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
it이라는 단어를 사용한 특별한 공식을 사용합니다. 이 it은 실제로 구체적인 의미가 없습니다. 그냥 자리 표시자일 뿐입니다.is와 과거분사라고 불리는 동사의 특별한 형태를 사용합니다. 대부분의 동사의 경우, 이것은 그냥 -ed로 끝납니다.say는 said가 되고, report는 reported가 됩니다. 레고 타워를 쌓는 것과 같습니다. it 기초, is 벽돌, 그리고 said 꼭대기가 필요합니다.
Formation Pattern
it이라는 단어로 시작하세요. 이것은 여러분의 «가짜» 주어입니다.
is를 추가하세요. 이 패턴에서는 보통 현재 시제를 유지합니다.
say, think, believe, 또는 report입니다. 이들은 said, thought, believed, 그리고 reported가 됩니다.
that이라는 단어를 추가하세요.
It + is + 과거분사 + that + [문장]
When To Use It
Common Mistakes
is라는 단어를 잊어버리는 것입니다. 많은 사람들이 It is said that...대신
It said that...이라고 말합니다. is가 없으면 문장이 끊어진 것처럼 느껴집니다. 바퀴 없는 자동차와 같죠! 또 다른 실수는 잘못된 동사 형태를 사용하는 것입니다. 과거분사가 필요하다는 것을 기억하세요. It is say that...이나
It is think that...이라고 말하지 마세요.
said와 thought를 사용해야 합니다. 또한 that이라는 단어도 잊지 마세요. 일상적인 대화에서는 가끔 생략할 수 있지만, 객관성을 위해서는 유지하는 것이 좋습니다. 마지막으로, 개인적인 감정에는 이것을 사용하지 마세요. 아이스크림을 좋아한다면 «내가 아이스크림을 좋아한다고 믿어진다»라고 말하지 마세요. 마치 여러분이 과학 실험 대상인 것처럼 들립니다! 그냥 «나는 아이스크림을 좋아한다»라고 말하세요. 이 패턴은 일반적인 의견이나 사실에만 사용하세요.Contrast With Similar Patterns
be + 과거분사를 사용하므로 비슷합니다. 하지만 객관적 수동태는 it을 사용한다는 점이 다릅니다.it이 아이디어 전체를 나타냅니다. 또한 «사람들이 말한다» 또는 «그들이 말한다»와 비교해 보세요.Quick FAQ
It was said처럼 다른 시제를 사용할 수 있나요?
네! 과거에 대해 이야기한다면 was를 사용하세요. «지구가 평평하다고 믿어졌다.»
이것은 격식 있는 글쓰기에만 사용되나요?
주로 그렇지만, 친구들과 재미있거나 드라마틱하게 보이고 싶을 때도 사용할 수 있습니다!
이것에 가장 흔히 쓰이는 동사는 무엇인가요?
«빅 4»는 said, thought, believed, reported입니다.
it은 사람을 가리키나요?
아니요, 문법이 작동하도록 돕는 «가짜» 주어일 뿐입니다.
It is told that...이라고 말할 수 있나요?
별로요. 이 패턴에서는 보통 told 대신 said나 reported를 사용합니다.
A1 학습자들에게 괜찮을까요?
물론이죠! 즉석에서 더 고급스럽게 들리도록 암기해서 사용하기에 아주 좋은 구절입니다.
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
| 능동태 보고 | 수동태 (It-형태) | 수동태 (주어-형태) | 언제 사용하나요? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
People say he's smart.
|
It is said that he is smart.
|
He is said to be smart.
|
일반적인 의견, 비공식/공식
|
|
They believe she moved.
|
It is believed that she moved.
|
She is believed to have moved.
|
널리 퍼진 믿음, 공식적
|
|
We know she's capable.
|
It is known that she is capable.
|
She is known to be capable.
|
확립된 사실, 공식적
|
|
They expect him to win.
|
It is expected that he will win.
|
He is expected to win.
|
예상되는 결과, 공식적
|
|
People consider her a leader.
|
It is considered that she is a leader.
|
She is considered to be a leader.
|
일반적인 판단, 공식적
|
|
They reported the discovery.
|
It was reported that they discovered...
|
They were reported to have discovered...
|
뉴스/공식 보고
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
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)
객관성을 위한 수동태: 'It is said that...'
