C1 Passive & Reported Speech 16 min read Difficile

Structures de Rapport Passif (Il est dit qu'il est...)

Maîtriser ces structures, ça rend ton anglais plus authoritative et nuanced, comme un vrai C1 speaker !
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use these structures to report information objectively without naming a specific source, common in journalism and academic writing.

  • Use 'It + passive verb + that-clause' for general statements like 'It is said that he is rich'.
  • Use 'Subject + passive verb + to-infinitive' for personal focus like 'He is said to be rich'.
  • Match the infinitive tense (simple, continuous, perfect) to the timing of the reported action.
👤 (Subject) + 🗣️ (Passive Verb) + 🔗 (to + Verb)

Overview

### Overview
Si tu as déjà lu un article du *New York Times*, écouté un rapport financier sur *Bloomberg* ou parcouru une thèse universitaire en anglais, tu as forcément croisé ces structures un peu mystérieuses du type He is said to be... ou The company is believed to have.... En tant que francophones, ces tournures nous paraissent souvent un peu « lourdes » ou artificielles au premier abord. Pourquoi ?
Parce que notre cerveau cherche désespérément à traduire cela par un « On dit que... » ou un « Il paraît que... ».
Pourtant, au niveau C1, la maîtrise des Passive Reporting Structures (les structures de rapport passives) est ce qui va te permettre de passer d'un anglais correct à un anglais véritablement sophistiqué. C'est l'outil ultime pour exprimer la nuance, l'objectivité et, surtout, une certaine distance par rapport à l'information que tu transmets.
Imagine que tu travailles dans une multinationale. Dire People say the CEO is resigning (Les gens disent que le PDG démissionne) fait un peu « commérage de machine à café ». En revanche, dire The CEO is reported to be resigning apporte immédiatement une stature professionnelle et une neutralité journalistique.
C'est ce qu'on appelle la « distanciation ». Dans ce cours, on va décortiquer ensemble comment passer de notre structure mentale française à cette structure élégante et précise, pour que tu puisses l'utiliser avec l'assurance d'un *native speaker*.
### How This Grammar Works
Pour comprendre comment cette grammaire fonctionne, il faut d'abord regarder comment nous, les Français, gérons l'information indirecte. Nous utilisons principalement le pronom indéfini « on » : « On dit que ce vin est le meilleur du monde ».
En anglais, on a deux façons principales de rendre cette idée au passif :
  1. 1La structure impersonnelle : It is said that this wine is the best in the world. (C'est la traduction littérale de « Il est dit que... »). C'est correct, mais un peu basique.
  2. 2La structure personnelle (Sujet-Infinitive) : This wine is said to be the best in the world.
C'est cette deuxième structure qui nous intéresse. D'un point de vue linguistique, on appelle cela le subject-to-subject raising (la montée du sujet). Le sujet de la subordonnée (le vin) « monte » pour devenir le sujet principal de la phrase.
La différence fondamentale avec le français :
En français, nous ne pouvons pas dire « *Ce vin est dit être le meilleur* ». C'est grammaticalement incorrect ou très archaïque. Nous restons bloqués sur le « On dit que...
» ou nous utilisons des verbes comme « passer pour » ou « être considéré comme ». L'anglais, lui, transforme le verbe de rapport (say, believe, think) en un adjectif passif suivi d'un infinitif.
Regarde ce contraste :
| Français (Structure habituelle) | Anglais (Structure C1) |
| :--- | :--- |
| On pense que l'économie va s'améliorer. | The economy is thought to be improving. |
| On raconte qu'il a gagné au loto. | He is rumored to have won the lottery. |
| Il paraît qu'ils ont déménagé. | They are understood to have moved. |
L'avantage de cette structure en anglais, c'est qu'elle met l'accent sur le sujet dont on parle plutôt que sur ceux qui parlent. C'est une question de focus (la *thématisation*). En tant que locuteur C1, tu dois apprendre à choisir ton sujet avec soin pour diriger l'attention de ton interlocuteur.
