Personal and Impersonal Passive in English: It Is Said That vs He Is Said To

Hello English learners. In today’s lesson, we will learn about personal and impersonal passive constructions in English.

Some passive structures are easy to understand:

The window was broken.

The email has been sent.

The meeting will be cancelled.

But advanced English also has special passive structures that are very common in formal writing, news reports, academic English and Cambridge exams.

These are called personal passive and impersonal passive structures.

They may look complicated at first, but the idea is simple. We use them when we want to report what people say, believe, think, know, expect or claim — without focusing on exactly who said it.

Compare:

People say that he is very talented.

It is said that he is very talented.

He is said to be very talented.

All three sentences have a similar meaning, but the style is different. The last two are more formal and more suitable for advanced English.

In this lesson, you will learn how to use personal and impersonal passive structures, how they are different, and how to avoid common mistakes.

What Is the Impersonal Passive?

The impersonal passive begins with it.

We use this structure:

It + passive reporting verb + that clause

Examples:

It is said that he is very rich.

It is believed that the company is in serious trouble.

It is thought that the painting is worth millions.

It has been reported that several people were injured.

In this structure, it does not refer to a real person or thing. It is only used to introduce the passive construction.

We often use the impersonal passive when we do not know, do not want to mention, or do not need to mention the source of the information.

What Is the Personal Passive?

The personal passive begins with the person or thing we are talking about.

We use this structure:

Subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive

Examples:

He is said to be very rich.

The company is believed to be in serious trouble.

The painting is thought to be worth millions.

Several people are reported to have been injured.

This structure sounds formal and elegant. It is especially common in news reports, biographies, academic writing and advanced exams.

Personal vs Impersonal Passive: The Basic Difference

Look at this example:

People believe that she is an excellent lawyer.

We can rewrite it in two passive ways:

People believe that she is an excellent lawyer.

It is believed that she is an excellent lawyer.

She is believed to be an excellent lawyer.

The meaning is similar, but the grammar changes.

In the impersonal passive, we start with it:

It is believed that she is an excellent lawyer.

In the personal passive, we start with the person or thing:

She is believed to be an excellent lawyer.

Why Do We Use Personal and Impersonal Passive?

We use these structures when we want to sound more formal, objective or neutral.

They are common in:

• news reports
• academic writing
• formal essays
• reports
• biographies
• C1 Advanced writing
• sentence transformations
• formal descriptions of beliefs, claims and expectations

For example:

People think that the new law will cause problems.

This sounds a little informal because of people think.

A more formal version would be:

It is thought that the new law will cause problems.

Or:

The new law is thought to cause problems.

Both passive versions sound more suitable for formal writing.

Common Verbs Used in Personal and Impersonal Passive

We often use these structures with reporting verbs such as:

say	He is said to be very generous.
think	The plan is thought to be risky.
believe	She is believed to live abroad.
know	He is known to be difficult to work with.
report	The suspect is reported to have left the country.
expect	Prices are expected to rise.
understand	The documents are understood to be confidential.
consider	She is considered to be one of the best experts in her field.
claim	He is claimed to have stolen the money.
allege	The company is alleged to have broken the rules.
assume	The painting is assumed to be genuine.
estimate	The damage is estimated to cost millions.

These verbs are useful because they help us report information without saying exactly who gave the information.

The Two Main Structures

Let’s look at the two structures more clearly.

1. Impersonal Passive

It + passive verb + that clause

Examples:

It is said that he works very hard.

It is believed that they left the country last night.

It was reported that the factory had closed.

It is expected that prices will rise next year.

This structure is useful when the whole idea is important, not the person or thing at the beginning.

2. Personal Passive

Subject + passive verb + to-infinitive

Examples:

He is said to work very hard.

They are believed to have left the country last night.

The factory was reported to have closed.

Prices are expected to rise next year.

This structure is useful when you want to focus on the person or thing being discussed.

How to Choose the Correct Infinitive Form

This is where many learners get confused.

In personal passive structures, the infinitive changes depending on the time relationship.

1. Present or General Situation: to be

Use to be when the information refers to a present state or general description.

People say that he is honest.

→ It is said that he is honest.

→ He is said to be honest.

More examples:

She is believed to be very intelligent.

The house is thought to be over 200 years old.

He is considered to be a leading expert in the field.

2. Present Habit or General Action: to + infinitive

Use to + infinitive for present habits, repeated actions or general facts.

People believe that she lives in Canada.

→ It is believed that she lives in Canada.

→ She is believed to live in Canada.

