It + be + reporting participle + that + clauseUse this when you want a formal report and the source is not named.
Impersonal Passive
B2Impersonal passive reports information formally without naming the source: It is said that... / He is said to....
What you'll learn
- Report general information with It is said that....
- Report about a person or thing with is said to....
- Choose to do, to be doing, or to have done to match time.
- Recognize formal reporting verbs used in impersonal passive.
Structure
subject + be + reporting participle + to + base verbUse this when the report is about a specific person, group, or thing.
subject + be + reporting participle + to be + verb-ingUse this for an action in progress around the reporting time.
subject + be + reporting participle + to have + past participleUse this when the reported action happened earlier than the reporting verb.
Build a sentence
Subject
Time meaning
The CEOissaidtoplan to retire soon
The CEO is said to plan to retire soon.
The focus is the person, so put the subject first.
When to use
News reports
Use it in news style when the source is unclear, general, or not important: It is believed that prices will rise.
Formal writing
Use it in formal summaries and neutral reports to sound less personal and more objective.
Focus on the person
Use the subject-first pattern when the person or thing is the topic: The minister is expected to resign.
Markers
saidbelievedthoughtexpectedknownreported
Common mistakes
Wrong
People say that the actor is very difficult to work with.
Correct
It is said that the actor is very difficult to work with.
Impersonal passive makes the report sound more formal and keeps the source unnamed.
Wrong
The CEO is said leave next month.
Correct
The CEO is said to leave next month.
After is said, use to + base verb in the subject-first pattern.
Wrong
The CEO is said leaves next month.
Correct
The CEO is said to leave next month.
A finite verb does not follow is said here. Use the to-form.
Wrong
The missing hikers are said to reach the village last night.
Correct
The missing hikers are said to have reached the village last night.
The reaching happened before the reporting, so use to have + past participle.
Wrong
The two companies are said to have discussed a merger this week.
Correct
The two companies are said to be discussing a merger this week.
This week shows an action in progress around now, so use to be + verb-ing.
Common misconceptions
❝ Only said works in this pattern. ❞
Many reporting verbs work: believed, thought, expected, known, and reported are all common in formal English.
❝ After is said to, I always use the base verb. ❞
The form after to changes with time: to do, to be doing, and to have done all have different meanings.
Skills in this rule (5)
IT_IS_SAID_THATw5Use It is said that for general reports
Use this pattern when the source is not important or not named. Put the reported idea in a that-clause after the passive reporting verb.
SUBJECT_IS_SAID_TOw5Use He is said to... with a known person or thing
Use this pattern when the report focuses on a specific person, group, or thing. Put that subject first, then use be + past participle + to-infinitive.
CHOOSE_TIME_IN_TO_FORMw5Match the to-form to the time of the reported action
Use to + base verb for the same time or a general fact, to be + -ing for an action in progress, and to have + past participle for an earlier action.
USE_FORMAL_REPORTING_VERBSw3Choose formal reporting verbs like said, believed, thought, expected
These patterns are common in news, formal writing, and neutral reports. Pick a reporting verb that matches the kind of information: statement, opinion, expectation, or knowledge.
PICK_FORMAL_CONTEXTw3Recognize when impersonal passive fits the context
Choose it in formal or neutral reporting when the source is unknown, obvious, or not the focus. It is less common in direct everyday conversation.