Explanation
Exercises
Reporting Passives

Lesson focus

Impersonal and personal passive reporting structures for claims, beliefs, expectations, allegations and formal news style

Advanced aim: Report claims at different time depths while controlling source distance and evidential commitment in formal prose and news style.

Is said to

Use subject + be said to + infinitive to report a current claim without naming the source.

  • Example: The building is said to contain a network of underground tunnels.
  • In another context: The municipal hall is said to contain a network of underground tunnels.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Is believed to be

Be believed to be reports a current belief in a concise formal style.

  • Example: The painting is believed to be an early work by the artist.
  • In another context: The ceramic panel is believed to be an early work by the artist.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Is thought to have

Use be thought to have + past participle for a reported earlier event.

  • Example: The suspect is thought to have left the country on Tuesday.
  • In another context: Regional example: The suspect is thought to have left the country on Tuesday.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Was alleged to have

Be alleged to have is common for unverified claims about past actions.

  • Example: The company was alleged to have concealed several safety reports.
  • In another context: The research institute was alleged to have concealed several inspection records.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

It is widely assumed that

Impersonal it + passive reporting verb + that-clause is common in formal argument and reporting.

  • Example: It is widely assumed that demand will recover next year.
  • In another context: It is widely assumed that demand will recover over the coming year.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Is expected to

Be expected to reports predictions, obligations or official expectations.

  • Example: The new terminal is expected to open in early spring.
  • In another context: Alternative case study: The new terminal is expected to open in early spring.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Is understood to

Be understood to presents information as generally accepted or officially known.

  • Example: The two sides are understood to be close to an agreement.
  • In another context: Regional example: The two sides are understood to be close to an agreement.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Is reported to be

Be reported to be is common in news style when the source is unspecified or secondary.

  • Example: At least five roads are reported to be closed after the storm.
  • In another context: At least five roads are reported to be closed after the flooding.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

There is believed to be

Use There is/are believed to be for reported existence.

  • Example: There is believed to be significant mineral wealth beneath the region.
  • In another context: Follow-up case: There is believed to be significant mineral wealth beneath the region.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Perfect reporting infinitive

Use a perfect infinitive when the reported action happened before the reporting time.

  • Example: The minister is reported to have resigned late last night.
  • In another context: The department secretary is reported to have resigned late last night.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

C1 takeaway

Do not ask only “Which form is grammatically possible?” Ask what the speaker is presenting as background or foreground, completed or ongoing, certain or tentative, generic or specific, neutral or emphatic. Advanced grammar is the control of those choices.

Exercises:
1
2
3

Impersonal and personal passive reporting structures for claims, beliefs, expectations, allegations and formal news style

Practice 1 · Controlled production

Complete each gap using the stated cue. Read the whole context; some items accept more than one form.

1
Report without naming the source: People say the chapel contains a crypt.
The chapel a crypt.
2
Use BELIEVE to report a current attributed classification:
The fragment part of a Roman vessel.
3
Use THINK for an earlier departure inferred now:
The missing walker before sunrise. Use LEAVE.
4
Use ALLEGE for an unverified earlier act in a past report:
The broker the signatures. Use FORGE.
5
Begin IT and use ASSUME: People widely assume that the valley was once a lake.
that the valley was once a lake.
6
Use EXPECT to report a current prediction:
The bypass in late autumn. Use OPEN.
7
Use UNDERSTAND to report a current attributed position:
Both negotiators willing to resume talks.
8
Use REPORT for a current attributed situation:
Several villages without electricity.
9
Use BELIEVE in an existential passive:
a second entrance behind the altar. Begin THERE.
10
Use REPORT for a completed earlier resignation:
The treasurer last night. Use RESIGN.

Impersonal and personal passive reporting structures for claims, beliefs, expectations, allegations and formal news style

Practice 2 · Contextual choice

Choose the option that best fits the stated meaning, viewpoint or register.

1
Background the source using a subject-oriented passive:
The cave several undiscovered chambers.
2
Report a current property, without placing it earlier or describing change:
The statue .
3
Report an earlier act from today's viewpoint:
The composer the manuscript shortly before her death.
4
Keep the claim explicitly unverified:
The suspect the archive key.
5
Choose an impersonal passive with a finite complement:
the eruption began underwater.
6
Express an attributed future prediction:
The new wing patients next summer.
7
Report an activity believed to be ongoing now:
The missing vessel towards the coast.
8
Report a current state with plural agreement:
Two access roads impassable.
9
Use the existential reporting construction:
an older settlement beneath the car park.
10
Place a passive event before the report:
The missing letters during the evacuation.

Impersonal and personal passive reporting structures for claims, beliefs, expectations, allegations and formal news style

Practice 3 · C1 challenge

Choose the interpretation or analysis that best fits the example.

1
“The minister is said to be ill.” Is the writer necessarily the source of the claim?
2
“The artist is believed to have left.” Which time belongs to have left?
3
“The building was thought to be empty.” What does was locate?
4
“They are expected to arrive” need not mean what?
5
“She is alleged to have leaked it.” Which paraphrase overstates the claim?
6
“There are reported to be cracks.” What controls are?
7
“The witness is understood to be cooperating.” What does cooperating add?
8
Can “It is believed that the ship sank” and “The ship is believed to have sunk” convey comparable chronology?
9
“The manuscript was said to have been stolen.” Which two passive relationships occur?
10
Why might “The bridge is reported to be unsafe” suit cautious reporting?