B2 Passive & Reported Speech 7 min read 中等

Advanced Passive

Master passive reporting to share rumors, news, and general beliefs objectively using se or este constructions.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the impersonal 'se' or passive voice with verbs of perception to report general opinions or facts without naming the source.

  • Use 'se' + verb (3rd person singular) for general statements: 'Se spune că...' (It is said that...)
  • Use passive voice for specific subjects: 'El este considerat a fi...' (He is considered to be...)
  • Ensure the verb agrees with the subject in the personal passive construction.
Se + Verb (3rd pers. sing.) + că + Clause

Overview

Ever heard a juicy rumor at a Romanian coffee shop? Or watched a serious news report in Bucharest? You probably heard the passive reported voice without even realizing it.
This grammar pattern is your best friend when you want to share information. But here is the catch: you aren't the one claiming it is true. You are just passing it along.
In English, we say
It is said that
or
It is rumored that.
In Romanian, we use specific structures like se spune că or este raportat că. It allows you to sound objective, professional, or just like a person who knows the latest gossip. Think of it like a grammar safety vest.
It protects you from being blamed if the news turns out to be wrong! It is a key tool for B2 learners to move from basic sentences to sophisticated conversation. You will sound less like a textbook and more like a native speaker who understands nuance.

How This Grammar Works

This pattern shifts the focus away from the person speaking. Instead, it focuses on the information itself. Usually, we say People say that... (Oamenii spun că...).
That is fine, but it is a bit basic. The passive reported construction removes the people entirely. It makes the statement feel like a general truth or a widely held belief.
You have two main ways to do this in Romanian. The first uses the reflexive pronoun se. The second uses the verb a fi (to be) plus a participle.
Both serve to distance the speaker from the statement. It is like looking through a frosted window. You see the shape of the news, but the source is hidden.
This is perfect for journalism, academic writing, or avoiding blame at work. If a project is late, you might say se știe că sunt probleme (it is known that there are problems). It sounds much softer than saying
My boss knows I messed up!

Formation Pattern

1
Creating these sentences is like following a simple recipe. You don't need a PhD in linguistics to get it right. Just follow these steps:
2
Pick your reporting verb. Common choices are a spune (to say), a crede (to believe), or a zvoni (to rumor).
3
Choose your structure. For the reflexive style, add se before the third-person singular verb. For example, se spune.
4
For the formal style, use este plus the past participle. For example, este confirmat (it is confirmed).
5
Always add the conjunction că (that) to connect to your main idea.
6
Follow with the rest of your sentence.
7
Let's look at a quick example. Take the verb a crede.
8
Reflexive: Se crede + că + va ploua = Se crede că va ploua (It is believed that it will rain).
9
Formal: Este crezut + că... (though se crede is much more common for this specific verb).
10
Remember, the verb after se is almost always in the singular. Even if the news is about many people, the reporting part stays singular. It is a steady anchor in your sentence.

When To Use It

When should you pull this grammar tool out of your kit? Use it when the source of information isn't important. Maybe everyone knows it, or maybe nobody knows who started the rumor.
It is great for news reporting. You will hear se relatează că (it is reported that) on every TV channel. Use it in office environments to discuss company policy.
Se consideră că noile reguli sunt utile (It is considered that the new rules are useful). It is also the king of social gossip. If you are at a party and want to share a secret, start with se zice că.
It adds a layer of mystery. It also works well in academic settings. When you write an essay, se observă că (it is observed that) sounds much better than I see that. It gives your words authority and weight.
Think of it like a professional suit for your sentences.

When Not To Use It

Don't use this when you want to take personal responsibility. If you are telling your partner I love you, don't say se spune că te iubesc. That would be very weird and might end your relationship!
Avoid it when the action is direct and clear. If you saw Maria eat the cake, say
Maria ate the cake.
Using se spune că Maria a mâncat tortul makes you sound like a suspicious detective. Also, avoid overusing the formal este + participle version in casual chats.
It can make you sound like a robot or a government document. If you are ordering food, don't say este recomandat că pizza e bună. Just say the pizza is good!
Use it for generalities, not for your immediate, personal physical actions. No one says se merge la baie when they are heading to the restroom.

