Reported Speech with Modals & Passive Reporting (C1)
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
You are learning to tell what other people say. It helps you speak English very well.
You need this for school and work. It helps you understand news and serious talks.
Now you can talk about rules and chances. This shows you know English well.
How This Grammar Works
Formation Pattern
can | could | Ability, permission (present/future) |
may | might | Possibility, permission (present/future) |
will | would | Future intention, prediction |
shall | should / would | Obligation/advice (should), future intention (would) |
must | must / had to | Strong obligation (often had to for past), deduction (must) |
have to | had to | Obligation (present/future) |
ought to | ought to | Advice, moral obligation (remains unchanged) |
should | should | Advice, mild obligation (remains unchanged) |
could | could | Past ability, possibility (remains unchanged) |
might | might | Past possibility, weak permission (remains unchanged) |
would | would | Hypothetical situations, past habit (remains unchanged) |
"I can speak three languages."
She said she could speak three languages. (Ability backshifted)
"You must attend the meeting."
He said we had to attend the meeting. (Obligation backshifted to past)
She said it must be true. (Deduction remains must)
It is believed that the economy will improve next quarter.
It was reported that the ancient city had been discovered.
It is understood that the new policy will face opposition.
He is said to be a brilliant scientist. (Simultaneous: people say he is brilliant now)
She is believed to have left the country. (Past: people believe she left before now)
The project was reported to have failed due to funding issues. (Past: it was reported that it failed before the report)
He is alleged to be hiding in a remote village. (Ongoing: people allege he is hiding right now)
She is thought to have been working on the solution for months. (Ongoing in the past: people think she was working before now)
The suspect is thought to be arrested soon. (Future passive)
The documents are believed to be destroyed. (Present passive)
The money is said to have been stolen from the vault. (Past passive)
It is believed that the government might introduce new regulations.
It was suggested that the team should reconsider their strategy.
When To Use It
- To Convey Objectivity and Formality: In academic writing, news reports, or formal presentations, you often need to present information without personal bias or direct attribution. Passive reporting structures allow you to present statements as generally accepted facts, rumors, or official pronouncements.
- Example:
It is widely believed that climate change is a pressing global issue.(More objective thanMany people believe...) - Example:
The new policy is expected to generate significant public debate.(Focuses on the policy, not the one expecting debate)
- To Report Information from Unspecified or Multiple Sources: When the exact source is unknown, unimportant, or when information has been disseminated through various channels, passive reporting is ideal. This is common in everyday gossip as well as formal news.
- Example:
She is rumored to be moving to a different department.(The source of the rumor is not specified) - Example:
It has been suggested that the conference will be postponed.(Who suggested it is secondary to the suggestion itself)
- To Soften or Distance a Statement (especially advice or criticism): Using reported modals can subtly reduce the directness of a statement, making advice less confrontational or criticism more palatable. It creates a slight distance between the original utterance and its current retelling.
- Direct:
"You should reconsider your approach." - Reported:
The manager indicated that we should reconsider our approach.(Less direct than a command)
- To Avoid Taking Responsibility for a Statement: Sometimes you need to relay information or a decision made by others, without personally endorsing it. Passive reporting allows you to present the information as received.
- Example:
It was decided that the project would proceed as planned.(Focuses on the decision, not who made it, and removes personal accountability)
- To Emphasize the Message, Not the Messenger: In many contexts, the content of the communication is more important than the person who originally said it. These structures naturally shift this emphasis.
- Example:
The suspect is alleged to have stolen valuable artifacts.(Highlights the allegation against the suspect, not the allegators)
- To Discuss Possibilities, Obligations, or Permissions Indirectly: When reporting what someone said about future possibilities (
might), obligations (had to), or permissions (could), you maintain the modal nuance while embedding it in a reported context. - Example:
The forecast mentioned that it might rain later.(Reports a possibility without making it your personal prediction) - Example:
She explained that all participants had to register by Friday.(Reports a past obligation)
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect Modal Backshift: This is a frequent error. Remember that not all modals backshift, and some have specific alternatives. Incorrectly backshifting
shouldtowould have should(which is ungrammatical) or failing to backshiftcantocouldalters the intended meaning. - Incorrect:
She said she can attend.(If original was"I can attend"and reported in past) - Correct:
She said she could attend. - Incorrect:
He told me I would go there.(If original was"You should go there") - Correct:
He told me I should go there.
