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
Active Voice（主动语态）已经不够用了。在很多正式场合，比如撰写学术论文、阅读新闻报道、或者在职场中讨论公司传闻时，我们往往需要一种更中立、客观的表达方式。这就是我们今天要深入探讨的“非人称被动语态”（Impersonal Passive），其典型代表就是 It is said that... 这一类结构。It 这个“形式主语”（Dummy Subject）来占位。这种结构能让你的表达瞬间从“日常聊天”提升到“专业客观”的水平。掌握了它，你就能在雅思写作、商务邮件或者阅读《经济学人》等外刊时游刃有余。People say that...，但这听起来比较随意，主观色彩较浓。People say that... 转换为 It is said that... 时，发生了以下几个变化：- 1引入形式主语
It：因为它不指代具体的某个人，所以它能把焦点从“说话的人”转移到“被说的事情内容”上。 - 2动词变为被动形式：
say变成了is said。这在逻辑上相当于“（这件事）是被人们这样说的”。 - 3保留
that从句：原句中人们所说的具体内容，依然紧跟在后面。
say，还有很多表示“思考、相信、报道、了解”的动词可以套用这个模式。例如：believe(相信) →It is believed that...(人们相信...)report(报道) →It is reported that...(据报道...)know(知道) →It is known that...(众所周知...)think(认为) →It is thought that...(人们认为...)
It Construction)It + be (相应时态) + 过去分词 (reporting verb) + that + 从句It is said that the subway is crowded. | 据说地铁很挤。 |It was believed that the earth was flat. | 过去人们相信地球是平的。 |It has been reported that the price of milk tea will rise. | 据报道，奶茶要涨价了。 |It 永远不变，变化的是 be 动词的时态和后面的 that 从句内容。that 从句里的主语“提”到了句首作为全句的主语。结构如下：从句主语 + be (相应时态) + 过去分词 (reporting verb) + to-infinitive (不定式)- 1一般不定式 (
to do)：表示动作与报告同时发生或在之后发生。
- 例子：
He is said to live in Shanghai.(据说他住在上海。) - 对应模式 1：
It is said that he lives in Shanghai.
- 1完成不定式 (
to have done)：表示动作发生在报告之前。
- 例子：
The thief is believed to have escaped.(人们相信小偷已经逃跑了。) - 对应模式 1：
It is believed that the thief (has) escaped.
- 1进行不定式 (
to be doing)：表示动作在报告时正在进行。
- 例子：
They are thought to be working on a new project.(人们认为他们正在研发一个新项目。) - 对应模式 1：
It is thought that they are working on a new project.
- 1完成进行不定式 (
to have been doing)：表示动作在报告之前一直在进行。
- 例子：
She is reported to have been studying abroad for years.(据报道，她已经在国外留学多年了。)
- 1传播传闻或不确定的消息 (Reporting Rumors)
It is rumored that the famous actor will get married next month.(传闻那位著名男演员下个月要结婚。)
- 1陈述普遍共识或科学常识 (General Knowledge)
It is widely known that heavy pressure comes with the Gaokao.(众所周知，高考伴随着巨大的压力。)Exercise is generally considered to be beneficial for health.(运动通常被认为对健康有益。)
- 1新闻报道与官方声明 (News & Official Statements)
It is reported that the new bridge will be completed by the end of this year.(据报道，新大桥将于今年年底完工。)
- 1学术写作 (Academic Writing)
I think 或 We believe，这种被动语态是标配：It has been proved that this method is more efficient.(事实证明，这种方法效率更高。)
It (The Missing Subject Error)Is said that English is important.is said 必须有一个主语来支撑。哪怕这个 It 没有实际意义，也必须写上去。It is said that English is important.to do 和 to have done (Tense Confusion)The ancient building is said to be built 100 years ago.to be built，听起来像是现在正在建或者将来要建。The ancient building is said to have been built 100 years ago. (使用了完成被动不定式，表示动作发生在过去且是被动的。)It says that the weather will be fine.says。虽然 It says that... 在口语中指代“上面写着”是可以的，但在表示“人们说/据说”这个语法点时，必须用被动语态 is said。It is said that the weather will be fine.People say that he is rich. | 非正式，日常聊天 | 强调“大家”这个群体 |It is said that he is rich. | 正式，客观 | 强调“消息本身” |He is said to be rich. | 文雅，书面 | 强调“他”这个人 |The report says, He is rich. | 直接，具体 | 强调“原始出处” |It is said that...就像是中文里的“据闻...”，把整件事作为一个整体抛出来。He is said to be...就像是“他这人据说是...”，焦点更集中在句子的主语身上。在描述人的品质、状态时，这种写法在英语中被认为更高级。
It is said that... 和 It says that... 有区别吗？It is said that... 意思是“据说”，主语 It 是形式主语。而 It says that... 里的 It 通常指代具体的物品，比如 the book, the sign 或 the message。例如：It (the sign) says that no smoking is allowed. (告示牌上写着禁止吸烟。)say, think, believe, know, report, expect, claim, understand, consider。你不能说 It is eaten that...，这在逻辑上是不通的。It is said that... 会不会显得太装了？I heard that... (我听说...) 或者 They say that... (人家说...)。但在讨论稍微严肃的话题，比如谈论公司政策、社会新闻或者在做 Presentation 时，用 It is said that... 或 It is reported that... 会让你显得更有专业素养。to do 还是 to have done？have done；同时发，用 to do。比如：据说他现在很有钱 (to be rich)；据说他以前很有钱 (to have been rich)。只要对比一下“说”的时间和“有钱”的时间先后即可。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
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
It + is + V3 + that...
|
It is believed that he is innocent.
|
|
Negative
|
It + is not + V3 + that...
|
It is not thought that they will arrive today.
|
|
Question
|
Is it + V3 + that...?
|
Is it known that she is leaving?
|
|
Past Affirmative
|
It + was + V3 + that...
|
It was rumored that the king was ill.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
It + has been + V3 + that...
|
It has been reported that the fire is out.
|
|
With Modals
|
It + must be + V3 + that...
|
It must be said that he tried his best.
|
正式程度
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)
Common Reporting Verbs
Thoughts
- thought thought
- believed believed
- considered considered
Speech
- said said
- reported reported
- claimed claimed
Active vs. Impersonal Passive
Is it an Impersonal Passive?
Does it start with 'It'?
Is there a 'be' verb + V3?
Is there a 'that' clause?
按水平分级的例句
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.
容易混淆
Learners mix the 'that' clause with the 'to' infinitive.
Using active voice for general rumors.
常见错误
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.
句型
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.
The News Anchor Test
Don't Drop the 'It'
Use Adverbs
Polite Disagreement
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.
发音
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.
记住它
记忆技巧
IT IS SAID: Information Transferred Is Simply Stated As Indirect Data.
视觉联想
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
挑战
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.
文化笔记
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.
对话开场白
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?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
It ___ (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 each item on the left with its pair on the right:
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
练习题
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
常见问题 (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
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