Voix Passive : Verbes de Rapport (On dit que...)
formel, objectif et plein de nuances comme un pro !
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use reporting verbs in the passive to share information without naming a specific source, creating a formal, objective tone.
- Use 'It + passive verb + that' for general claims: 'It is said that he is rich.'
- Use 'Subject + passive verb + to-infinitive' for specific focus: 'He is said to be rich.'
- Common verbs include: say, think, believe, consider, report, and claim.
Overview
It is said that Apple is making a car. Cela vous donne l'air objectif, professionnel et peut-être un peu mystérieux. Que vous envoyiez un SMS à un ami à propos d'une vidéo virale ou que vous rédigiez un rapport pour une réunion Zoom, cette structure est votre meilleure amie.How This Grammar Works
It is said that the new movie is great.say, think, believe, know, report et expect. Ces verbes agissent comme un pont entre la rumeur et la réalité.
Formation Pattern
It.
to be (généralement is ou was).
said, thought ou known).
that.
It + is/was + Participe Passé + that + Phrase.
It is thought that the exam will be hard. (On pense que l'examen sera difficile.)
to be (is, are, was, were).
to + la base du verbe.
Sujet + is/was + Participe Passé + to + Verbe.
The teacher is said to be very kind. (On dit que le professeur est très gentil.)
When To Use It
- Partager des potins : « It is said that they broke up over a WhatsApp message ! » (Drame classique.)
- Rapports d'actualité : « It is reported that the flight is delayed due to weather. » (Utile pour le vlogging de voyage.)
- Faits généraux : « It is known that the Earth is round. » (Bien que certains TikTokers puissent ne pas être d'accord !)
- Opinions professionnelles : « It is expected that the project will finish on Friday. » (Idéal pour les entretiens d'embauche ou les appels Zoom.)
- Tendances des réseaux sociaux : « This new cafe is thought to have the best lattes in town. » (Parfait pour votre légende Instagram.)
Common Mistakes
- Oublier le
that: Dans le modèle avec « It », vous avez presque toujours besoin dethat. - ✗ *Faux :*
It is said the movie is bad. - ✓ *Correct :*
It is said that the movie is bad. - Confondre
toetthat: C'est l'erreur la plus courante. Rappelez-vous : « It » va avec « that », et le « Sujet » va avec « to ». - ✗ *Faux :*
He is said that he is rich. - ✓ *Correct :*
He is said to be rich. - Utiliser la mauvaise forme verbale : Assurez-vous que le verbe de déclaration est au participe passé (
said, passay). - ✗ *Faux :*
It is say that she is coming. - ✓ *Correct :*
It is said that she is coming. - Confusion sur le pluriel : Dans le modèle sujet, assurez-vous que
is/arecorrespond au sujet. - ✗ *Faux :*
They is said to be late. - ✓ *Correct :*
They are said to be late.
It's supposed that alors qu'ils devraient dire It is thought that. Continuez à pratiquer !Contrast With Similar Patterns
- « People say that pizza is healthy. »
- C'est amical et décontracté. Vous parlez de ce que font les *gens*. C'est génial pour une discussion dans un café.
- « It is said that pizza is healthy. »
- C'est plus formel. Cela ressemble à une étude scientifique ou à un reportage. On se concentre sur la *pizza*, pas sur les gens.
The cake was eaten). La différence est que les passifs de déclaration utilisent des verbes de *pensée* ou de *parole* (say, think, know). Les passifs réguliers utilisent des verbes d' *action* (eat, build, break).The house was built est un passif régulier, mais The house is said to be haunted est un passif de déclaration. L'un porte sur une action, l'autre sur une rumeur !Quick FAQ
R: Pas du tout ! Nous l'utilisons aussi dans les potins décontractés. « It is said that he has a secret twin ! »
R: Non, seuls les verbes de « déclaration » comme say, think, believe, know, report et expect fonctionnent bien ici.
It comme sujet ?R: It est un « sujet fictif ». Il ne veut rien dire ; il occupe juste la place pour que la phrase puisse se concentrer sur la nouvelle.
R: Oui ! Vous pouvez dire It was said that ou He was thought to be. Changez simplement is en was.
