“It is said that…”

要轉述人們說的、相信的或認為的事，又不說是誰，英語有兩種句型：It + be + 過去分詞 + that + 從句，或 主語 + be + 過去分詞 + to + 動詞。它們常見於新聞、報告和正式書面語，而且帶有距離感——作者並不聲稱這一定是真的。

常用動詞：say、think、believe、know、consider、expect、report、understand、allege、estimate。用 consider 時，to be 可以省略：He is considered (to be) the best player.

💡句型 1 裡的 “it” 是形式主語——不能省略。中文說“據說……”不需要主語，所以學習者常寫成 “Is said that…”。如果想保留 “people”，就用主動語態：People say that…——不說 “People are said that…”。

在句型 2 中，不定式表明所轉述的事發生在“說 / 認為”的同時、之前還是之後：

• Coffee is thought to have been brought to Vietnam by the French.

  人們認為咖啡是法國人帶到越南的。（很久以前發生 → to have been V3）

• The singer is reported to be in hospital.

  據報道，那位歌手正在住院。

• More than 300 people are known to have attended the meeting.

  據瞭解，有三百多人參加了那次會議。

is said / is believed = 人們現在這麼說或這麼認為。was said / was believed = 人們過去這麼說或這麼認為（現在可能不這麼想了）。也可以用現在完成時：It has been reported that…

• The Earth was once believed to be flat.

  人們曾經認為地球是平的。

• The ship was thought to have sunk in a storm.

  當時人們認為那艘船在一場風暴中沉沒了。

• It has been reported that two people were injured.

  據報道，有兩人受傷。

與 there 連用：There is said to be… = It is said that there is…。日常聊天中很少用這些句型，人們會說 They say…、Apparently…，或者 be supposed to（= 聽說、據說）。

• There are thought to be fewer than a hundred of these birds left in the wild.

  據認為，這種鳥在野外只剩下不到一百隻了。

• That new pho place is supposed to be really good.

  聽說那家新開的河粉店特別好吃。（非正式 = 人們都這麼說）

• They say the shop on the corner is closing down.

  聽說拐角那家店要關門了。

💡be supposed to 還有另一個意思：“按照規定或計劃應該”（You're supposed to wear a helmet）。見“be supposed to / about to / likely to”一課。

• ✗Is said that the airport will open next year.

  ✓It is said that the airport will open next year.

  需要形式主語 It。

• ✗He is believed to steal the money last year.

  ✓He is believed to have stolen the money last year.

  事情發生在之前 → to have + V3。

• ✗The museum is known being the oldest in the city.

  ✓The museum is known to be the oldest in the city.

  be known / said / thought + to + 動詞，不用 -ing。

• ✗People say him to be very rich.

  ✓He is said to be very rich. / People say that he is very rich.

  say 沒有“say + 人 + to + 動詞”的主動句型。

• ✗The lake says to be very deep.

  ✓The lake is said to be very deep.

  湖不會說話 → 用被動 is said。

• ✗She is said to be won the prize twice.

  ✓She is said to have won the prize twice.

  過去的主動動作 → to have + V3。