A reporting passive presents a claim without saying who made it; it does not establish that the claim is true.

The idea

Use it is said that before a complete clause, or put its subject before is said to and an infinitive. Reporting verbs include believe, think and report. A perfect infinitive such as to have left places the event before the reporting.

Examples

  • It is said that the bridge is unsafe.
  • The bridge is said to be unsafe.
  • It is believed that the artist lives nearby.
  • The artist is thought to live nearby.
  • The train is expected to arrive soon.
  • The documents are reported to have vanished overnight.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not write he is said that: after the person as subject, use an infinitive. The impersonal pattern needs it and a full clause.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. The garden ___ to be open today. (is said / is saying)

    Show answer or example answer

    is said

    is said makes the garden the subject of the report.

  2. Choose the correct option. It ___ that the museum will close early. (is reported / reports)

    Show answer or example answer

    is reported

    is reported completes the impersonal passive before the clause.

  3. Choose the correct option. The painting is believed ___ stolen years ago. (to have been / to be)

    Show answer or example answer

    to have been

    to have been places the theft before the present belief.

Use it today

Rewrite a claim both ways, then report an earlier event with a perfect infinitive.