### Formation Pattern
La formation de ces structures suit une logique mathématique très précise. La formule magique est la suivante :
[Sujet] + [BE au présent ou passé] + [Participe Passé du verbe de rapport] + [Infinitif approprié]
Le choix de l'infinitif est l'étape la plus cruciale et c'est là que se joue ta précision grammaticale. Tout dépend de la relation temporelle entre le moment où l'on parle (le rapport) et le moment où l'action rapportée a eu lieu.
#### 1. L'infinitif présent (Simple Infinitive) : to + base verb
On l'utilise quand l'action rapportée se passe en même temps que le rapport ou qu'elle est permanente.
  • He is said to live in London. (On dit qu'il habite à Londres — il y habite maintenant).
  • The new law is expected to reduce crime. (On s'attend à ce que la loi réduise le crime — futur proche/général).
#### 2. L'infinitif continu (Continuous Infinitive) : to be + -ing
On l'utilise pour une action en train de se dérouler au moment où l'on parle.
  • The fugitives are believed to be hiding in the woods. (On pense que les fugitifs sont en train de se cacher dans les bois).
#### 3. L'infinitif passé (Perfect Infinitive) : to have + participe passé
C'est ici que les francophones font le plus d'erreurs. On l'utilise quand l'action rapportée est antérieure au rapport.
  • She is thought to have stolen the documents. (On pense qu'elle a volé les documents — le vol a eu lieu avant qu'on ne commence à le penser).
  • The building is reported to have collapsed. (On rapporte que l'immeuble s'est effondré).
#### 4. L'infinitif passé continu (Perfect Continuous Infinitive) : to have been + -ing
Pour une action qui durait dans le passé avant le moment du rapport.
  • He is alleged to have been working for the enemy for years. (On prétend qu'il travaillait pour l'ennemi pendant des années).
Les verbes de rapport les plus fréquents :
  • Say (dit)
  • Believe (cru)
  • Think (pensé)
  • Know (connu/su)
  • Report (rapporté)
  • Understand (compris/entendu dire)
  • Expect (attendu/prévu)
  • Allege (prétendu — souvent utilisé dans un contexte juridique)
  • Claim (affirmé — souvent quand on a un doute sur la véracité)
  • Consider (considéré)
### When To Use It
Pourquoi s'embêter avec une structure aussi complexe ? Parce que le contexte est roi. Voici les situations où tu dois absolument privilégier cette forme pour sonner comme un expert.
#### A. Le journalisme et les médias
Les journalistes adorent cette structure car elle permet de rapporter des faits sans pour autant s'engager personnellement sur leur véracité. C'est la protection ultime contre la diffamation.
  • The suspect is alleged to have entered the bank at 10 AM. (Le suspect aurait pénétré dans la banque à 10h).
Note l'utilisation de « aurait » en français (conditionnel), qui est souvent l'équivalent le plus naturel de cette structure passive anglaise.
#### B. Le monde de l'entreprise et les rapports officiels
Dans un contexte professionnel, l'objectivité est une vertu. Utiliser le passif de rapport permet de présenter des prévisions ou des opinions de manière dépersonnalisée.
  • The merger is expected to be finalized by June. (La fusion devrait être finalisée d'ici juin).
  • Our competitors are known to be developing a similar product. (On sait que nos concurrents développent un produit similaire).
#### C. Les débats académiques et scientifiques
Quand tu écris un essai ou un article de recherche, tu ne peux pas te contenter de « I think ». Tu dois situer ton propos par rapport au consensus général.
  • This protein is understood to play a key role in metabolism. (On considère que cette protéine joue un rôle clé dans le métabolisme).
#### D. Les rumeurs et les faits historiques
Pour parler de choses qui sont de notoriété publique ou de légendes urbaines.
  • The house is said to be haunted. (On dit que la maison est hantée).
