Impersonal Passive Structures
Learn how to report a general belief or piece of information without naming its source, using two equivalent passive patterns.
Reporting without a source
An impersonal passive reports something without saying who holds the belief.
An impersonal passive structure reports a general belief, opinion, or piece of information without naming who holds it. It is commonly formed with it is said, believed, thought or a similar verb, followed by that and a clause.
In It is said that the bridge is haunted., no one in particular is named as the source of the claim; it is presented as a general belief. The same idea can also be expressed as The bridge is said to be haunted., moving the bridge into the subject position instead.
This lesson covers both of these equivalent patterns, and how they are used together with common reporting verbs.
Before you begin
This is one of ten topics on the passive voice.
This lesson focuses on impersonal passive structures specifically. The passive voice as a whole includes nine other topics, each covered in its own lesson.
If you would like an overview of the passive voice in general, begin with the Passive Voice page.
The central idea
The same belief can start from it, or from the subject itself.
Compare the two ways of reporting the same general belief.
01
Starting with it
It is said that the bridge is haunted.
02
Starting with the subject
The bridge is said to be haunted.
The useful question is: does the sentence want the topic itself to lead?
Both sentences report the same belief. Moving the bridge to the front puts more focus on the topic being discussed, rather than on the fact that a belief exists.
Two equivalent patterns
Either pattern can be used to say the same thing.
Pattern A: It + be + past participle + that
It is believed that the treasure was never found.
Pattern B: Subject + be + past participle + to infinitive
The treasure is believed to have never been found.
The two patterns do not mix
Each pattern is a complete structure on its own; a sentence uses one or the other, not a combination of both.
Common reporting verbs
Several verbs are commonly used in this structure.
say → It is said that the recipe is centuries old.
believe → It is believed that the storm caused the damage.
think → It is thought that the letter was never delivered.
report → It is reported that the road will reopen soon.
consider → It is considered good luck to find a four-leaf clover.
understand → It is understood that the museum will close early.
Referring to an earlier action
The perfect infinitive places the belief about an earlier event.
The bridge is said to have been built in the 1800s.
Here, is said refers to the present belief, while to have been built refers to an event that happened long before. This follows the same perfect passive infinitive pattern covered in the Passive Infinitives & Gerunds lesson.
A useful decision guide
Ask which pattern fits, and when the reported event happened.
01
Should the sentence begin with it, or with the topic itself?
Choose Pattern A or Pattern B accordingly.
02
Is a that clause, or a to infinitive, being used?
Keep the two patterns separate; do not combine them.
03
Did the reported event happen before now?
If so, use the perfect infinitive, to have been, in Pattern B.
04
Is a specific source being deliberately left out?
This structure works well when the belief is general rather than attributed to one person.
Common mistakes
The two patterns each have their own complete structure.
The two patterns should not be combined.
Not: The bridge is said that it is haunted.
Correct: It is said that the bridge is haunted. / The bridge is said to be haunted.
Once the subject moves to the front, the sentence needs an infinitive, not a that clause.
To is not dropped from Pattern B.
Not: The bridge is said be haunted.
Correct: The bridge is said to be haunted.
An earlier event needs the perfect infinitive, not the plain one.
Not: The bridge is said to be built in the 1800s.
Correct: The bridge is said to have been built in the 1800s.
Check your understanding
Which version correctly reports the belief?
Choose the correct answer for each pair.
Which sentence uses Pattern B correctly?
✅ Exactly! Once the subject leads the sentence, an infinitive follows, not a that clause.
❎ Not quite. This mixes the two patterns together.
Which sentence uses “to” plus a base verb?
Which sentence correctly reports a belief about an earlier event?
✅ Exactly! The perfect infinitive places the building of the castle in the past.
❎ Not quite. Building a castle happened long ago, not now.
Was the castle built now, or long ago?
Which sentence uses Pattern A correctly?
✅ Exactly! Pattern A begins with “it” and is followed by “that” plus a clause.
❎ Not quite. Look for the word “that” in its expected position.
Pattern A needs “that” right after the verb.
Try it another way
Rewrite each Pattern A sentence using Pattern B.
Move the subject to the front, and use an infinitive.
It is believed that the painting is a forgery.
✅ Exactly! “The painting” moves to the front, followed by “is believed to be”.
❎ Not quite. Move “the painting” to the subject position, then use “is believed to be”.
It is thought that the manuscript was lost centuries ago.
✅ Exactly! Since the loss happened long ago, the perfect infinitive, “to have been lost”, is needed.
❎ Not quite. This event happened before now, so the perfect infinitive is needed.
Quick review
Two patterns report the same belief without naming its source.
Pattern A begins with it, followed by a passive verb and that plus a clause.
Pattern B moves the subject to the front, followed by a passive verb and a to infinitive.
Common reporting verbs include say, believe, think, report, consider and understand.
A belief about an earlier event uses the perfect infinitive, to have been, in Pattern B.
Remember
Decide whether it or the subject should lead, and keep the pattern consistent.
Choose Pattern A or Pattern B based on what the sentence wants to lead with, and follow that pattern all the way through, without mixing the two structures together.