More examples:

He is said to speak six languages.

The company is known to produce high-quality furniture.

This plant is believed to grow only in warm climates.

3. Action Happening Now: to be + -ing

Use to be + -ing when the action is happening now or around now.

People think that he is hiding abroad.

→ It is thought that he is hiding abroad.

→ He is thought to be hiding abroad.

More examples:

The company is reported to be negotiating with investors.

The government is believed to be preparing a new law.

She is said to be working on a new book.

4. Past Action: to have + past participle

Use to have + past participle when the reported action happened before the reporting.

People say that he stole the money.

→ It is said that he stole the money.

→ He is said to have stolen the money.

More examples:

She is believed to have left the country.

The painting is thought to have belonged to a royal family.

Several employees are reported to have resigned.

This form is very common in news reports.

5. Longer Past Action: to have been + -ing

Use to have been + -ing when the action continued for some time before the reporting.

People believe that he has been working too hard.

→ It is believed that he has been working too hard.

→ He is believed to have been working too hard.

More examples:

She is said to have been living abroad for years.

The company is reported to have been losing money for months.

They are thought to have been planning the project for a long time.

This structure is advanced, but very useful in formal English.

Personal and Impersonal Passive: Comparison Table

People say he is honest.	It is said that he is honest.	He is said to be honest.
People believe she lives abroad.	It is believed that she lives abroad.	She is believed to live abroad.
People think he is lying.	It is thought that he is lying.	He is thought to be lying.
People say he stole the money.	It is said that he stole the money.	He is said to have stolen the money.
People believe she has been working hard.	It is believed that she has been working hard.	She is believed to have been working hard.
People expect prices will rise.	It is expected that prices will rise.	Prices are expected to rise.

This table is worth studying carefully. It shows how the same idea can be expressed in different passive forms.

Personal Passive with Future Meaning

Sometimes the personal passive refers to the future.

Examples:

The president is expected to make a statement tomorrow.

The results are expected to be announced next week.

The new shopping centre is expected to open in June.

The weather is predicted to change later today.

In these examples, the passive reporting verb is in the present, but the meaning points to the future.

Be Careful: Not All Verbs Work Naturally in the Personal Passive

Some verbs are common in the impersonal passive, but they do not always sound natural in the personal passive.

For example:

It is suggested that students revise regularly.

This is natural.

But this is not natural:

Students are suggested to revise regularly.

A better sentence would be:

Students are advised to revise regularly.

Be especially careful with verbs such as:

• suggest
• recommend
• propose
• decide
• hope

These often work better with It + passive + that clause.

Examples:

It is suggested that learners practise every day.

It is recommended that visitors arrive early.

It was decided that the meeting would be postponed.

It is hoped that the situation will improve.

Avoid unnatural sentences such as:

Learners are suggested to practise every day.

The meeting was decided to be postponed.

The situation is hoped to improve.

These may be understandable, but they do not sound natural.

Common Mistakes with Personal and Impersonal Passive

Mistake 1: Mixing the two structures

Incorrect:

He is said that he is very rich.

Correct:

It is said that he is very rich.

He is said to be very rich.

Remember:

Use it is said that or he is said to — do not mix them.

Mistake 2: Using the wrong infinitive for past actions

Incorrect:

He is believed to steal the money yesterday.

Correct:

He is believed to have stolen the money yesterday.

If the action happened earlier, use:

to have + past participle

Mistake 3: Using personal passive with verbs that do not fit naturally

Incorrect:

The problem is hoped to improve.

Correct:

It is hoped that the problem will improve.

With hope, the impersonal passive is usually much more natural.

Mistake 4: Forgetting the passive form

Incorrect:

It says that he is innocent.

Correct:

It is said that he is innocent.

The correct structure is passive:

is said, is believed, is thought, was reported, has been claimed

Mistake 5: Using “to has” instead of “to have”

Incorrect:

She is believed to has left the country.

Correct:

She is believed to have left the country.

After to, use the base form:

to have, not to has.

Personal and Impersonal Passive in C1 Advanced

Personal and impersonal passive structures are especially useful for C1 Advanced learners because they help you sound more formal and precise.

They are useful in:

• essays
• reports
• proposals
• reviews
• formal emails
• academic writing
• sentence transformations

Compare these sentences:

People believe that social media affects concentration.

This is clear, but quite simple.

A more formal version:

It is believed that social media affects concentration.

Or:

Social media is believed to affect concentration.

These structures are useful when you want to avoid vague subjects such as people, they, or everyone.