  • Napoleon is known to have been a brilliant strategist. (Napoléon est connu pour avoir été un brillant stratège).
### Common Mistakes
En tant que prof, j'ai remarqué que les francophones tombent souvent dans les mêmes pièges à cause de l'interférence avec notre langue maternelle (le fameux L1 transfer).
1. Le piège du « that » (L'erreur la plus fréquente)
Beaucoup d'élèves essaient de mélanger les deux structures et disent : *He is said that he is rich*.
Pourquoi ? Parce qu'en français on dit : « Il est dit qu'il est riche ».
La règle : Si tu commences par « He », tu dois utiliser un infinitif. Si tu veux utiliser « that », tu dois commencer par « It ».
  • Faux : *He is said that he is...*
  • Juste : He is said to be... OU It is said that he is...
2. L'oubli de l'infinitif passé
Souvent, on utilise l'infinitif simple pour tout.
  • Erreur : *The dinosaurs are thought to die out 65 million years ago.*
  • Correction : The dinosaurs are thought to have died out...
Pourquoi ? Parce que l'extinction est passée. L'infinitif doit refléter ce décalage temporel.
3. La confusion entre be said to et be supposed to
Attention ! He is said to be a good doctor signifie que c'est sa réputation. He is supposed to be a good doctor peut signifier la même chose, mais contient souvent une nuance d'attente ou de devoir (on s'attend à ce qu'il soit bon, mais peut-être qu'il ne l'est pas).
En français, on traduit souvent les deux par « censé », ce qui crée la confusion.
### Contrast With Similar Patterns
Il est crucial de savoir choisir entre la structure en It, la structure personnelle et la voix active classique. Voici un tableau comparatif pour t'aider à choisir selon l'effet recherché.
| Structure | Exemple | Nuance Stylistique |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Active | People say that he is a genius. | Informel, direct, un peu « commérage ». |
| Passive (It...) | It is said that he is a genius. | Formel, académique, mais un peu distant et froid. |
| Passive Reporting | He is said to be a genius. | Élégant, sophistiqué, focalisé sur la personne. C'est le standard C1. |
| Active (They...) | They say he's a genius. | Très courant à l'oral, équivalent exact de notre « On dit ». |
Un autre contraste important : Said to vs Told to
Ne confonds pas He is said to be... (On dit qu'il est...) avec He was told to be... (On lui a dit d'être...).
Le premier est un rapport d'opinion, le second est un ordre au passif.
### Quick FAQ
1. Est-ce que je peux utiliser n'importe quel verbe avec cette structure ?
Pas tout à fait. Cela ne fonctionne qu'avec les verbes de pensée, de déclaration ou de perception (les *verba dicendi* et *verba sentiendi*). Tu ne peux pas dire *He is eaten to be...*. Les verbes les plus sûrs sont ceux cités dans la section Formation.
2. Est-ce que cette structure est trop formelle pour l'oral ?
Elle est parfaite pour une présentation professionnelle, un entretien d'embauche ou un débat d'idées. Dans une conversation très relax entre amis au café, on préférera souvent They say... ou I've heard that.... Mais si tu veux impressionner par ton niveau de langue, n'hésite pas à l'utiliser.
3. Comment traduire « He is said to have been... » en français sans que ce soit lourd ?
Le plus simple est souvent d'utiliser le conditionnel ou « On dit de lui qu'il... ».
Exemple : He is said to have been a spy. -> « Il aurait été un espion » ou « On dit qu'il a été un espion ».
4. Pourquoi dit-on He is known to be et pas He is known being ?
C'est une règle de complémentation verbale. Après un verbe de rapport au passif, l'anglais exige l'infinitif. C'est une structure fixe. Pense à l'infinitif comme au « pont » qui relie la réputation à la réalité du sujet.
En résumé, maîtrise ces structures et tu ne te contenteras plus de parler anglais, tu commenceras à le manier avec l'élégance et la précision d'un diplomate ou d'un éditorialiste. C'est ça, l'esprit C1 ! *T'inquiète pas*, avec un peu de pratique, ça deviendra un réflexe.

