Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Shift modals back in time and use passive 'it' or 'subject' structures to report information objectively and formally.
- Shift 'can' to 'could' and 'will' to 'would' in reported speech. Example: 'I can go' becomes 'He said he could go'.
- Use 'It is said that...' for general beliefs. Example: 'It is said that the CEO will resign'.
- Use 'Subject + is thought + to + verb' for specific focus. Example: 'He is thought to be hiding'.
- Keep 'should', 'ought to', and 'might' unchanged in reported speech. Example: 'You should stay' becomes 'She said I should stay'.
Overview
It is said that...이나 He is believed to...와 같은 구조를 능숙하게 사용하는 것은 여러분의 영어를 훨씬 더 세련되고 전문적으로 보이게 만듭니다.- 패턴 1 (Impersonal it):
It is thought that...(그것이 ~라고 생각된다) - 문장 전체를 절로 받아 전달하는 방식입니다. - 패턴 2 (Subject Raising):
Subject is thought to...(주어가 ~라고 생각된다) - 정보의 핵심이 되는 주어를 문장 앞으로 끌어내어 강조하는 방식입니다. C1 레벨에서는 특히 이 패턴 2를 자유자재로 구사하는 것이 중요합니다.
It을 사용하거나 의미상 주어를 문두로 보냅니다. 이러한 구조적 차이를 이해하는 것이 학습의 첫걸음입니다.said, told 등 과거 시점의 보고 동사 뒤)에서 어떻게 변하는지 정리한 표입니다.can | could | 능력이나 허가 |will | would | 미래의 의지나 예측 |may | might | 가능성이나 허가 |must | had to / must | 의무일 때는 had to, 강한 추측일 때는 must 유지 |have to | had to | 의무 |should | should | 변화 없음 (조언, 의무) |ought to | ought to | 변화 없음 |could / might | could / might | 이미 과거/가정의 형태이므로 변화 없음 |- 예시:
I can help you tomorrow,
he said.He said (that) he could help me the next day.
say, believe, think, know, report, understand, expect, allege, claim, consider.It + be + 과거분사(p.p.) + that + 주어 + 동사- 격식 있는 뉴스나 보고서에서 가장 흔히 쓰이는 형태입니다.
It is reported that the company is facing a crisis.(그 회사가 위기에 처해 있다고 보도되고 있다.)
주어 + be + 과거분사(p.p.) + to-부정사to-부정사의 형태를 시제에 따라 4가지로 세분화해야 합니다. 이것이 C1 레벨의 핵심 변별력입니다.- Simple Infinitive (
to + 동사원형): 보고 시점과 사건 시점이 같거나 사건이 미래일 때. He is said to live in London.(그는 런던에 산다고들 한다. - 현재 살고 있음)- Perfect Infinitive (
to have + p.p.): 사건이 보고 시점보다 이전일 때. She is believed to have won the prize.(그녀가 상을 받았었다고 믿어진다. - 과거에 받았음)- Continuous Infinitive (
to be + -ing): 사건이 보고 시점에 진행 중일 때. They are thought to be hiding somewhere.(그들이 어딘가에 숨어 있는 것으로 생각된다.)- Perfect Continuous Infinitive (
to have been + -ing): 과거부터 보고 시점까지 진행 중이었을 때. The suspect is alleged to have been planning the heist for months.(그 용의자가 수개월 동안 강도 사건을 계획해 온 것으로 혐의를 받고 있다.)
- 상황: 회사 회의에서 시장 조사 결과를 보고할 때
- 예시:
It is estimated that the market will grow by 10% next year.
- 상황: 사내 소문을 언급할 때
- 예시:
The CEO is rumored to be stepping down.
allege(혐의를 제기하다), claim(주장하다) 등의 동사와 함께 수동태 보고 구문을 사용합니다.- 예시:
The politician is alleged to have accepted bribes.
You must do this.