- Misuse of Infinitives in Pattern 2 Passive Reporting: The choice between
to + base verbandto have + past participleis crucial for conveying timing. Using the wrong one can lead to logical inconsistencies. - Incorrect:
The ancient city is believed to discover last year.(Implies the city is discovering itself) - Correct:
The ancient city is believed to have been discovered last year.(Indicates the discovery happened before the belief) - Incorrect:
He was alleged to be stealing the documents.(Implies he is currently stealing) - Correct:
He was alleged to have stolen the documents.(Implies the theft occurred in the past)
- Confusing Pattern 1 (
It is said that...) with Pattern 2 (Subject is said to be...): While both are passive reporting, they are not interchangeable. Attempting to combine their structures incorrectly results in ungrammatical sentences. - Incorrect:
It is believed the man to be responsible. - Correct:
It is believed that the man is responsible.(Pattern 1) - Correct:
The man is believed to be responsible.(Pattern 2)
- Overuse and Unnaturalness: While formal, passive reporting can sound stiff or overly academic if used in inappropriate contexts. Over-reliance on
It is said that...orSubject is believed to...in casual conversation can make your speech sound unnatural or evasive. Sometimes, a direct, active construction is clearer and more appropriate. - Consider:
"People generally agree that the new software is an improvement."vs."It is generally agreed that the new software is an improvement."Both are correct, but the former might be preferred in a less formal context for its directness.
- Missing
thatinthat-clauses: Whilethatcan often be omitted in informal direct reported speech, its inclusion in formal passive reporting (Pattern 1) often enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity. - Less clear:
It was reported the CEO resigned. - Clearer:
It was reported that the CEO resigned.
- Inconsistent Backshift in
that-clauses: Even within passive reporting structures, thethat-clause follows standard reported speech backshift rules. Failure to apply them consistently, especially if the main reporting verb is in the past, leads to tense discord. - Incorrect:
It was understood that shehas completedthe research. - Correct:
It was understood that shehad completedthe research.
Real Conversations
These advanced structures are not confined to textbooks; they are integral to expressing complex ideas and information in various real-world contexts, from formal news analysis to informal social media commentary. Understanding their pragmatic functions reveals their utility in everyday communication.
Academic and Professional Contexts:
- Research Paper Introduction: "It has been argued that the existing theoretical framework might not fully account for recent empirical findings." (Passive reporting to introduce a scholarly debate, reported modal might for possibility)
- Meeting Summary Email: "The team was asked to consider alternative solutions, and it was suggested that we should explore open-source options." (Passive reporting a request, reported modal should for advice)
- Job Interview (responding to a hypothetical): "If faced with such a challenge, one might first gather all available data. It is believed that a data-driven approach often leads to more robust solutions." (Reported modal might for possibility, passive reporting a general belief)
News and Public Discourse:
- News Report Headline: "Prime Minister Is Expected To Announce Major Cabinet Reshuffle." (Pattern 2 passive reporting a future event)
- Online Article Commentary: "It is alleged that the company knowingly misled investors, but this remains unproven." (Pattern 1 passive reporting an allegation, often used when specific sources are sensitive or unconfirmed)
- Political Discussion: "The senator is said to have significant support from the grassroots, yet it is understood that the upcoming election will be fiercely contested." (Pattern 2 for current reputation, Pattern 1 for current understanding)
Social and Everyday Interactions:
- Discussing a Rumor: "Did you hear? Mark is rumored to be getting promoted. Apparently, he's been working on some top-secret project." (Pattern 2 for a current rumor)
- Relaying Advice from a Friend: "My friend said I should probably take that class, as it's supposed to be really useful." (Reported modal should for advice, supposed to be as an informal passive reporting)
- Social Media Post (lighthearted opinion): "It is widely believed that Tuesdays are the hardest day of the week to get motivated. Anyone else?" (Pattern 1 for a relatable, general observation)
These examples illustrate how these structures are employed to convey information with varying degrees of certainty, attribution, and formality, reflecting their versatility in advanced English usage.
Quick FAQ
No. Modals like should, could, might, and would typically remain unchanged because they already express a past or hypothetical meaning. Must can either stay must (for deduction or strong, current obligation) or change to had to (for past obligation). Will and can almost always backshift to would and could, respectively.