R: Oui ! « Is it said that he is leaving ? » ou « Is she thought to be the winner ? »
R: Said est sans aucun doute le roi des verbes de déclaration. Vous entendrez It is said that partout !
It is said to be ?R: Non, cela mélange les deux modèles. Utilisez It is said that... ou Something is said to be....
Common Reporting Verbs in Passive
| Verb | It + Passive + That | Subject + Passive + To-Infinitive |
|---|---|---|
|
Say
|
It is said that...
|
He is said to be...
|
|
Think
|
It is thought that...
|
She is thought to have...
|
|
Believe
|
It is believed that...
|
They are believed to live...
|
|
Consider
|
It is considered that...
|
It is considered to be...
|
|
Report
|
It is reported that...
|
The news is reported to be...
|
|
Claim
|
It is claimed that...
|
He is claimed to have...
|
|
Know
|
It is known that...
|
She is known to work...
|
|
Expect
|
It is expected that...
|
Prices are expected to rise...
|
Contractions in Reporting Passives
| Full Form | Contracted Form | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
It is said
|
It's said
|
Common in speech
|
|
It is thought
|
It's thought
|
Common in speech
|
|
He is said
|
He's said
|
Common in speech
|
|
They are believed
|
They're believed
|
Common in speech
|
Meanings
A grammatical construction used to report what people in general say, think, or believe, often used in news and academic writing to maintain objectivity.
General Hearsay
Reporting rumors or widely held beliefs without a specific source.
“It is said that the house is haunted.”
“He is thought to be the best player in the league.”
Formal/Academic Reporting
Presenting facts or theories in a way that sounds objective and authoritative.
“It is considered that the experiment was a success.”
“The virus is known to spread through air droplets.”
Historical/Past Beliefs
Describing what people used to believe in the past.
“It was once thought that the Earth was flat.”
“The ruins were believed to be of Roman origin.”
Reference Table
| Reportage Actif | Passif Impersonnel (It is...) | Passif Personnel (Subject is...) |
|---|---|---|
|
People say he's smart.
|
It is said that he's smart.
|
He is said to be smart.
|
|
They believe she is kind.
|
It is believed that she is kind.
|
She is believed to be kind.
|
|
Experts expect prices will rise.
|
It is expected that prices will rise.
|
Prices are expected to rise.
|
|
People know he stole the car.
|
It is known that he stole the car.
|
He is known to have stolen the car.
|
|
The media reported they fled.
|
It was reported that they fled.
|
They were reported to have fled.
|
|
Many think she's innocent.
|
It is thought that she's innocent.
|
She is thought to be innocent.
|
|
We understand he's busy.
|
It is understood that he's busy.
|
He is understood to be busy.
|
Spectre de formalité
He is widely held to be an exceptional leader. (Describing a politician or boss)
It is said that he is a great leader. (Describing a politician or boss)
They say he's a great leader. (Describing a politician or boss)
Word is, he's the GOAT. (Describing a politician or boss)
Verbes de Reportage Passifs : Le Flux d'Infos
Modèle 1 : Impersonnel
- It is said that... Déclarations générales
- It is believed that... Opinions courantes
- It is known that... Faits établis
Modèle 2 : Personnel
- Subject is said to be... État présent/futur
- Subject is believed to have... Action passée
- Subject is expected to... Action future
Pourquoi l'utiliser ?
- Objectivité Écriture formelle, nouvelles
- Diplomatie Éviter de blâmer
- Accent sur l'Info Source sans importance
Reportage Passif Impersonnel vs. Personnel
Choisir la Structure de Reportage Passif
Veux-tu te concentrer sur l'information de manière générale, ou sur un sujet spécifique ?
L'action rapportée est-elle au passé par rapport au moment du reportage ?
Verbes de Reportage Courants au Passif
Opinion Générale
- • say
- • believe
- • think
- • understand
Rapport Officiel
- • report
- • announce
- • state
- • allege
Attente/Connaissance
- • expect
- • know
- • consider
- • assume
Exemples par niveau
It is said that he is rich.
Se dice que él es rico.
It is known that she is a teacher.
Se sabe que ella es profesora.
It is thought that it will rain.
Se piensa que lloverá.
It is reported that the shop is closed.