- 예시:
The consultant suggested that the team should reconsider the strategy.
must의 간접 화법 처리 오류must는 과거형이 없습니다. 많은 학습자가 He said I must go.라고만 하는데, 과거의 의무라면 반드시 had to로 바꿔야 합니다.- Mistake:
She said she must finish the report yesterday.(X) - Correction:
She said she had to finish the report yesterday.(O) - Note: 단,
must가 '강한 추측(~임에 틀림없다)'일 때는 간접 화법에서도must를 그대로 씁니다. (He said it must be true.)
to have p.p.)의 누락to have p.p.를 써야 하는데, 습관적으로 to + 동사원형을 씁니다.- Mistake:
The ancient temple is believed to exist 2,000 years ago.(X) - Correction:
The ancient temple is believed to have existed 2,000 years ago.(O) - Why: 현재 믿어지는 것(
is believed)보다 사원이 존재했던 것(existed)이 더 과거이기 때문입니다.
That절과 To-infinitive의 혼용It is said to...와 같은 정체불명의 혼성 구조를 만드는 경우가 있습니다.- Mistake:
It is said to be the company is successful.(X) - Correction 1:
It is said that the company is successful.(O) - Correction 2:
The company is said to be successful.(O)
People say that he is rich. | 사람들 (Active) | 일반적이고 다소 구어적인 느낌 |It is said that he is rich. | 정보 내용 (Passive 1) | 격식 있고 객관적인 보도 톤 |He is said to be rich. | 주어 'He' (Passive 2) | 주어에 대한 특징이나 평판을 강조 |He is said to have been rich. | 주어의 과거 상태 | 현재의 평판은 '부자였다는 것'임 |It is said that... vs He is said to...It is said that...은 문장 전체의 사실 여부에 더 무게를 둡니다. 한국어의 «~라는 사실이 전해진다»에 가깝습니다.He is said to...는 그 인물이나 사물의 '속성'에 대해 말하는 느낌입니다. 한국어의 «그는 ~라고들 한다»에 더 가깝습니다.
Must vs Had to in Reported SpeechHe said,(추측) →I must be dreaming.
He said (that) he must be dreaming.(O)He said,(의무) →I must leave now.
He said (that) he had to leave then.(O)
can은 무조건 could로 바꿔야 하나요?He said...)라면 원칙적으로 could로 바꿉니다. 하지만 그 사실이 현재에도 여전히 유효하다면(예: He said he can swim.), 시제 일치의 예외로 can을 쓰기도 합니다. 하지만 격식 있는 글쓰기에서는 could가 안전합니다.to have been -ing는 너무 복잡한데 꼭 써야 하나요?to have worked라고 하면 일을 마쳤다는 느낌이 강하지만, to have been working이라고 하면 그 기간 동안 고생하며 계속 일해왔다는 뉘앙스가 살아납니다.Pattern 2 (Subject is said to...)로 바꿀 수 있나요?say, think, believe, know)는 가능합니다. 하지만 suggest나 explain 같은 동사는 이 패턴으로 쓰지 않습니다. 예를 들어, He is suggested to be...라는 표현은 어색하며, 대신 It was suggested that he should be...를 사용해야 합니다.ought to나 should는 왜 안 변하나요?Modal Shifts in Reported Speech
| Direct Speech Modal | Reported Speech Modal | Example Direct | Example Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Will
|
Would
|
I will help.
|
He said he would help.
|
|
Can
|
Could
|
I can swim.
|
She said she could swim.
|
|
May (Possibility)
|
Might
|
It may rain.
|
He said it might rain.
|
|
May (Permission)
|
Could
|
May I leave?
|
He asked if he could leave.
|
|
Must (Obligation)
|
Had to
|
You must stay.
|
She said I had to stay.
|
|
Must (Deduction)
|
Must (no change)
|
He must be tired.
|
She said he must be tired.
|
|
Should / Ought to
|
No change
|
You should go.
|
He said I should go.
|
Passive Reporting Infinitive Forms
| Infinitive Type | Structure | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Simple
|
to + verb
|
Present/Future state
|
He is said to be rich.
|
|
Continuous
|
to be + -ing
|
Action in progress
|
They are thought to be hiding.
|
|
Perfect
|
to have + past participle
|
Past action
|
She is believed to have left.
|
|
Perfect Continuous
|
to have been + -ing
|
Past action over time
|
He is alleged to have been lying.
|
Meanings
This grammar allows speakers to report information, beliefs, or rumors without taking personal responsibility for the truth of the statement, often used in journalism and academic writing.