It is said that... and Subject is said to be...?The difference lies in emphasis and structure. It is said that... is an impersonal construction that introduces a full clause (e.g., It is said that he is very intelligent). It focuses on the statement itself. Subject is said to be... directly links the reported state or action to a specific subject (e.g., He is said to be very intelligent). This pattern focuses on the subject of the report.
You should primarily use passive reporting with verbs of reporting, belief, opinion, or perception, such as say, believe, think, know, report, understand, expect, allege, claim. Using it with general action verbs (e.g., run, eat, sing) sounds unnatural because these verbs don't typically introduce reported statements or beliefs.
People say... or Someone thinks...?Passive reporting offers several advantages: it lends a more formal, objective, or detached tone; it is useful when the source of information is unknown, unimportant, or intentionally obscured; and it shifts focus to the information rather than the informant. This can make a statement sound more authoritative or present information as a widely accepted fact rather than a personal opinion.
Yes, absolutely. If the main passive reporting verb is in the past tense (e.g., It was reported that...), the verb within the that-clause must follow the standard backshifting rules of reported speech for consistency. For example, It was reported that he had completed the project (not has completed).
Use to + base verb when the reported action or state is simultaneous with or occurs after the reporting verb (e.g., He is believed to be currently working or He is expected to arrive tomorrow). Use to have + past participle when the reported action or state occurred before the reporting verb (e.g., He is believed to have worked on the project last year). This distinction is critical for accurate timing.
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
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Impersonal Passive
|
It + is/was + [verb-ed] + that...
|
It is rumored that they are dating.
|
|
Personal Passive
|
Subject + is/was + [verb-ed] + to...
|
They are rumored to be dating.
|
|
Negative Passive
|
It + is not + [verb-ed] + that...
|
It is not known where he is.
|
|
Question Passive
|
Is it + [verb-ed] + that...?
|
Is it expected that she will win?
|
|
Past Modal Report
|
Subject + said + [modal-past] + verb
|
He said he could handle it.
|
|
Perfect Modal Report
|
Subject + said + [modal] + have + [verb-ed]
|
She said he might have forgotten.
|
Formality Spectrum
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)
The Reporting Distance Map
Direct
- Active John said 'I will...'
Indirect
- Backshifted John said he would...
Objective
- Passive (It) It is said that...
- Passive (Subject) He is said to...
Modal Shift Timeline
Choosing Your Passive Structure
Focus on the person?
Action in the past?
Examples by Level
He says, 'I can help.'
She says, 'I will go.'
They say, 'We are happy.'
I say, 'I must leave.'
He said he could help.
She told me she would come.
They said they might be late.
He said he had to go.
It is said that he is very rich.
She suggested that we should leave.
He claimed he could speak five languages.
They promised they would finish on time.
The company is thought to be losing money.
It was reported that the strike had ended.
He is believed to have left the country.
She insisted that he must have been joking.
The suspect is understood to have been residing in London for years.
It is widely acknowledged that the policy may have been flawed.
The artifact is estimated to date back to the 4th century.
He is alleged to have been embezzling funds since 2015.
The manuscript is purported to have been authored by Shakespeare himself.
It has been contended that such measures might prove counterproductive.
The witness is reported to have been under considerable duress.
The findings are presumed to be indicative of a larger trend.
Easily Confused
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.
Common Mistakes
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.
Sentence Patterns
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.
Use 'Understood' for Professionalism
Watch the Tense of 'Is'
The 'That' Shortcut
Avoiding Blame
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.
Pronunciation
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.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
W.C.M. (Will to Would, Can to Could, May to Might) - The 'Wicked Cool Modals' shift back!
Visual Association
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
Challenge
Write three sentences about a famous person using 'is rumored to', 'is said to have', and 'is thought to be'.
Cultural Notes
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.
Conversation Starters
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?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
He 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 Exercises
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.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate: 'Ella dijo que podría ayudarnos.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the modals:
It ___ that the new policy will face strong opposition.
The documents are thought to have be destroyed.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate: 'Se entiende que la empresa está contratando.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the structures:
Score: /12
FAQ (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
English Modal Verbs: can, should, must
Overview Modal verbs are a specialized subset of auxiliary verbs in English that add crucial meaning to a main verb. The...
Reporting What People Said (Tense Backshift)
Overview Reporting what someone said, also known as `reported speech` or `indirect speech`, is a fundamental aspect of E...
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