Se informa que la tienda está cerrada.
It is believed that they live in London.
Se cree que viven en Londres.
It is said that the food here is good.
Se dice que la comida aquí es buena.
It is known that water boils at 100 degrees.
Se sabe que el agua hierve a 100 grados.
It is thought that the movie starts at 8.
Se piensa que la película empieza a las 8.
He is said to be a very talented musician.
Se dice que es un músico muy talentoso.
It is reported that the strike will end soon.
Se informa que la huelga terminará pronto.
The company is thought to be losing money.
Se piensa que la empresa está perdiendo dinero.
It was once believed that the sun went around the Earth.
Una vez se creyó que el sol giraba alrededor de la Tierra.
The suspect is alleged to have fled the country.
Se alega que el sospechoso ha huido del país.
It is widely considered that his latest book is his best.
Se considera ampliamente que su último libro es el mejor.
The painting is believed to be a genuine Picasso.
Se cree que la pintura es un Picasso auténtico.
It is expected that interest rates will rise next month.
Se espera que las tasas de interés suban el próximo mes.
The manuscript is purported to be the work of a 15th-century monk.
Se pretende que el manuscrito sea obra de un monje del siglo XV.
It is contended that the current policy is fundamentally flawed.
Se sostiene que la política actual es fundamentalmente defectuosa.
The CEO is understood to be considering his resignation.
Se entiende que el CEO está considerando su renuncia.
It has been suggested that the two events are linked.
Se ha sugerido que los dos eventos están vinculados.
The findings are widely held to have significant implications for the field.
Se considera ampliamente que los hallazgos tienen implicaciones significativas para el campo.
It is surmised that the civilization collapsed due to prolonged drought.
Se conjetura que la civilización colapsó debido a una sequía prolongada.
The senator is reputed to have been involved in the scandal.
Se dice que el senador estuvo involucrado en el escándalo.
It is gathered from the evidence that the fire was intentional.
Se deduce de la evidencia que el incendio fue intencional.
Facile à confondre
Learners often use 'They say' in formal writing where 'It is said' is required.
Mixing up 'The book was written' (action) with 'The book is said to be' (opinion).
Using 'It says' to mean 'People say'.
Erreurs courantes
Is said that he is rich.
It is said that he is rich.
People is said he is rich.
It is said he is rich.
It says that he is rich.
It is said that he is rich.
He said to be rich.
He is said to be rich.
It is thought he rich.
It is thought that he is rich.
He is thought being rich.
He is thought to be rich.
It believed that...
It is believed that...
He is said to have steal the money.
He is said to have stolen the money.
It is reported the plane to be late.
It is reported that the plane is late.
He is thought to be live in London.
He is thought to live in London.
The CEO is alleged having lied.
The CEO is alleged to have lied.
It is contended the policy being wrong.
It is contended that the policy is wrong.
Structures de phrases
It is ___ that ___.
___ is/are thought to ___.
It was once believed that ___.
The suspect is alleged to have ___.
Real World Usage
It is reported that the storm is heading north.
It is generally accepted that the data is accurate.
He's said to be getting a promotion.
The defendant is alleged to have committed the act.
It was believed that the king had died in battle.
The fountain is said to bring good luck.
Choisis le bon 'it'
It is said that...quand tu fais une déclaration générale ou que tu ne veux pas préciser qui dit quoi. C'est un peu comme un
on dit universel. It is said that the sun is bright today.
N'oublie pas le 'to' !
Subject is said to..., tu dois toujours mettre
to suivi de la forme de base du verbe (par exemple, to be, to have, to go). Ne mets jamais de formes en -ing ou de participes passés directement après to. He is said to be a genius.
Varie tes infinitifs
to be pour le présent/futur (is said to be),
to have + past participlepour les actions passées (
is said to have done), et
to be + -ing pour les actions continues (is said to be doing). Ça rend ton propos plus précis !
She is said to be working on a new project.
Pour paraître objectif
It is widely reported that the economy is improving.
Vérifie ton contexte
Smart Tips
Start your sentences with 'It is reported that...' or 'It is alleged that...'.
Use the 'Subject + is said to' pattern. It's more descriptive.
Avoid 'I think'. Use 'It is considered that...' or 'It is argued that...'.
