Voix Passive pour l'Objectivité : 'On dit que...'
objectif et soigné, comme si tu étais présentateur des infos!
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'It is said that...' to report general beliefs, news, or rumors objectively without naming a specific person.
- Start with the 'dummy' subject 'It' followed by 'is' and a past participle: 'It is believed...'
- Connect your main idea using the word 'that': 'It is thought that...'
- Follow 'that' with a full sentence: 'It is rumored that the shop is closing.'
Overview
How This Grammar Works
it. Ce it ne signifie rien de spécifique en réalité.is et une forme spéciale du verbe appelée le participe passé.-ed. Par exemple, say devient said, et report devient reported. C'est comme construire une tour en LEGO.it, de la brique is et du sommet said. Une fois que vous avez cette tour, vous pouvez ajouter n'importe quelle nouvelle. C'est parfait pour parler des séries Netflix que tout le monde regarde.
Formation Pattern
it. C'est votre sujet « fictif ».
is. Dans cette structure, nous restons généralement au présent.
say, think, believe ou report. Ils deviennent said, thought, believed et reported.
that pour connecter votre idée.
It + is + Past Participle + that + [Phrase]
When To Use It
Common Mistakes
is. Beaucoup de gens disent « It said that... » au lieu de « It is said that... ». Sans is, la phrase semble bancale. C'est comme une voiture sans roues ! Une autre erreur est d'utiliser la mauvaise forme de verbe. Rappelez-vous, vous avez besoin du participe passé. Ne dites pas « It is say that... » ou « It is think that... ». Vous devez utiliser said et thought. N'oubliez pas non plus le mot that. Bien que vous puissiez parfois l'omettre dans une conversation décontractée, il vaut mieux le garder pour l'objectivité. Enfin, n'utilisez pas cela pour vos sentiments personnels. Si vous aimez la glace, ne dites pas « Il est cru que j'aime la glace ». On dirait que vous êtes une expérience scientifique ! Dites simplement « J'aime la glace ». Utilisez cette structure uniquement pour des opinions générales ou des faits.Contrast With Similar Patterns
be + participe passé. Cependant, le passif objectif est différent car on utilise it.it représente une idée entière.Quick FAQ
R: Oui ! Utilisez was si vous parlez du passé. « On croyait que la terre était plate ».
R: Principalement, mais vous pouvez aussi l'utiliser pour avoir l'air drôle ou dramatique avec des amis !
R: Les « quatre grands » sont said, thought, believed et reported.
it désigne une personne ?R: Non, c'est juste un sujet « fictif » pour aider la grammaire à fonctionner.
R: Pas vraiment. On utilise généralement said ou reported plutôt que told dans cette structure.
R: Absolument ! C'est une super « phrase » à mémoriser pour paraître plus avancé immédiatement.
Common Reporting Verbs in the Impersonal Passive
| Tense | Structure | Example Verb | Full Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
It is + V3
|
say
|
It is said that...
|
|
Past Simple
|
It was + V3
|
think
|
It was thought that...
|
|
Present Perfect
|
It has been + V3
|
report
|
It has been reported that...
|
|
Future Simple
|
It will be + V3
|
expect
|
It will be expected that...
|
|
Present Continuous
|
It is being + V3
|
rumor
|
It is being rumored that...
|
|
Past Perfect
|
It had been + V3
|
believe
|
It had been believed that...
|
Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
|
It is said
|
It's said
|
Common in speech, rare in formal writing.
|
|
It was said
|
N/A
|
We rarely contract 'It was' in this structure.
|
|
It has been said
|
It's been said
|
Very common in spoken English.
|
Meanings
A formal structure used to report information, opinions, or beliefs when the specific source is unknown, unimportant, or general.
General Belief
Reporting what is widely accepted as true by society or a large group.
“It is believed that the pyramids were built by thousands of workers.”
“It is thought that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
News & Formal Reporting
Reporting facts or events where the journalist wants to remain objective.