Personal Structure: Subject + Passive Verb + Infinitive

Time of Action Infinitive Form Example Structure Example Sentence
Present/Future
Simple (to do)
is said to [verb]
He is said to live in Paris.
Present Continuous
Continuous (to be doing)
is thought to be [verb-ing]
She is thought to be sleeping.
Past
Perfect (to have done)
is believed to have [past part.]
They are believed to have left.
Past Continuous
Perfect Continuous (to have been doing)
is alleged to have been [verb-ing]
He is alleged to have been lying.

Common Passive Reporting Verbs

Verb Passive Form (Impersonal) Passive Form (Personal)
Say
It is said that...
Subject is said to...
Think
It is thought that...
Subject is thought to...
Believe
It is believed that...
Subject is believed to...
Report
It is reported that...
Subject is reported to...
Claim
It is claimed that...
Subject is claimed to...
Allege
It is alleged that...
Subject is alleged to...

Meanings

A formal way to report thoughts, beliefs, or rumors without identifying the speaker, often used to create a sense of distance or objectivity.

1

General Consensus

Reporting what is widely believed or accepted by the public or a specific group.

“It is generally accepted that climate change is accelerating.”

“The company is thought to be the market leader.”

2

Rumors and Speculation

Reporting unconfirmed information or gossip in a way that avoids personal responsibility for the claim.

“He is rumored to be dating a famous actress.”

“The CEO is said to be considering a resignation.”

3

Expectations and Requirements

Reporting what is expected to happen or what people are required to do based on general knowledge.

“The train is expected to arrive ten minutes late.”

“Passengers are requested to remain seated.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Structures de Rapport Passif (Il est dit qu'il est...)
Verbe de signalement Forme Passive Infinitif Présent/Général Infinitif Passé
Say
is/are said
to be / to + Base Verb
to have been / to have + Past Participle
Believe
is/are believed
to be / to + Base Verb
to have been / to have + Past Participle
Know
is/are known
to be / to + Base Verb
to have been / to have + Past Participle
Think
is/are thought
to be / to + Base Verb
to have been / to have + Past Participle
Report
is/are reported
to be / to + Base Verb
to have been / to have + Past Participle
Expect
is/are expected
to be / to + Base Verb
to have been / to have + Past Participle
Understand
is/are understood
to be / to + Base Verb
to have been / to have + Past Participle

Spectre de formalité

Formel
He is reputed to possess considerable wealth.

He is reputed to possess considerable wealth. (Financial status)

Neutre
He is said to be very rich.

He is said to be very rich. (Financial status)

Informel
Word is he's loaded.

Word is he's loaded. (Financial status)

Argot
I heard he's got mad stacks.

I heard he's got mad stacks. (Financial status)

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Exemples par niveau

1

People say he is a good doctor.

2

They think the movie is long.

3

Everyone says the food is great.

4

I hear he is from Italy.

1

It is said that the city is beautiful.

2

People believe that he is very rich.

3

It is thought that the test is hard.

4

They say that she is a famous singer.

1

It is reported that the weather will be bad.

2

He is said to be a very kind man.

3

It is believed that the fire started in the kitchen.

4

The company is thought to be very successful.

1

The athlete is expected to win the gold medal.

2

It is claimed that the new drug has no side effects.

3

The painting is believed to be a genuine Picasso.

4

He is rumored to have resigned from his post.

1

The CEO is alleged to have been embezzling funds for years.

2

It is widely understood that the treaty is no longer valid.

3

The species was thought to have gone extinct in the 19th century.

4

The manuscript is reputed to be the oldest in existence.

1

The diplomat is purported to have acted as a double agent during the war.

2

It is surmised that the civilization collapsed due to prolonged drought.

3

The author is widely held to have revolutionized the modern novel.

4

The suspect is reported to be evading capture in the mountains.

Facile à confondre

Passive Reporting Structures (He is said to be...) vs Supposed to vs. Said to

Learners often use 'supposed to' when they mean 'said to'. 'Supposed to' often implies an obligation or a failed expectation.

Passive Reporting Structures (He is said to be...) vs It is said that vs. He is said to

Mixing the 'that' clause with the 'to' infinitive.

