Passive Reporting: It Is Said That and Subject Passives
Form impersonal and personal passive reporting structures with simple, continuous, and perfect infinitives.
Learning Objective
Passive Reporting: It Is Said That and Subject Passives
Report claims with an appropriate passive pattern while locating the reported event accurately in time.
Clear Explanation
With reporting verbs such as say, believe, expect, and allege, use anticipatory it + passive + that-clause or a subject passive + to-infinitive. The infinitive form expresses the reported time relationship.
Form and Structure
It + passive reporting verb + that-clause; subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive
“It is believed that the painting is authentic.”
Alleged and reportedly can protect attribution, but grammar does not make a claim reliable. In factual writing, identify a credible source wherever readers need to evaluate the claim.
Meaning and Use
Simultaneous reference
Use a simple or continuous infinitive for a state or process simultaneous with the reporting viewpoint.
“She is thought to be living abroad.”
Earlier reference
Use a perfect infinitive when the reported event precedes the reporting time.
“He is believed to have left on Tuesday.”
Evidence and caution
Passive reporting attributes a claim without proving it; choose the reporting verb to reflect the evidence and source.
“The substance is known to be toxic.”
Common Errors and Meaning Traps
The minister is said that he will resign.
It is said that the minister will resign.
Use anticipatory it before a that-clause, or use the minister is said to be planning to resign.
The ship is believed to sink last night.
The ship is believed to have sunk last night.
Use a perfect infinitive for an event earlier than the reporting time.
It expects that prices will fall.
It is expected that prices will fall.
The impersonal reporting construction requires a passive reporting verb.
Guided Practice
Use the grammar in context
“The painting is believed to be authentic.”
“The company is alleged to have concealed the loss.”
Transform three attributed claims between it-passives and subject passives, using one continuous and one perfect infinitive.
Quick Recap
With reporting verbs such as say, believe, expect, and allege, use anticipatory it + passive + that-clause or a subject passive + to-infinitive. The infinitive form expresses the reported time relationship.
Use a simple or continuous infinitive for a state or process simultaneous with the reporting viewpoint.
Alleged and reportedly can protect attribution, but grammar does not make a claim reliable. In factual writing, identify a credible source wherever readers need to evaluate the claim.
Use anticipatory it before a that-clause, or use the minister is said to be planning to resign.
Independent Mastery Check
Complete these four checks before taking the quiz. If one feels difficult, return to the matching section and try again.
Explain the core rule in your own words without looking back at the lesson.
Find the target form in “It is believed that the painting is authentic.” and explain what it communicates in this context.
Explain why “It is said that the minister will resign.” is the recommended revision for “The minister is said that he will resign.”.
Transform three attributed claims between it-passives and subject passives, using one continuous and one perfect infinitive.
Related Grammar Lessons
Aim for at least 5 out of 6 in the quiz below. For every missed answer, read the explanation, return to the relevant section, and try the quiz again.
Which statement best explains Passive Reporting: It Is Said That and Subject Passives?
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