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Ch 4

The Passive

It is said that… · He is thought to…

It is said that… · He is thought to…
B2 · FCE Cambridge

Why use the impersonal passive?

A formal structure for news reports, journalism & academic writing
It makes information sound more impersonal and objective — the source of the claim is hidden.

Used especially in news reports and on TV with reporting verbs. Common in FCE Part 4 (Key Word Transformation) and the writing paper.

Common reporting verbs

say
think
believe
know
report
expect
understand
tell
News example: "It is reported that three suspects are in custody." — much more formal than "People say three suspects are in custody."

Structure 1 — It is said that + clause

The easier, more flexible structure
It + is / was + past participle + that + clause

Use with ANY tense in the 'that' clause. The subject can be anything — even multiple subjects.

ACTIVE
People say money is the root of all evil.
PASSIVE
It is said that money is the root of all evil.
ACTIVE
They believe Tom is guilty.
PASSIVE
It is believed that Tom is guilty.
ACTIVE
People thought the earth was flat.
PASSIVE
It was thought that the earth was flat.

Structure 2 — Subject + is said to + infinitive

The personal form
Subject + is said / thought / believed + to + infinitive
Present situation
to + infinitive
He is said to live in Paris.
Past situation
to have + past participle
He is said to have lived in Paris.
He is said to live in Paris.
Present — to + infinitive
He is said to have lived in Paris.
Past — to have + pp
She is thought to be working hard.
Present continuous
Watch out: Use 'to have + past participle' when the action is in the past — NOT 'to had'.

Both structures — same meaning

Choose depending on what you want to emphasize
Impersonal · It + be + pp + that…
It is said that he was rich.
→ Starts with 'it' — focuses on the fact.
It is believed that she knows him.
→ More common in written news.
Personal · Subject + be + pp + to + inf
He is said to have been rich.
→ Starts with subject — focuses on the person.
She is believed to know him.
→ Tighter sentence structure.

How to transform: step-by-step

From 'It is said that X + verb' → 'X is said to + infinitive'
1
Present simple
is said that he lives → is said to live
2
Present continuous
is said that he is living → is said to be living
3
Past simple or Present perfect
is said that he lived → is said to have lived
4
Will + infinitive
is expected that it will rain → is expected to rain

Common mistakes — FCE Traps

Errors that appear in Cambridge exam writing
It is said he is rich
→
It is said that he is rich
Always include 'that'
He is said to lived there
→
He is said to have lived there
Past → 'to have + pp'
It said that he is rich
→
It is said that he is rich
Need 'is' before the participle
He said to be rich
→
He is said to be rich
Needs auxiliary 'is'
Is thought that she won
→
It is thought that she won
Always start with 'It'

Summary

Impersonal
It + is / was + pp + that + clause
It is said that he is rich.
Personal — present
Subject + is + pp + to + infinitive
He is said to be rich.
Personal — past
Subject + is + pp + to have + pp
He is said to have been rich.
Reporting verbs
say · think · believe · know · report · expect
— and 'understand', 'tell'
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