Passive Reporting Structures (He is said to be...) vs Passive vs. Active Reporting

Using 'People say' in a formal essay.

Erreurs courantes

✗

He say he is happy.

✓

He says he is happy.

Subject-verb agreement error.
✗

People is say he is rich.

✓

People say he is rich.

Incorrect use of 'be' with active verbs.
✗

They thinks it is good.

✓

They think it is good.

Adding -s to plural subjects.
✗

I am hear he is nice.

✓

I hear he is nice.

Using 'am' unnecessarily.
✗

It said that he is rich.

✓

It is said that he is rich.

Missing the auxiliary 'be' in passive.
✗

He is say to be rich.

✓

He is said to be rich.

Using base form instead of past participle.
✗

It is thought he rich.

✓

It is thought that he is rich.

Missing the 'that' or the verb in the clause.
✗

He is said that he is rich.

✓

He is said to be rich.

Mixing the impersonal and personal structures.
✗

It is believed to be rich.

✓

He is believed to be rich.

Using 'It' as a subject for a personal attribute.
✗

He is thought have left.

✓

He is thought to have left.

Missing 'to' in the infinitive.
✗

He is alleged to steal the money yesterday.

✓

He is alleged to have stolen the money yesterday.

Using simple infinitive for a past action.
✗

It is reported the company to be closing.

✓

The company is reported to be closing.

Incorrect structure for reporting ongoing actions.
✗

He is understood to being working hard.

✓

He is understood to be working hard.

Using 'being' instead of 'be' for continuous infinitive.
✗

The suspect is claimed to have been escaped.

✓

The suspect is claimed to have escaped.

Unnecessary passive inside the infinitive (escaped is intransitive).

Structures de phrases

It is ___ that ___.

Subject is said to ___.

Subject is thought to have ___.

Subject is alleged to have been ___.

Real World Usage

News Headlines constant

Local Man Said to Be Missing After Storm

Academic Journals very common

The results are thought to indicate a shift in climate patterns.

Legal Proceedings constant

The defendant is alleged to have committed the robbery.

Office Gossip common

She's rumored to be getting a promotion.

Travel Announcements occasional

The flight is expected to be delayed.

History Books very common

The king was believed to have died in battle.

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💡

Choisis bien ton verbe !

Le verbe que tu choisis (say, believe, expect) change la nuance. Par exemple, si tu dis qu'une personne est It is alleged d'avoir fait quelque chose, ça sous-entend une accusation plus forte que It is said.
⚠️

Attention au timing de l'infinitif !

La plus grosse erreur, c'est d'utiliser le mauvais infinitif (to be contre to have been). Demande-toi toujours : est-ce que l'action rapportée s'est passée au même moment que le fait de la rapporter, ou avant ?
🎯

Pour un style plus académique

Dans tes dissertations ou présentations à l'université, ces structures donnent de l'objectivité et un côté académique. Ça rend tes affirmations plus 'recherchées' et moins comme une simple opinion personnelle.
🌍

L'anglais et les autres langues

Même si des structures similaires existent dans d'autres langues, l'usage exact de l'infinitif peut varier. Ne traduis pas mot pour mot de ta langue maternelle ; vérifie toujours les règles de timing en anglais.
💡

Simplifie si possible

Parfois, tu peux enlever to be après 'considered'. Par exemple,
He is considered brilliant
est souvent suffisant à la place de
He is considered to be brilliant
, si tu ne perds pas en clarté.

Smart Tips

Switch to 'It is widely believed that...' or 'It is often claimed that...'.

People say that technology is bad for kids. → It is often claimed that technology has a detrimental effect on children.

Always use 'to have + past participle'.

He is said to be a hero in the war. → He is said to have been a hero in the war.

Use 'rumored to' or 'alleged to' to protect yourself from sounding like you're stating a fact.

He stole the money. → He is alleged to have stolen the money.

Check for 'that' immediately after the reporting verb.

It is said him to be a doctor. → It is said that he is a doctor.

