in trouble. (personal pattern)
3. He ___ the country last night. (an earlier action)
4. It ___ that no one was injured in the crash.
5. She ___ five languages fluently.
6. Choose the correct transformation of: 'People think he is a genius.' (personal pattern)
7. They ___ a fortune in the 1990s. (earlier action, personal)
8. Choose the correct version of: 'He is said that he is very rich.'
9. Choose the impersonal version of: 'The minister is expected to resign.'
10. Which sentence correctly reports an EARLIER action?
11. Fill in the gap
It ___ that the museum will close next year. (believe)
Use the passive.
12. Correct the mistake
She is believed to left the country.
Type the whole corrected sentence.
13. Complete the sentence
People say that the actor is very generous. → The actor ___ very generous.
Type the passive reporting words.
Frequently asked questions
What are passive reporting structures for?
To report what is generally said or believed without saying who says it: It is said that…, He is believed to…. Common in news and formal writing.
What's the difference between the two patterns?
Impersonal starts with 'It': It is said that she is talented. Personal makes the person the subject: She is said to be talented. Same meaning.
How do I report an earlier action?
Use 'to have + past participle': He is believed to have escaped; They are said to have known about it.
Which verbs are used?
Reporting verbs like say, believe, think, know, report, expect, consider, understand — usually in the present passive (is said, are believed).
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “Passive Reporting Structures”:
- Can form impersonal (It is said that…) and personal (He is said to…) passive reports (CEFR C1).
- Can use 'to have + past participle' for an earlier time reference.
- Can transform between active reports and passive reporting structures.
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