Reporting Modals
Changing the tense of modal verbs when moving from direct to indirect speech to maintain temporal logic.
“Direct: 'I may arrive late.' Indirect: 'He mentioned he might arrive late.'”
“Direct: 'You must sign this.' Indirect: 'She insisted that I had to sign it.'”
Impersonal Passive Reporting
Using 'It + passive verb + that' to report general opinions or facts objectively.
“It is widely believed that the climate is changing rapidly.”
“It has been suggested that the meeting be postponed.”
Personal Passive Reporting
Using 'Subject + passive verb + to-infinitive' to focus on the person or thing being discussed.
“The suspect is understood to be cooperating with the police.”
“The painting is estimated to be worth millions.”
Reference Table
| 직접 화법 | 간접 화법 (조동사) | 수동태 보고 |
|---|---|---|
|
"I can finish it."
|
She said she could finish it.
|
It was said that she could finish it.
|
|
"He will join us."
|
They claimed he would join them.
|
He is expected to join us.
|
|
"You must attend."
|
She told me I must/had to attend.
|
Attendance is said to be mandatory.
|
|
"It may rain."
|
The forecast warned it might rain.
|
It is believed it might rain.
|
|
"They should study."
|
I advised they should study.
|
They are understood to study diligently.
|
|
"She could be wrong."
|
He suggested she could be wrong.
|
It is thought that she could be wrong.
|
|
"He has stolen it."
|
N/A
|
He is alleged to have stolen it.
|
|
"She is building a company."
|
N/A
|
She is reported to be building a company.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
He is considered to be the most suitable candidate for the position. (Job recruitment)
It is thought that he is the best candidate. (Job recruitment)
Everyone says he's the best one for the job. (Job recruitment)
He's the GOAT for this role, no cap. (Job recruitment)
간접 화법: 조동사 & 수동태
조동사 포함
- Can → Could 그녀는 갈 수 있다고 말했다.
- May → Might 그는 비가 올지도 모른다고 말했다.
- Will → Would 그들은 돕겠다고 말했다.
- Must / Had To 우리는 그것을 끝내야 했다.
수동태 보고 (유형 1)
- It is/was said that... 그가 떠났다고 믿어진다.
- It is/was reported that... 시장이 하락했다고 보도되었다.
수동태 보고 (유형 2)
- Subject is/was said to... 그녀는 똑똑하다고 알려져 있다.
- Subject is/was believed to... 그가 거짓말을 했다고 믿어졌다.
주요 용도
- News/Rumors 그녀가 약혼했다는 소문이 있다.
- Objectivity 그것은 이해된다...
- Formality 그는 연설할 것으로 예상된다.
직접 화법 vs. 간접 화법 vs. 수동태 간접 화법 비교
간접 화법 구조 선택하기
직접 인용인가요?
원문에 조동사(can, will, may 등)가 있나요?
일반적인 믿음/소문을 보고하거나, 객관성/격식성을 강조하고 싶나요?
수동태 보고에 사용되는 동사들
믿음
- • believe
- • think
- • consider
- • suppose
진술
- • say
- • state
- • declare
- • report
예상
- • expect
- • anticipate
주장
- • allege
- • claim
이해
- • understand
- • know
수준별 예문
He says, 'I can help.'
He says he can help.
She says, 'I will go.'
She says she will go.
They say, 'We are happy.'
They say they are happy.
I say, 'I must leave.'
I say I must leave.