Prononciation

/hiː ɪz sed tə biː rɪtʃ/

Weak form of 'to'

In the personal structure, the word 'to' is usually unstressed and pronounced as a schwa /tə/.

It is be-LIEVED that...

Stress on reporting verb

The main stress usually falls on the past participle of the reporting verb (e.g., 'said', 'thought', 'believed').

Falling intonation for facts

He is said to be the best. ↘

Conveys a sense of reporting a known or accepted fact.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Remember 'IT' for the whole sentence (It is said that...), and 'TO' for the person (He is said TO...).

Association visuelle

Imagine a news anchor behind a desk. They don't say 'My friend told me'; they say 'It is reported that...'. The desk represents the distance and formality of the structure.

Rhyme

If you start with 'It', a 'that' is a fit. If you start with 'He', a 'to' it must be!

Story

A detective is investigating a crime. He doesn't know who did it, so he writes in his notebook: 'The suspect is believed to have escaped.' He uses this to sound professional and avoid blaming the wrong person too early.

Word Web

allegepurportreputerumorclaimunderstandsuppose

Défi

Write three sentences about a famous celebrity using 'is said to be', 'is thought to have', and 'is rumored to be doing'.

Notes culturelles

British journalism (especially the BBC or broadsheets) uses these structures extensively to maintain a 'neutral' and 'unbiased' stance.

In Western academia, using 'It is thought that' is preferred over 'I think' to make the research seem more universal and less personal.

The word 'alleged' is legally crucial. Media must say 'The alleged thief' or 'He is alleged to have stolen' until a person is convicted to avoid lawsuits.

These structures evolved from the Latin 'dicitur' (it is said) and 'videtur' (it seems), which were common in legal and scholarly texts.

Amorces de conversation

“

What is a place in your country that is said to be haunted?

“

Which celebrity is rumored to be starting a new project right now?

“

In your field of study, what is a theory that is widely held to be true?

“

Discuss a historical figure who is alleged to have committed a crime that was never proven.

Sujets d'écriture

Write a short news report about a fictional bank robbery. Use at least three different passive reporting verbs.
Describe a local legend or myth from your hometown using formal reporting structures.
Write a formal critique of a popular movie, using distancing language to discuss its reception.

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choisis la bonne forme pour compléter la phrase.

The ancient city ___ to have existed for over 2,000 years.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is believed
La ville est un sujet singulier, donc is believed est la forme passive correcte. L'infinitif to have existed montre correctement que l'action s'est déroulée dans le passé.
Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The documents are said have been lost.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The documents are said to have been lost.
La structure infinitive correcte après un verbe de signalement passif est 'to + forme de base du verbe', ou 'to have + participe passé' pour les actions passées. Ici, to have been lost est correct.
Quelle phrase utilise correctement la structure de signalement passif ? Choix multiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She is known to have studied abroad last year.
L'action d''étudier à l'étranger' s'est déroulée 'last year' (dans le passé), donc l'infinitif parfait to have studied est requis.

Score: /3

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Choose the correct form to complete the sentence. Choix multiple

The CEO is believed ______ the company last night.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to have left
Since the action (leaving) happened in the past (last night), we must use the perfect infinitive 'to have left'.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'say'.

It ______ that the new law will be passed next week.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is said
This is the impersonal passive structure: It + is + past participle.
Identify the error in the following sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

He is thought that he is the best player in the team.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He is thought to be
You cannot use a 'that' clause immediately after 'He is thought'. You must use a 'to' infinitive.
Rewrite the sentence starting with 'The suspect'. Sentence Transformation

People believe that the suspect is hiding in the woods.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The suspect is believed to be hiding in the woods.
The personal structure uses Subject + is believed + to be [verb-ing] for continuous actions.
Is the following statement true or false? True False Rule

The structure 'It is said that...' is more informal than 'People say...'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Passive reporting structures are more formal and objective than active ones.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Have you heard about the new manager? B: Yes, he ______ very strict.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is said to be
The personal structure 'is said to be' is the natural way to report a rumor about a person.
Which of these verbs can be used in a passive reporting structure? Grammar Sorting