“It is reported that the two companies are planning a merger.”
“It is alleged that the suspect fled the scene in a red car.”
Rumors & Speculation
Sharing unconfirmed information without taking personal responsibility for its truth.
“It is rumored that they are getting a divorce.”
“It is whispered that the house is haunted.”
Reference Table
| Voix Active (rapport) | Voix Passive (forme 'It') | Voix Passive (forme Sujet) | Quand l'utiliser |
|---|---|---|---|
|
People say he's smart.
|
It is said that he is smart.
|
He is said to be smart.
|
Opinion générale, informel/formel
|
|
They believe she moved.
|
It is believed that she moved.
|
She is believed to have moved.
|
Croyance répandue, formel
|
|
We know she's capable.
|
It is known that she is capable.
|
She is known to be capable.
|
Fait établi, formel
|
|
They expect him to win.
|
It is expected that he will win.
|
He is expected to win.
|
Résultat anticipé, formel
|
|
People consider her a leader.
|
It is considered that she is a leader.
|
She is considered to be a leader.
|
Jugement courant, formel
|
|
They reported the discovery.
|
It was reported that they discovered...
|
They were reported to have discovered...
|
Nouvelles/rapports officiels
|
Spectre de formalité
It is widely believed that the corporation is facing insolvency. (Business news)
It is thought that the company is going out of business. (Business news)
It's said that the shop is closing down. (Business news)
Word is the place is toast. (Business news)
Voix Passive pour l'Objectivité: 'It is said that...'
Structure 1: Forme impersonnelle 'It'
- It is said that... Focus sur l'énoncé
- It is believed that... Croyance générale
- It is known that... Connaissance commune
Structure 2: Axée sur le Sujet
- He is said to be... Focus sur la personne/chose
- She is expected to win. Résultat anticipé
- They are understood to have... Action/état passé
Verbes de Déclaration
- say
- believe
- know
- report
- expect
- consider
Usages Clés
- Objectivity Paraître neutre/impartial
- Formal context Nouvelles, académique, officiel
- Avoid source Ne pas connaître ou ne pas vouloir nommer la source
- Distance Rapporter rumeurs/infos non confirmées
Voix Active vs. Voix Passive (Rapport)
Choisir la Structure de Rapport Passive
Veux-tu rapporter une opinion ou un fait général?
Le sujet original de la proposition rapportée est-il une personne/chose que tu veux mettre en évidence?
L'action rapportée se produit-elle *avant* le rapport (ou est-elle terminée)?
Rapport Passif: Verbes et Usages
Verbes de Déclaration Courants
- • say
- • believe
- • know
- • report
- • expect
- • consider
- • understand
- • allege
Quand l'utiliser
- • Titres de journaux
- • Écriture académique
- • Discussions formelles
- • Éviter de blâmer
- • Partager des rumeurs
- • Vérités générales
Avantages Clés
- • Objectivité
- • Formalité
- • Impersonnalité
- • Ton professionnel
- • Mise à distance
- • Concise
Pièges Courants
- • Manque du verbe 'be'
- • Mauvais temps de l'infinitif
- • Ajout de 'by people'
- • Surutilisation dans le chat informel
Exemples par niveau
It is said that he is a good doctor.
Se dice que es un buen médico.
It is thought that today is a holiday.
Se piensa que hoy es festivo.
It is known that water is important.
Se sabe que el agua es importante.
It is believed that they are happy.
Se cree que son felices.
It was said that the movie was boring.
Se decía que la película era aburrida.
It is reported that the train is late.
Se informa que el tren llega tarde.
It is expected that the weather will be nice.
Se espera que el tiempo sea agradable.
It is not thought that he will win.
No se piensa que vaya a ganar.
It is rumored that the CEO is resigning.
Se rumorea que el director general va a dimitir.
It is widely believed that the economy is improving.