He said he could help.
He said he could help.
She told me she would come.
She told me she would come.
They said they might be late.
They said they might be late.
He said he had to go.
He said he had to go.
It is said that he is very rich.
It is said that he is very rich.
She suggested that we should leave.
She suggested that we should leave.
He claimed he could speak five languages.
He claimed he could speak five languages.
They promised they would finish on time.
They promised they would finish on time.
The company is thought to be losing money.
The company is thought to be losing money.
It was reported that the strike had ended.
It was reported that the strike had ended.
He is believed to have left the country.
He is believed to have left the country.
She insisted that he must have been joking.
She insisted that he must have been joking.
The suspect is understood to have been residing in London for years.
The suspect is understood to have been residing in London for years.
It is widely acknowledged that the policy may have been flawed.
It is widely acknowledged that the policy may have been flawed.
The artifact is estimated to date back to the 4th century.
The artifact is estimated to date back to the 4th century.
He is alleged to have been embezzling funds since 2015.
He is alleged to have been embezzling funds since 2015.
The manuscript is purported to have been authored by Shakespeare himself.
The manuscript is purported to have been authored by Shakespeare himself.
It has been contended that such measures might prove counterproductive.
It has been contended that such measures might prove counterproductive.
The witness is reported to have been under considerable duress.
The witness is reported to have been under considerable duress.
The findings are presumed to be indicative of a larger trend.
The findings are presumed to be indicative of a larger trend.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners confuse 'He was told' (someone spoke to him) with 'He is said to' (people talk about him).
Using 'that' after the subject-passive structure.
Using 'must' for past obligation in reported speech.
자주 하는 실수
He say he can help.
He says he can help.
He said he will come.
He said he would come.
It is said him to be rich.
He is said to be rich.
The thief is reported to escape last night.
The thief is reported to have escaped last night.
문장 패턴
It is ___ that ___.
The ___ is thought to be ___.
He is alleged to have ___.
They are understood to be ___ing ___.
Real World Usage
Local Man Reported to Have Won Lottery Twice
It is widely acknowledged that further research is required.
She's rumored to be getting the promotion.
The defendant is alleged to have committed the offense on June 1st.
The new iPhone is said to be coming out in September! 📱
The patient is understood to have a history of heart disease.
조동사 시제 일치 연습하기
'To Have' 함정에 주의하기
구조를 현명하게 선택하기
It adds precision and polish to your message.
뉴스 보도의 뉘앙스
It allows for reporting claims without fully endorsing them.
과도하게 사용하지 않기
Sometimes direct reporting is clearer and more natural, especially in casual chats.
Smart Tips
Use 'allegedly' or 'is alleged to have' when talking about unproven events.
Don't try to change them! They are already 'past' enough.
Look for the word 'that'. It's the signal that a full sentence is coming next.
Use the 'Subject + is said to' structure. It's the most natural way to describe what people think of someone.
발음
Weak forms of 'to'
In the structure 'is said to be', the word 'to' is usually reduced to a schwa /tə/.
Stress on the reporting verb
The main stress usually falls on the reporting verb (said, thought, rumored), not the 'is' or 'to'.
Falling intonation for certainty
It is widely believed that the economy will recover. ↘
Conveys a sense of established fact or high confidence.
암기하기
기억법
W.C.M. (Will to Would, Can to Could, May to Might) - The 'Wicked Cool Modals' shift back!
시각적 연상
Imagine a news anchor sitting behind a desk. They aren't saying 'I think,' they are saying 'It is reported that...' This desk represents the 'Passive Reporting' structure that protects them from being wrong.
Rhyme
When reporting what they say, shift the modal back a day. If the source you want to hide, let the Passive be your guide.
Story
A detective is reporting on a mystery. He doesn't know the truth yet, so he tells his boss: 'The suspect is thought to have fled. It is believed that he might be in Paris. He was said to be carrying a red bag.'