Common Mistakes

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes, so don't worry! The biggest mistake is forgetting the că. In English, we can sometimes skip that, but in Romanian, că is mandatory. Another trap is the agreement of the participle. In the este + participle version, the participle must stay masculine singular (este scris, not este scrisă), because it refers to the general fact following it. People also try to pluralize the verb. They might say se spun că because they are talking about multiple things. Nope! It must be se spune că. Think of it like a grammar traffic light; it stays red (singular) until the că turns it green for the rest of the sentence. Finally, don't confuse the reflexive passive with the standard passive. Cartea se citește (The book is being read) is different from Se spune că citești (It is said that you are reading).

Contrast With Similar Patterns

How does this differ from the normal passive? The normal passive (Cartea este scrisă de Ion) focuses on an object being acted upon. The passive reported voice focuses on an idea being circulated.
It is also different from using they (ei). In Romanian, saying Ei spun că... implies a specific group of people is talking. Se spune că... implies the whole world (or at least the whole neighborhood) knows.
There is also the se impersonal, like se mănâncă bine aici (one eats well here). While they look the same, the reported passive always introduces a new clause with că. It is the difference between
How things are done
and
What people are saying.
Understanding this distinction is what moves you from B1 to B2.
You are no longer just describing actions; you are describing the flow of information.

Quick FAQ

Q

Can I use this in the past tense?

Absolutely! Just say s-a spus că (it was said that).

Q

Is se zice more informal than se spune?

Yes, se zice is the go-to for casual chat and rumors.

Q

Does the verb after că have to be in a specific mood?

Usually, it is the indicative, but if there is doubt, you might see the subjunctive.

Q

Can I use this with any verb?

No, only with thinking or saying verbs like a crede, a raporta, a afirma.

Q

Is it like the French 'on dit'?

Very similar! It covers that same people say or one says territory.

Meanings

This structure allows speakers to report information, opinions, or beliefs without identifying the specific source, often used in news, academic writing, or formal reports.

1

Impersonal Reporting

General rumors or beliefs.

“Se știe că el este un expert.”

“Se zice că va ploua.”

2

Personal Passive Reporting

Attributing a quality or action to a specific subject via passive voice.

“Acest film este considerat a fi o capodoperă.”

“El este văzut ca un lider.”

Impersonal Passive Formation

Tense Structure Example
Present Se + Verb (3rd sing) Se spune
Imperfect Se + Verb (3rd sing) Se spunea
Perfect Comp. S-a + Participle S-a spus
Future Se va + Infinitive Se va spune
Conditional S-ar + Participle S-ar spune
Personal Passive Subject + a fi + Participle El este văzut

Reference Table

Reference table for Advanced Passive
Construction Type Romanian Formula Best Context
Reflexive Reported Se + Verb (singular) + că Daily gossip and general news
Formal Passive Este + Participle + că Official documents and journalism
Past Reported S-a + Verb (singular) + că Reporting things said in the past
Conditional Reported S-ar + Verb (singular) + că Expressing high doubt or hearsay
Negative Reported Nu se + Verb (singular) + că Denying a common rumor
Belief Focus Se crede că Reporting widespread opinions

正式程度

正式
Se preconizează precipitații.

Se preconizează precipitații. (Weather forecast)

中性
Se spune că va ploua.

Se spune că va ploua. (Weather forecast)

非正式
Se zice că plouă.

Se zice că plouă. (Weather forecast)

俚语
Cică plouă.

Cică plouă. (Weather forecast)

Common Reporting Verbs

Passive Reporting

Speech

  • a spune to say
  • a zice to tell/say
  • a afirma to state

Thought

  • a crede to believe
  • a considera to consider
  • a bănui to suspect

Reflexive vs. Formal Passive

Reflexive (Se)
Se spune că... It is said that...
Se crede că... It is believed that...
Formal (Este)
Este raportat că... It is reported that...
Este confirmat că... It is confirmed that...

Choosing Your Reporting Style

1

Is it a casual rumor?

YES ↓
NO
Go to Formal Report
2

Use 'Se zice că'?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'Se spune că'

Usage Scenarios

📰

Journalism

  • • Este anunțat că...
  • • Se relatează că...
☕

Social Life

  • • Se aude că...
  • • Se zice că...
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Examples by Level

1

Se spune că e bine.