Select the correct group.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: think, believe, say, claim
Only reporting/mental state verbs can be used in these structures.
Match the active sentence to its passive reporting equivalent. Match Pairs

1. People say he is rich. 2. People think he was rich.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-He is said to be rich; 2-He is thought to have been rich.
The first is present, the second is past reporting.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Complète la phrase avec le verbe de signalement passif et l'infinitif corrects. Texte trous

The ancient scroll ___ to contain secret knowledge.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is believed
Complète la phrase avec la structure de signalement passif correcte. Texte trous

The suspect ___ the country before the police arrived.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is thought to have fled
Identifie et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase. Error Correction

The new building is expected finished next month.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The new building is expected to be finished next month.
Corrige la faute grammaticale dans la phrase. Error Correction

He is said to being a brilliant scientist, but he retired last year.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He is said to have been a brilliant scientist, but he retired last year.
Sélectionne la phrase qui utilise la structure de signalement passif correcte. Choix multiple

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The climate is believed to be changing rapidly.
Choisis la phrase grammaticalement correcte. Choix multiple

Select the correct option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The ancient manuscript is thought to have been written by a monk.
Traduis la phrase suivante en anglais en utilisant une structure de signalement passif. Traduction

Translate into English: 'Se dice que el concierto ha sido cancelado.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The concert is said to have been cancelled.","It is said that the concert has been cancelled."]
Traduis la phrase, en te concentrant sur la structure de signalement passif. Traduction

Translate into English: 'Se cree que el sospechoso estaba mintiendo durante el interrogatorio.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The suspect is believed to have been lying during the interrogation."]
Range les mots pour former une phrase correcte. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She is said to be smart.
Réorganise les mots pour faire une phrase de signalement passif grammaticalement correcte. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The goods are reported to have been smuggled across the border.
Associe la structure de signalement passif avec sa forme infinitive appropriée basée sur le timing. Match Pairs

Match the sentences with the correct infinitive endings:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Associe le début de la phrase avec la bonne clause de signalement passif. Match Pairs

Complete the sentences by matching the halves.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

No, only 'reporting verbs' like `say`, `think`, `believe`, `claim`, `allege`, `report`, `understand`, and `expect` work.

The meaning is the same, but 'He is said' focuses on the person, while 'It is said' focuses on the whole situation. 'He is said' is generally considered more advanced.

Use `to have been` (Perfect Infinitive) when the action you are reporting happened *before* the time of reporting. Example: `He is said to have been a spy in the 80s`.

It is less common in casual speech. In conversation, we usually say `I've heard that...` or `People say...`.

Yes! You can say `It was thought that...` or `He was believed to be...` to report what people thought in the past.

Mostly, yes. It implies that a claim has been made but not yet proven, which is why it's so common in legal and police contexts.

Because it creates 'distance' between the speaker and the information. You aren't saying *you* believe it; you're saying *it is believed* by others.

No. You cannot say `He is said that he is...`. You must use the infinitive: `He is said to be...`.

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Se dice que... / Se cree que...

Spanish prefers the 'It is said that' equivalent almost exclusively.

French moderate

On dit que... / Il est dit que...

English 'He is said to' must be translated as 'On dit qu'il...' in French.

German high

Man sagt... / Er soll ... sein

German uses the modal 'sollen' to express 'is said to'.

Japanese high

...to iwarete iru (〜と言われている)

The structure is very similar, but Japanese word order is Subject-Object-Verb.

Arabic moderate

Yuqal 'anna... (يُقال أن)

Arabic rarely uses a personal infinitive structure for reporting.

Chinese low

Jùshuō (据说)

Chinese uses a lexical marker (Jùshuō) rather than a grammatical passive construction.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Passif Avancé : Rapporter des rumeurs et des croyances (On dit qu'il est...)
Next
Questions indirectes avec mots interrogatifs (Qui, Quoi, Pourquoi)

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C1 Requires

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