구조 1: 비인칭 'It'
- It is said that... 진술에 초점
- It is believed that... 일반적인 믿음
- It is known that... 상식
구조 2: 주어 중심
- He is said to be... 사람/사물에 초점
- She is expected to win. 예상되는 결과
- They are understood to have... 과거 행동/상태
보고 동사
- say
- believe
- know
- report
- expect
- consider
주요 사용처
- Objectivity 중립적/편견 없이 들리게 함
- Formal context 뉴스, 학술, 공식
- Avoid source 누가 말했는지 모르거나 말하고 싶지 않을 때
- Distance 소문/미확인 정보 보고
능동태 vs. 수동태 보고
수동태 보고 구조 선택하기
일반적인 의견이나 사실을 보고하고 싶나요?
보고되는 절의 원래 주어가 강조하고 싶은 사람/사물인가요?
보고되는 행동이 보고 시점 *이전*에 일어났나요 (또는 완료되었나요)?
수동태 보고: 동사 및 사용법
흔한 보고 동사
- • say
- • believe
- • know
- • report
- • expect
- • consider
- • understand
- • allege
언제 사용하나요?
- • 뉴스 헤드라인
- • 학술 글쓰기
- • 공식 토론
- • 비난 피하기
- • 소문 공유
- • 일반적인 진실
주요 이점
- • 객관성
- • 격식
- • 비인칭성
- • 전문적인 어조
- • 거리 두기
- • 간결함
흔한 함정
- • 'be' 동사 누락
- • 잘못된 부정사 시제
- • 'by people' 추가
- • 비공식 대화에서의 과도한 사용
수준별 예문
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.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners mix the 'that' clause with the 'to' infinitive.
Using active voice for general rumors.
자주 하는 실수
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.
문장 패턴
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.
표현 방식을 현명하게 선택해요
It is said that...을, 보고되는 사람이나 사물을 주어로 내세우고 싶다면
He is said to be...를 사용해요. 둘 다 맞지만, 상황에 따라 더 자연스러운 표현이 있어요. 예를 들어,
It is said that the new movie is fantastic.또는
The new movie is said to be fantastic.
'be' 동사를 잊지 마세요!
It *is* said, He *was* believed처럼요. 'be' 동사가 없으면 능동태가 되어 의미가 완전히 달라져요. It is known that he is a talented artist.(O)
It known that he is a talented artist.(X)
to 부정사 시제에 주의해요
to have + 과거분사를 사용해요. 예를 들어, He is said to have won the competition.(그가 대회에서 우승했다고 전해진다 - 우승은 이미 과거에 일어남)
중립적이고 객관적으로 들리게 하는 방법
It is believed that the company will announce a new product soon.
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.
발음
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.
암기하기
기억법
IT IS SAID: Information Transferred Is Simply Stated As Indirect Data.
시각적 연상
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
챌린지
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.
문화 노트
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.
대화 시작하기
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?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
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
연습 문제
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
자주 묻는 질문 (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
Learn These First
관련 동영상
Related Grammar Rules
조동사 및 수동태 보고 화법 (C1)
### Overview 영어를 학습하면서 B2 수준을 넘어 C1(Advanced) 단계에 도달한다는 것은 단순히 문장을 정확하게 만드는 것을 넘...
보고 동사: 누가 무엇을 말했는가?
### Overview 여러분, 안녕하세요! 오늘은 영어의 'Reporting Verbs'에 대해 알아볼 거예요. 이 표현들은 다른 사람이 말하거나...
수동태를 사용하는 시점 (뉴스 및 소문 보도)
### 개요 수동태는 영어에서 행위의 주체(agent)가 알려지지 않았거나, 중요하지 않거나, 혹은 의도적으로 생략될 때 사용되는...
수동형 보도 구조 (그는 ~라고 합니다...)
### Overview 영어에서 `He is said to be...`와 같은 수동태 전달 구문(Passive Reporting Structures)은 정보, 의견, 또는 믿...
수동태: 동작에 초점 (현재 단순 수동태)
### Overview 영어를 배우는 한국인 학습자 여러분, 안녕하세요! 오늘은 영어 문법의 핵심 중 하나인 **수동태(The Passive Voi...
