Reporting an earlier event with a perfect infinitive

The idea

Use a passive reporting verb followed by to have and a past participle. The event precedes the report.

Examples

• The bridge is believed to have opened in 1920.
• The artist is said to have painted this room.
• The documents are thought to have survived the fire.
• The ship is reported to have reached the island safely.
• The keys are believed to have fallen into the river.
• The clock is said to have stopped during the storm.

Watch out

Do not use a simple infinitive when the intended meaning is an earlier completed event. The report itself is not proof.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct form. The tunnel is believed ___ in 1890. (to have opened / to open)

   Show answer or example answer

   to have opened

   to have opened places the opening before the present report.

2. Choose the correct form. The vase is said to have ___. (broken / broke)

   Show answer or example answer

   broken

   broken is the past participle after have.

3. Choose the correct form. The parcel is thought ___ yesterday. (to have arrived / arriving)

   Show answer or example answer

   to have arrived

   to have arrived places the arrival before the report.

Use it today

Write a report about an earlier event using a passive reporting verb.