Use 'to have + V3' to show the action happened before the reporting.
Prononciation
Stress on the reporting verb
In the phrase 'It is SAID that', the stress usually falls on the past participle to emphasize the nature of the report.
Linking 'It is'
In natural speech, 'It is' often sounds like 'It's' or 'Idiz' with a soft 'd' sound in American English.
Falling intonation for facts
It is known that the Earth is round. ↘
Conveys certainty and authority.
Rising intonation for rumors
It is said that he's leaving? ↗
Conveys doubt or asks for confirmation.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Remember S.T.A.R.: Said, Thought, Alleged, Reported. These are your 4 main reporting stars!
Association visuelle
Imagine a news anchor sitting behind a desk. They aren't saying 'I think...', they are reading a script that says 'It is reported that...'. The desk is the 'It is' that supports the whole story.
Rhyme
When you don't know who to blame, 'It is said' is the name of the game!
Story
A secret agent needs to share information without revealing his source. He writes a letter starting with 'It is believed that the enemy is near.' By using the passive, he keeps his source safe and sounds like a professional spy.
Word Web
Défi
Look at a news headline today. Try to rewrite it using 'It is said that...' or 'The [Subject] is reported to...'.
Notes culturelles
British academic writing relies heavily on the impersonal passive to sound modest and objective, avoiding 'I think' at all costs.
Journalists use 'alleged' to avoid lawsuits (libel). If they say 'He stole it', they can be sued. If they say 'He is alleged to have stolen it', they are safe.
In casual conversation, 'It's said that' is less common than 'Word has it' or 'They say', but 'He's said to be' is common when discussing celebrities.
This structure comes from the Latin 'impersonal passive' where verbs like 'dicitur' (it is said) were used to convey general truths.
Amorces de conversation
It is said that travel broadens the mind. Do you agree?
He is thought to be the greatest athlete of all time. Who am I talking about?
It is rumored that a new iPhone is coming out soon. Have you heard anything?
In your country, what is said to be the best dish for a visitor to try?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
It ___ that the new restaurant serves amazing vegan food.
Find and fix the mistake:
The actor is reported having a new role in a Netflix series.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Se cree que la compañía lanzará un nuevo producto pronto.'
Answer starts with: ["I...
Score: /4
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesIt ___ that the Earth was flat.
He is thought ___ in New York.
Find and fix the mistake:
Is said that the movie is very long.
She ___ a genius.
'It is reported the company to be closing.'
Match: 1. Allege, 2. Surmise, 3. Rumor
A: They say he's late. B: He is reported to be late.
It is ___ that...
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe new policy ___ to improve working conditions for remote employees.
It is thought the team leader is resigning.
Which sentence is correct?
Se dice que el museo está abierto hasta tarde los jueves.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentence halves:
The suspect ___ to have fled the country immediately after the incident.
It is saying that this view is incredible! #travelgram
Which option is grammatically sound?
Se rumorea que esta canción será el éxito del verano.
Reorder the words to form a coherent sentence:
Match the verb to its common usage context:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
You can! But 'It is said' is more formal and objective. It's better for writing.
No, only verbs of thinking (believe, think), saying (report, claim), or knowing (know, understand).
Meaning is the same. 'It is said that' focuses on the whole idea; 'He is said to' focuses on the person.
Both are correct. 'It's said' is more common in speaking; 'It is said' is better for formal writing.
Yes! 'It is expected that...' is a common way to talk about the future.
No. Use 'It is said that' or 'I was told that'.
Use 'It was said that...' or 'He is said to have been...'.
Yes, it's standard in both British and American English, especially in news.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Se dice que...
Spanish doesn't use a dummy subject like 'It'.
On dit que...
French uses an active structure (On dit) for the same purpose.
Es wird gesagt, dass...
German word order in the 'dass' clause is different.
...to iwarete iru
Japanese puts the reporting verb at the end of the sentence.
Yuqal anna...
Arabic doesn't need a separate word for 'It' or 'is'.
据说是 (Jùshuō shì)
Chinese has no passive conjugation for this; it's a lexical choice.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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Passive Reporting Verbs in English | IT IS SAID THAT, IT IS THOUGHT THAT
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