Passive with Reporting Verbs: 'Subject + passive verb + to-infinitive'

Usually, we use active sentences like "People say that he is a billionaire." In this case, "People" is the subject. But often, we don't care who "people" are. We want to focus on the "billionaire." To do this, we shift the object of the belief to the front of the sentence. The sentence becomes "He is said to be a billionaire." We have transformed a vague active sentence into a precise passive one. This structure uses a reporting verb in the passive voice followed by a to-infinitive. It allows you to report rumors, beliefs, and expectations with a layer of professional distance. It’s like using a grammar filter to make your sentences look more professional for a job interview.

1. 1Building this structure is like assembling a high-quality watch. Every part must fit perfectly. Follow these steps:
2. 2Start with the Subject: This is the person or thing being discussed.
3. 3Add the Passive Reporting Verb: Use the correct form of be plus the past participle of a reporting verb (e.g., is said, are thought, was believed).
4. 4Choose the Correct Infinitive: This depends on the timing of the action.
5. 5Use the Simple Infinitive (to + base form) for present or future states. Example: He is said to live in Paris.
6. 6Use the Continuous Infinitive (to be + -ing) for actions happening right now. Example: She is thought to be working on a new book.
7. 7Use the Perfect Infinitive (to have + past participle) for actions that happened in the past. Example: They are alleged to have stolen the documents.
8. 8Use the Perfect Continuous Infinitive (to have been + -ing) for past actions that continued for a while. Example: The suspect is believed to have been hiding for weeks.

This structure is perfect for situations where you want to remain objective. You will see it constantly in news reports. Journalists use it to avoid legal trouble! If they say "He is a criminal," they might get sued. If they say "He is alleged to be a criminal," they are safe. Use it in academic essays to discuss theories. "The universe is thought to be expanding." It is also great for office politics or gossip when you want to sound less like a gossiper and more like a reporter. "The manager is rumored to be resigning next month." It adds a level of gravitas to your speech. Yes, even native speakers use this to sound smarter than they actually are!

Do not use this for your own personal, direct opinions. If you think a movie is boring, don't say "The movie is thought by me to be boring." That sounds like a robot wrote it. Just say "I think the movie is boring." Avoid this structure for simple, undeniable facts. You wouldn't say "The sun is known to be hot" while you are sweating at the beach. It is too formal for casual settings. If you are ordering pizza with friends, keep it simple. Don't say "The pepperoni is said to be delicious." Just say "The pepperoni looks good!" Using it in the wrong place can make you sound a bit stiff or pretentious.

The most frequent error is forgetting the to. You cannot say "He is said be rich." It sounds like a glitch in the matrix. Always include the to. Another common trap is using the wrong tense for the infinitive. If you are talking about a past event, you must use the perfect infinitive. "He is thought to have left" is correct. "He is thought to leave" implies he leaves regularly in the present. Also, be careful with the verb say. You cannot use the pattern Subject + is said + that. That is a mix-up of two different rules. It’s like trying to put diesel in a petrol car—it just won't work.

You might already know the impersonal passive: "It is said that he is rich." This is perfectly fine, but it is less dynamic. Our C1 structure, "He is said to be rich," is more direct because it starts with the person. Think of "It is said that..." as a wide-angle lens and "He is said to..." as a zoom lens. There is also a difference between "He is said to be" and "He is supposed to be." While "said to" reports a reputation, "supposed to" often implies an obligation or a failed expectation. "He is supposed to be here at 9:00" means he is late. "He is said to be here at 9:00" means people believe that is his arrival time.