Another example:

Experts expect that energy prices will increase.

More formal:

It is expected that energy prices will increase.

Or:

Energy prices are expected to increase.

This is the kind of grammar that can make your writing sound more advanced, especially when used naturally and accurately.

Personal Passive in News Reports

News reports often use these structures because journalists do not always want to name the source of information.

Examples:

The missing child is believed to be safe.

Several people are reported to have been injured.

The suspect is thought to have left the city.

The agreement is expected to be signed tomorrow.

The building is said to be over 300 years old.

These sentences sound formal, concise and objective.

Related Structure: Be Supposed To

The structure be supposed to is related to expectation, rules or arrangements, but it is not exactly the same as personal and impersonal passive reporting structures.

Examples:

I was supposed to finish this report today.

Meaning: I was expected to finish it today.

Janet is supposed to be at work before nine.

Meaning: Janet is expected to be at work before nine.

We are not supposed to wear casual clothes in this company.

Meaning: It is not allowed or not expected.

You are not supposed to lift anything heavy after the operation.

Meaning: You have been told not to do this.

This structure is very useful, but it deserves its own lesson because it has several meanings: expectation, arrangement, duty and rules.

Mini Practice: Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite each sentence using either the impersonal passive or the personal passive.

1. People say that he is a brilliant musician.
2. People believe that she lives in Australia.
3. Journalists report that the company is losing money.
4. Experts expect that house prices will rise next year.
5. People think that he lied about his qualifications.
6. They say that the castle was built in the 15th century.
7. People believe that she has been working on a new project.
8. Experts estimate that the damage will cost millions.
9. People claim that the actor refused to answer questions.
10. They hope that the situation will improve soon.

Answer Key

1. It is said that he is a brilliant musician. / He is said to be a brilliant musician.
2. It is believed that she lives in Australia. / She is believed to live in Australia.
3. It is reported that the company is losing money. / The company is reported to be losing money.
4. It is expected that house prices will rise next year. / House prices are expected to rise next year.
5. It is thought that he lied about his qualifications. / He is thought to have lied about his qualifications.
6. It is said that the castle was built in the 15th century. / The castle is said to have been built in the 15th century.
7. It is believed that she has been working on a new project. / She is believed to have been working on a new project.
8. It is estimated that the damage will cost millions. / The damage is estimated to cost millions.
9. It is claimed that the actor refused to answer questions. / The actor is claimed to have refused to answer questions.
10. It is hoped that the situation will improve soon.

Notice that sentence 10 works best with the impersonal passive. We do not normally say:

The situation is hoped to improve soon.

Download More Extensive Personal and Impersonal Passive Practice Worksheet in PDF here

Final Thoughts

Personal and impersonal passive structures are important in advanced English because they allow you to report information in a formal, neutral and sophisticated way.

Use the impersonal passive when you want to begin with it:

It is believed that the plan will succeed.

Use the personal passive when you want to begin with the person or thing:

The plan is believed to succeed.

The key is to choose the correct infinitive form:

to be for present states

to do for present habits or general facts

to be doing for actions in progress

to have done for earlier actions

to have been doing for longer earlier actions

Once you understand these patterns, the structure becomes much easier to use. It may look rather formal at first, but it is extremely useful — especially if you want your English to sound more advanced, precise and exam-ready.

Grammar may not always arrive wearing a party hat, but this structure is definitely worth inviting into your C1 toolkit.

FAQ: Personal and Impersonal Passive

What is the impersonal passive?

The impersonal passive is a passive structure that begins with it, such as It is said that… or It is believed that… We use it to report opinions, beliefs, claims or information in a formal way.

What is the personal passive?

The personal passive begins with the person or thing being discussed, followed by a passive reporting verb and an infinitive. For example: He is said to be rich or She is believed to live abroad.

What is the difference between “It is said that he is…” and “He is said to be…”？

The meaning is similar, but the grammar is different. It is said that he is… is an impersonal passive structure. He is said to be… is a personal passive structure.

Is personal passive formal?

Yes, personal passive structures are generally formal. They are common in news reports, academic writing, formal essays and advanced English exams.

Which verbs are used with personal and impersonal passive?

Common verbs include say, think, believe, know, report, expect, understand, consider, claim, allege, assume and estimate.

Can I say “The situation is hoped to improve”?

No, this does not sound natural. It is better to say: It is hoped that the situation will improve.

You may also find these lessons useful:

Passive Voice in English

Grammatical Patterns after Reporting Verbs

Cleft Sentences in English

Inversion in English

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