Grammar · Passive & Causative
Impersonal Passive (It Is Said That…)
Two formal ways to report what people say, think or believe without saying who they are. Learn them with the film The Queen.
Grammar › Passive & Causative › Impersonal Passive
The rule in one sentenceTo report what people in general say or believe without naming them, use It is said that + a full sentence, or put the person first and use is said to + a verb.
About the film
The Queen (2006) is a drama set in the summer of 1997, just after Tony Blair has become Prime Minister. When Diana, Princess of Wales, dies suddenly in Paris, Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family stay silent at Balmoral, their castle in Scotland. It is said that the public cannot understand this silence, and the Queen is believed to see grief as a private matter.
What does it do?
Sometimes you want to report an opinion or a piece of news, but the speaker is not important, or you simply do not know who it is. In conversation you might say people say or everyone thinks. In news reports, reviews and essays, English prefers a more formal and more careful pattern.
There are two ways to build it. The first starts with it and adds a complete sentence: It is said that the Queen rarely shows her feelings. The second puts the person or thing at the front and adds a verb with to: The Queen is said to be a very private person. Both mean the same, but the second one keeps the main character at the start of the sentence, which is why journalists love it.
The first two tiles begin with it, and a full sentence follows that. The last two begin with the people themselves and continue with to. Look closely at the fourth tile: the staying happened in the past, so the verb becomes to have stayed.
People say that the Queen is very private.
It is said that the Queen is very private. The Queen is said to be very private.
All three sentences mean the same thing. The first sounds like everyday conversation, while the other two sound like a newspaper or a television report.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
It is said that — it + full sentence
It is thought that the new Prime Minister wants to help.
It is not known what the Queen really feels.
Not goes after is: it is not known, it is not thought.Is it known how long the family will stay in Scotland?
Swap it and is to make a question.is said to — subject + to + verb
Blair is said to be popular with younger voters.
The Queen is not thought to enjoy speaking on television.
Not goes after is here too.Is the new government expected to change a lot?
Put is or are before the subject.When to use each one
It is said that — the news first
is said to — the person first
Words that help: the reporting verbs
The same small group of verbs appears again and again in both patterns, so it is worth learning them as a set.
It is said that → it + verb + that
is said to → subject + verb + to
Common mistakes
❌ The Queen is said that she is very private.
✅ The Queen is said to be very private.
If the person comes first, continue with to + verb, not with that.
❌ It is believed the Queen to be very traditional.
✅ It is believed that the Queen is very traditional.
After it is believed, add that and a complete sentence with its own verb.
❌ Blair is known to win the 1997 election.
✅ Blair is known to have won the 1997 election.
The election happened in the past, so use to have + past participle.
❌ It says that the Queen rarely cries in public.
✅ It is said that the Queen rarely cries in public.
This pattern needs the passive: it is said, not it says.
One more thing
This part reaches the top of the level, so come back to it when both patterns feel comfortable.
There can start the second pattern, and one adverb can replace the whole phrase. With there, the verb agrees with the noun that follows. Newspapers also use reportedly or allegedly as a short way of saying “it is reported that” or “it is claimed that”.
✅ There are said to be thousands of people outside the palace gates.
✅ The new Prime Minister is reportedly very popular with the public.
Practice: report it correctly
Eight questions to test yourself. Choose the answer a careful journalist would write, then read the explanation.
1. ___ that the Queen rarely shows her feelings.
The pattern needs the passive form: it is said that.
2. The Queen is said ___ a very private person.
When the person comes first, continue with to + verb.
3. It is believed ___ the royal family is still in Scotland.
After it is believed, use that and a full sentence.
4. Blair is known ___ the election in 1997.
The event is in the past, so use to have + past participle.
5. The Prime Minister ___ to speak to reporters this afternoon.
Reporters expect it, so use the passive: is expected to.
6. There ___ said to be thousands of flowers outside the palace.
The verb agrees with the noun after it: thousands of flowers are.
7. Helen Mirren ___ to be perfect in the title role.
Other people consider this, so use the passive: is considered.
8. It is not ___ exactly what the Queen said in private.
Use the past participle after is: it is not known.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct and natural. The first frame uses the it pattern, and the second puts the subject first. Pick the endings that sound true to you.
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