PASSIVE OF REPORTING VERBS
− In news reports and formal writing, it is common to use the passive forms of reporting
verbs.
− Using this resource allows us to give information when we don’t know for sure whether it
is true or not, or when we want to distance ourselves from the source of the information.
− Reporting verbs are verbs of saying or believing such as agree, announce, believe, claim,
consider, expect, hope, know, report, say, suggest, think, understand, etc.
− We can use their passive form for distancing in two different ways. Check the examples
below:
• It is said that they are in Las Vegas.
• They are said to be in Las Vegas.
IT IS SAID THAT … + SUBJECT + VERB
We can use the passive of a reporting verb in a sentence after an introductory “it”:
It + passive reporting verb + (that) + clause (subject + verb)
− People believe that the murderer is no longer in the country
• It is believed that the murderer is no longer in the country.
− The tour guide has announced that they are going to cancel the tour.
• It has been announced that they are going to cancel the tour.
− Everyone thought that the building could collapse.
• It was thought that the building could collapse.
SOMEONE IS SAID TO + INFINITIVE
• It appears when we use the passive form of a reporting verb after the real subject of sentence.
subject + passive reporting verb + to + infinitive.
− Everybody says that he has the biggest private art collection in the country.
He is said to have the biggest private art collection in the country.
− Everybody believed that they were secretly in love.
They were believed to be secretly in love.
• We can also use this form to refer to the future.
People think/expect that some day she will become a super star.
She is expected to become a super star.
SOMEONE IS SAID TO BE DOING
When the reported action is in progress simultaneously to the reporting, we can also use
subject + passive reporting verb + to be + -ing (continuous infinitive)
− People think that they are living under strict protection
They are thought to be living under strict protection// It is thought that they are living under
strict protection
SOMEONE IS SAID TO HAVE DONE
When the reported action is previous to the reporting (earlier in the past), we use:
subject + passive reporting verb + to have + past participle (perfect infinitive).
− People thought that she had left the previous week.
She was thought to have left the previous week.
1. People believe that English is the most widely spoken language
•It is believed that English is the most widely spoken language.
•English is believed to be the most widely spoken language.
2. Police have reported that it was Peter who caused the accident.
•It has been reported that it was Peter who caused the accident.
•Peter has been reported to have caused the accident.
3. A journalist reports that they are leaving Las Vegas tomorrow night.
•It ________________________________________________________________
•They _____________________________________________________________
4. The lecturer thought that Columbus never realized that he had discovered America.
•It ________________________________________________________________
•Columbus _________________________________________________________
5. Their parents thought that the teenagers were dancing at the disco.
•It ________________________________________________________________
•The teenagers ______________________________________________________
6. Everybody thinks that she sings beautifully
•__________________________________________________________________
•__________________________________________________________________
7. The children reported that their friends were swimming when they disappeared
•__________________________________________________________________
•__________________________________________________________________
8. People believed that they had killed the animals during the night.
•__________________________________________________________________
•__________________________________________________________________
9. My friends think that my parents are the best parents in the world.
•__________________________________________________________________
•__________________________________________________________________
10. They believed that the horse was a present.
•__________________________________________________________________
•__________________________________________________________________
[Link] are thinking that drugs are very dangerous.
•__________________________________________________________________
•__________________________________________________________________
[Link] knew that Mr. Brown was stealing iron from the factory.
•__________________________________________________________________
•__________________________________________________________________
[Link] people thought that the stars would fall on them.
•__________________________________________________________________
•__________________________________________________________________
14. People consider that the team will be classified for the final.
•__________________________________________________________________
•__________________________________________________________________
15. Everybody says that he settled the business.