It is said that it is good.

2

Se știe asta.

This is known.

3

Se vede casa.

The house is seen.

4

Se aude muzică.

Music is heard.

1

Se crede că va ploua.

It is believed it will rain.

2

Se anunță vreme rea.

Bad weather is announced.

3

Se caută un job.

A job is being looked for.

4

Se vând mere aici.

Apples are sold here.

1

Se spunea că el a plecat.

It was said that he left.

2

Se va decide mâine.

It will be decided tomorrow.

3

Se zicea că e scump.

It was said to be expensive.

4

Se recomandă prudență.

Caution is recommended.

1

El este considerat a fi cel mai bun.

He is considered to be the best.

2

Proiectul este văzut ca o reușită.

The project is seen as a success.

3

Se presupune că ei au ajuns.

It is assumed they arrived.

4

Se afirmă că datele sunt corecte.

It is stated that the data is correct.

1

Se susține că teoria este eronată.

It is maintained that the theory is erroneous.

2

Se invocă motive de siguranță.

Safety reasons are invoked.

3

Se preconizează o scădere a prețurilor.

A price drop is predicted.

4

Se tinde spre o soluție comună.

There is a tendency towards a common solution.

1

Se cuvine a menționa acest aspect.

It is fitting to mention this aspect.

2

Se impune o revizuire a strategiei.

A strategy review is required.

3

Se face abstracție de detalii.

Details are disregarded.

4

Se profilează o schimbare majoră.

A major change is emerging.

Easily Confused

Advanced Passive 对比 Active vs Passive

Learners use active 'oamenii' when they should use passive 'se'.

Advanced Passive 对比 Personal vs Impersonal

Mixing up the subject agreement.

Advanced Passive 对比 Reflexive vs Passive

Confusing reflexive verbs with passive ones.

常见错误

✗

Oameni spun că...

✓

Se spune că...

Use the passive for general statements.
✗

Se spune ei că...

✓

Se spune că ei...

The 'că' clause follows the verb.
✗

Se spune că e bun.

✓

Se spune că este bun.

Avoid over-shortening in formal writing.
✗

Se spun că...

✓

Se spune că...

The verb must be singular.
✗

El este considerat bun.

✓

El este considerat a fi bun.

Often needs 'a fi' for clarity.
✗

Se știe el.

✓

Se știe că el...

Needs a conjunction.
✗

Se crede că el este bun.

✓

Se crede că este bun.

Subject pronoun can be dropped.
✗

Se va spus că...

✓

Se va spune că...

Future tense formation.
✗

S-a spus că el a fost bun.

✓

Se spunea că el era bun.

Imperfect for ongoing past state.
✗

El este considerat ca bun.

✓

El este considerat bun.

No 'ca' needed here.
✗

Se tinde a face...

✓

Se tinde spre a face...

Preposition usage.
✗

Se face abstracție de la...

✓

Se face abstracție de...

Fixed phrase usage.
✗

Se preconizează că va fi...

✓

Se preconizează a fi...

Infinitive construction preference.
✗

Se impune ca să...

✓

Se impune să...

Subjunctive without 'ca'.

Sentence Patterns

Se ___ că ___.

___ este considerat a fi ___.

Se ___ că rezultatele sunt ___.

Se preconizează ___ în ___.

Real World Usage

News Report constant

Se anunță noi măsuri economice.

Social Media very common

Se zice că va fi concert.

Job Interview common

Se consideră că experiența este cheia.

Travel Guide common

Se recomandă vizitarea centrului.

Academic Essay very common

Se susține că datele sunt eronate.

Texting occasional

Se știe ceva nou?

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💡

The Gossip Starter

If you want to sound like a local sharing a secret, start with Se aude că... (It is heard that...). It's the ultimate conversation starter.
⚠️

The 'Că' Rule

Never forget the word că. In English, you can say 'It's said he's coming,' but in Romanian, you MUST say Se spune CĂ vine.
🎯

Keep it Singular

Always keep the reporting verb in the singular. Think of it as a fixed phrase that doesn't care about the rest of the sentence's plurals.
💬

Avoiding Blame

Romanians often use se zice to avoid taking direct responsibility for information. It's a polite way to stay neutral in tricky social situations.