Word Web
챌린지
Write three sentences about a famous person using 'is rumored to', 'is said to have', and 'is thought to be'.
문화 노트
The BBC and other UK broadsheets frequently use 'is understood to' or 'is alleged to' to maintain a neutral, objective stance and avoid libel.
In US and UK universities, using 'It is argued that' is preferred over 'I think' to make the writing sound more scholarly and less biased.
In corporate 'office speak', passive reporting is used to deliver bad news gently or to distance the speaker from the decision.
Passive reporting structures evolved from Old English 'man sagt' (one says), similar to modern German.
대화 시작하기
What is something that is rumored to be true about a famous person?
It is said that technology makes us lonelier. Do you agree?
What are some things that were once thought to be impossible but are now common?
If you heard a colleague was said to be leaving, would you ask them about it?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
The weather forecast said it ___ rain tomorrow.
Find and fix the mistake:
He is said to stole the ancient artifact.
올바른 문장을 선택하세요:
영어로 번역하세요: 'Se cree que el precio aumentará.'
Answer starts with: ["I...
Score: /4
연습 문제
8 exercisesHe said he ___ help me the next day.
The suspect is believed ___ (flee) the country last week.
Find and fix the mistake:
It is thought him to be the best player.
He is said to be a genius. -> ___
The modal 'should' always changes to 'would' in reported speech.
A: Did you hear about the CEO? B: Yes, she is rumored ___.
Select the modal that stays the same.
believed / to / is / have / the / painting / stolen / been
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesShe told me she ___ call me back later.
It is rumored that he has been fire from his job.
어떤 문장이 올바른가요?
번역하세요: 'Ella dijo que podría ayudarnos.'
이 단어들을 문장으로 배열하세요:
조동사를 짝지으세요:
It ___ that the new policy will face strong opposition.
The documents are thought to have be destroyed.
올바른 문장을 선택하세요:
번역하세요: 'Se entiende que la empresa está contratando.'
이 단어들을 문장으로 배열하세요:
구조를 짝지으세요:
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
Use `It is said that...` when you want to emphasize the information itself. Use `He is said to...` when you want to focus on the person you are talking about. The latter is slightly more common in descriptions of people.
No. If `must` expresses a logical deduction (e.g., 'He must be tired'), it stays as `must`. If it expresses an obligation (e.g., 'You must go'), it changes to `had to`.
Yes, but it's very formal. In daily speech, we often use `is supposed to` or `is rumored to` instead of `is said to`.
`Is thought to be` refers to a present state (He is thought to be rich now). `Is thought to have been` refers to a past state (He is thought to have been rich in the 90s).
Not really. In informal English, we just say 'People say...' or 'I heard that...'. The passive version is for news, books, and formal reports.
Usually, no. `Allege` is almost always used for crimes or wrongdoings that haven't been proven yet.
We use `to have been` (the perfect infinitive) to show that the action happened *before* the reporting. It's like a 'past tense' for infinitives.
Yes. `Should`, `ought to`, `might`, and `could` (when expressing possibility) usually stay the same in reported speech.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Se dice que / Se cree que
Spanish lacks the 'Subject + to-infinitive' reporting structure.
On dit que / Il est dit que
French uses the pronoun 'On' much more frequently than English uses 'It is said'.
Soll-Konstruktion / Man sagt
German uses a modal verb ('sollen') instead of a passive verb ('is said').
~rashii / ~sou desu
Japanese reporting is handled by particles/auxiliaries, not by changing the main verb to passive.
يُقال أن (Yuqal anna)
Arabic rarely uses the personal 'Subject + to-infinitive' structure in this context.
据说 (Jùshuō)
Chinese has no verb conjugation or passive infinitive shifts.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
관련 동영상
Related Grammar Rules
객관성을 위한 수동태: '...라고 한다'
Overview 뉴스 리포터들이 왜 그렇게 진지하게 들리는지 궁금한 적이 있나요? 그들은 "내 생각에 이런 일이 일어난 것 같다"라고...
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...