Se cree ampliamente que la economía está mejorando.
It is estimated that the project will cost millions.
Se estima que el proyecto costará millones.
It is suggested that we start the meeting early.
Se sugiere que empecemos la reunión temprano.
It has been argued that social media is addictive.
Se ha argumentado que las redes sociales son adictivas.
It is often claimed that money cannot buy happiness.
A menudo se afirma que el dinero no puede comprar la felicidad.
It is alleged that the company avoided paying taxes.
Se alega que la empresa evitó pagar impuestos.
It is understood that the two parties have reached an agreement.
Se entiende que las dos partes han llegado a un acuerdo.
It is postulated that the universe is constantly expanding.
Se postula que el universo está en constante expansión.
It is commonly surmised that the author wrote the book in exile.
Comúnmente se conjetura que el autor escribió el libro en el exilio.
It is feared that the conflict could escalate further.
Se teme que el conflicto pueda escalar más.
It is acknowledged that the previous policy was a failure.
Se reconoce que la política anterior fue un fracaso.
It is widely contended that the socio-economic ramifications were underestimated.
Se sostiene ampliamente que se subestimaron las ramificaciones socioeconómicas.
It is tentatively suggested that the findings may be biased.
Se sugiere tentativamente que los hallazgos pueden estar sesgados.
It is frequently asserted that the traditional family structure is evolving.
Se afirma con frecuencia que la estructura familiar tradicional está evolucionando.
It is rumored, albeit without substantial evidence, that the treaty will be vetoed.
Se rumorea, aunque sin pruebas sustanciales, que el tratado será vetado.
Facile à confondre
Learners mix the 'that' clause with the 'to' infinitive.
Using active voice for general rumors.
Erreurs courantes
Is said that he is nice.
It is said that he is nice.
It says that he is nice.
It is said that he is nice.
It is say that the rain will stop.
It is said that the rain will stop.
It is thought the movie is good.
It is thought that the movie is good.
It is believed him to be rich.
It is believed that he is rich.
It was reported that the fire starts at 10.
It was reported that the fire started at 10.
It is alleged the suspect to have stolen the car.
It is alleged that the suspect stole the car.
Structures de phrases
It is ___ that ___.
It is widely ___ that ___.
Real World Usage
It is reported that the storm will reach the coast by midnight.
It is rumored that Sarah is getting a promotion.
It is argued that the industrial revolution changed social structures.
It is alleged that the contract was breached on June 5th.
It is expected to rain later today.
It is thought that the city was abandoned due to drought.
Choisis bien ta structure
It is said that.... Si tu veux que la personne ou la chose dont on parle soit le sujet, utilise
He is said to be.... Les deux sont corrects, mais l'un peut sonner plus naturel dans certains contextes!
It is believed that the new product will be a success.vs
The new product is believed to be a success.
N'oublie pas le 'Be' !
It *is* said, He *was* believed. Sans lui, tu retombes dans la voix active, et le sens change complètement. It *is* known that she is smart.
Fais attention au temps de l'infinitif
Sujet + verbe passif + to + infinitif, pense bien au temps de l'action originale. Si l'action rapportée s'est passée *avant* le moment où tu la rapportes, utilise
to have + participe passé(par exemple,
He is said to have won).
She is believed to have left early.
Pour un ton neutre et objectif
It is understood that the situation is complex.
Smart Tips
Swap them for 'It is thought that' or 'It is believed that' to instantly boost your academic tone.
Use 'It is rumored that' to distance yourself from the gossip.
Remember that 'It says' is for written words, but 'It is said' is for spoken beliefs.
Use 'It is reported that' to introduce your main facts.
Prononciation
Weak 'It is'
In natural speech, 'It is' is often reduced to 'It's' or the 'is' becomes very short.
Stress on the Verb
The stress usually falls on the reporting verb (said, thought, believed) to emphasize the nature of the information.