Smart Tips

Use 'Se anunță' instead of 'Oamenii anunță'.

Oamenii anunță ploi. → Se anunță ploi.

Use 'Se consideră' to sound more objective.

Eu cred că e bine. → Se consideră că e bine.

Use 'Se zice' for casual rumors.

Oamenii zic că e scump. → Se zice că e scump.

Use 'Se cunoaște' for facts.

Toată lumea știe că e așa. → Se cunoaște faptul că e așa.

发音

se-SPU-ne

Reflexive 'se'

The 'se' is unstressed and attaches to the verb.

Se spune că va ploua. (falling)

Intonation

Rising intonation for questions, falling for statements.

Statement

Se spune că ↘ va ploua.

Neutral reporting.

Question

Se ↗ știe asta?

Seeking confirmation.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'SE' as 'Secret Entity' — when you don't want to name the person, use the 'SE'cret entity.

Visual Association

Imagine a newspaper floating in the air with no author. The words 'Se spune' are written on it in glowing letters.

Rhyme

When the speaker is unknown, use 'se' and keep the tone your own.

Story

A detective is investigating a case. He asks, 'Who said this?' The witness replies, 'Se spune' (It is said). The detective realizes the source is hidden in the shadows.

Word Web

SeSpuneCredeȘtieConsiderăVede

挑战

Write 3 sentences about current events using 'Se spune că' or 'Se crede că'.

文化笔记

Journalists use 'Se spune' to avoid legal liability for rumors.

Students are taught to use impersonal passive to sound objective.

The slang 'Cică' is often used instead of 'Se spune' in villages.

The 'se' construction comes from Latin 'se' (reflexive pronoun), which evolved to indicate impersonal actions.

Conversation Starters

“

Ce se spune despre noul film?

“

Se știe dacă va fi grevă?

“

Cum este considerat acest autor?

“

Se preconizează schimbări în companie?

Journal Prompts

Scrie despre un zvon din orașul tău.
Analizează un proiect la care lucrezi.
Discută despre o problemă socială.
Scrie un raport despre viitorul tehnologiei.
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Test Yourself

Choose the correct reporting structure for a formal news report.

___ că noul pod va fi gata în luna mai.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Este raportat
'Este raportat' is the most formal and fits a news report context perfectly.
Complete the sentence to share a rumor you heard at work.

___ că managerul va pleca luna viitoare.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se zice
'Se zice că' is the standard way to introduce office gossip or casual rumors.
Correct the agreement in this passive reported sentence.

În ziar ___ că prețurile au scăzut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se scrie
Even though 'prețurile' is plural, the reporting verb 'se scrie' must stay singular.

Score: /3

练习题

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct passive form.

___ spune că va fi soare.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se
Present tense impersonal passive.
Choose the correct sentence. 多项选择

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se spune că el e bun.
Verb must be singular.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

El este considerat bun.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: El este considerat a fi bun.
Needs 'a fi' for clarity.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

Oamenii cred că el e inteligent.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se crede că el e inteligent.
Impersonal passive.
Match the verb with its meaning. Match Pairs

Se știe

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It is known
Direct translation.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Se / că / spune / plouă

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se spune că plouă.
Correct word order.
Conjugate the passive. Conjugation Drill

Se (spune) în trecut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se spunea
Imperfect tense.
Is this correct? True False Rule

Se poate folosi 'se' cu orice verb?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Only verbs of perception/opinion work well.

Score: /8

常见问题 (8)

No, it works best with verbs of perception like 'spune', 'crede', 'știe'.

It is neutral to formal. Use it to sound objective.

It helps connect the subject to the state or quality.

Then use active voice: 'El spune că...'.

Yes, but 'Se zice' is slightly more informal.

Yes, 'Se spunea' or 'S-a spus'.

Add 'nu' before 'se': 'Nu se spune'.

It is standard Romanian, used everywhere.

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Se dice

Romanian uses it more frequently in formal writing.

French moderate

On dit

Romanian is more passive-focused.

German moderate

Man sagt

German lacks the reflexive 'se' mechanism.

Japanese low

～と言われている

Japanese is agglutinative.

Arabic moderate

يُقال

Arabic uses prefixing for passive.

Chinese low

据说

Chinese has no conjugation.

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