IT IS SAID

1. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN HUMANAS Y
TECNOLOGÍAS
GRAMMAR VI
TOPIC: It is said that, He is said to, (be) supposed
PROFESSOR: M. Aullari
MADE BY: Cristian Yumisaca
Patricia Vinueza
2015-2016

2. It is said that, He is said to, (be) supposed
It is said that, He is said to, and sometimes (be) supposed to have the meaning "people
say..." and they are often used in news reports.
i.e. An old lady in my town died last week, and people say that she gave a lot of money to
charity.
IT IS SAID THAT HE IS SAID TO (BE) SUPPOSEDTO
It is said that she gave a
lot of money to charity.
She is said to have given a lot of
money to charity.
She is supposed to have
given a lot of money to
charity.
Some other verbs are
also used in this
construction:
thought, believed, considered,
reported, known, expected,
alleged, understood
But (be) supposed to also has a few other meanings. It can also mean something that is
planned, arranged, or expected.
i.e. I have to go home now because I'm supposed to make dinner for my little sister.
Not supposed to is used for things that are not allowed or not advisable.
i.e. You're not supposed to go outside with your hair wet.

3. Structures:
Present "Be":
Active: They say (that) the man is a thief.
Passive 1: It’s said that the man is a thief.
Passive 2: The man is said to be a thief.
Simple Present Noun Clause:
Active: We understand that he dislikes children.
Passive 1: It’s understood that he dislikes children.
Passive 2: He is understood to dislike children.
Past "Be":
Active: They say that he was very rich in the past.
Passive 1: It’s said that he was rich in the past.
Passive 2: He is said to have been very rich in the past.
Simple Past Noun Clause :
Active: People claim that he left the country two months ago.
Passive 1: It’s claimed that he left the country two months ago.
Passive 2: He is claimed to have left the country two months ago.
Present Perfect Noun Clause :
Active: People think that he has deserted his family.
Passive 1: It’s thought that he has deserted his family.
Passive 2: He is thought to have deserted his family.
Present Continuous Noun Clause :
Active: We think he is waiting there now.
Passive 1: It’s thought that he is waiting there now.
Passive 2: He is thought to be waiting there now.
Past Continuous Noun Clause :
Active: People say he was working very hard.
Passive 1: It’s said that he was working very hard.
Passive 2: He is said to have been working very hard.

4. Future Tense(will or going to) Noun Clause :
Active: People expect that the rate of exchange will go down soon.
Passive 1: It’s expected that the rate of crime will go down soon.
Passive 2: The rate of crime is expected to go down soon.
Present Passive Noun Clause :
Active: They say that a lot of electrical appliances are stolen every day.
Passive 1: It’s said that a lot of electrical appliances are stolen every day.
Passive 2: A lot of electrical appliances are said to be stolen every day.
Past Passive Noun Clause :
Active: They report that two people were killed in the explosion.
Passive 1: It’s reported that two people were killed in the explosion.
Passive 2: Two people are reported to have been killed in the explosion.
Exercise
Rewrite each of the following sentences using IT IS SAID THAT.
1. They say (that) the man is a thief.
2. We understand that he dislikes children.
3. They say that he was very rich in the past.
4. People claim that he left the country two months ago.
5. People think that he has deserted his family.
6. We think he is waiting there now.
7. People say he was working very hard.
8. People expect that the rate of exchange will go down soon.
9. They say that a lot of electrical appliances are stolen every day.
10. They report that two people were killed in the explosion.

5. Test
Name:
Date;
Course:
Rewrite each of the following sentences using the structure: it is said that. (10 minutes)
1 point for each correct answer.
1. They say (that) the man is a thief.
_________________________________________________
2. We understand that he dislikes children.
_________________________________________________
3. They say that he was very rich in the past.
_________________________________________________
4. People claim that he left the country two months ago.
_________________________________________________
5. People think that he has deserted his family.
_________________________________________________
6. We think he is waiting there now.
_________________________________________________
7. People say he was working very hard.
_________________________________________________
8. People expect that the rate of exchange will go down soon.
_________________________________________________
9. They say that a lot of electrical appliances are stolen every day.
_________________________________________________
10. They report that two people were killed in the explosion.
_________________________________________________
Signature:

6. Answers:
1. It’s said that the man is a thief.
2. It’s understood that he dislikes children.
3. It’s said that he was rich in the past.
4. It’s claimed that he left the country two months ago.
5. It’s thought that he has deserted his family.
6. It’s thought that he is waiting there now.
7. It’s said that he was working very hard.
8. It’s expected that the rate of crime will go down soon.
9. It’s said that a lot of electrical appliances are stolen every
10. It’s reported that two people were killed in the explosion.
References:
LINGUEE.COM Retrieved from:
http://www.linguee.es/ingles-espanol/traduccion/it+is+said+that.html
LANGUST.RU Retrieved from:
http://www.langust.ru/unit_in/unit044i.shtml
THE FREE DICTIONARY Retrieved from:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/It+is+said