Reporting Intonation
It is reported ↗ that the weather will be nice ↘.
A slight rise on the reporting verb followed by a fall at the end of the sentence.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
IT IS SAID: Information Transferred Is Simply Stated As Indirect Data.
Association visuelle
Imagine a news anchor behind a desk. They aren't saying 'I think,' they are pointing to a screen that says 'IT IS REPORTED.' The anchor is just a messenger for the 'It'.
Rhyme
When you don't know who to blame, use 'It is said' to hide the name.
Story
A secret agent needs to share a rumor without getting caught. Instead of saying 'I heard the boss is a spy,' he leaves a note that says 'It is rumored that the boss is a spy.' The 'It' protects his identity.
Word Web
Défi
Look at a news website for 5 minutes. Try to find one sentence that starts with 'It is reported that' or 'It is believed that.' If you can't find one, rewrite a headline using this structure.
Notes culturelles
British news (like the BBC) uses this structure very frequently to maintain a 'neutral' and 'unbiased' tone, which is a core value of British journalism.
In Western universities, using 'I think' in an essay is often discouraged. Students are taught to use 'It is argued that' to make their arguments sound more objective.
In US and UK law, 'It is alleged that' is used to talk about crimes before a person is found guilty. This avoids 'defamation' (saying something untrue that hurts a reputation).
The use of 'It' as a dummy subject (expletive) dates back to Old English, but the formal impersonal passive became popular in Middle English as a way to mimic Latin's objective style.
Amorces de conversation
It is said that breakfast is the most important meal. Do you agree?
It is rumored that AI will take all our jobs. What do you think?
It was once thought that the Earth was flat. What other old beliefs do you know?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
The new policy ___ expected to increase student engagement.
Find and fix the mistake:
It believed that laughter is the best medicine.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesIt ___ (believe) that the ancient city was very large.
Find and fix the mistake:
Is said that the coffee here is the best in town.
Choose the best option for an academic essay.
People say that he lives in a castle.
Match the following:
You can use 'It is said that' with any verb, like 'It is eaten that'.
A: Why is everyone leaving the office? B: ___ that there is a fire drill.
rumored / that / is / it / is / she / leaving
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe ancient ruins ___ thought to be thousands of years old.
Choose the correct sentence:
The project leader is expected complete the report by Friday.
Translate into English: 'Se sabe que la película ganó varios premios.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentence halves:
The new AI tool ___ (expect) to revolutionize data analysis.
Choose the correct sentence:
The new policy is considered being unfair by some employees.
Translate into English: 'Se creía que el tesoro estaba escondido en la cueva.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentences:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Yes! Use 'It was said that' to report something people believed in the past. For example: `It was thought that the Earth was the center of the universe.`
In casual speech, yes. `It's said he's rich.` But in formal writing, you should always include it: `It is said that he is rich.`
Only 'reporting verbs' work. Common ones are: `say, think, believe, know, report, expect, claim, suggest, rumor, allege`.
Yes, the meaning is the same, but 'It is said that' is much more formal and objective.
In English, every sentence needs a subject. Since we don't want to say WHO said it, we use 'It' as a placeholder or 'dummy' subject.
Yes. `It is not believed that the situation will improve.` This is a very formal way to express doubt.
Yes, it is common in both American and British English, especially in news and formal documents.
The meaning is identical, but the grammar is different. 'It is said that' is followed by a full sentence, while 'He is said to' is followed by a verb.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Se dice que...
English uses a passive verb; Spanish uses a reflexive pronoun.
On dit que...
French uses an active verb with an indefinite subject.
Man sagt, dass...
German prefers the indefinite pronoun 'man'.
...to iwarete iru
Japanese word order is reversed, but the passive logic is similar.
Yuqālu 'anna...
Arabic does not need a dummy subject like 'It'.
Jùshuō...
Chinese uses a fixed phrase rather than a conjugated passive verb.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Vidéos associées
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