“It is said that…”

要转述人们说的、相信的或认为的事，又不说是谁，英语有两种句型：It + be + 过去分词 + that + 从句，或 主语 + be + 过去分词 + to + 动词。它们常见于新闻、报告和正式书面语，而且带有距离感——作者并不声称这一定是真的。

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

💡句型 1 里的 “it” 是形式主语——不能省略。中文说“据说……”不需要主语，所以学习者常写成 “Is said that…”。如果想保留 “people”，就用主动语态：People say that…——不说 “People are said that…”。

在句型 2 中，不定式表明所转述的事发生在“说 / 认为”的同时、之前还是之后：

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

  人们认为咖啡是法国人带到越南的。（很久以前发生 → to have been V3）

• The singer is reported to be in hospital.

  据报道，那位歌手正在住院。

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

  据了解，有三百多人参加了那次会议。

is said / is believed = 人们现在这么说或这么认为。was said / was believed = 人们过去这么说或这么认为（现在可能不这么想了）。也可以用现在完成时：It has been reported that…

• The Earth was once believed to be flat.

  人们曾经认为地球是平的。

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

  当时人们认为那艘船在一场风暴中沉没了。

• It has been reported that two people were injured.

  据报道，有两人受伤。

与 there 连用：There is said to be… = It is said that there is…。日常聊天中很少用这些句型，人们会说 They say…、Apparently…，或者 be supposed to（= 听说、据说）。

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

  据认为，这种鸟在野外只剩下不到一百只了。

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

  听说那家新开的河粉店特别好吃。（非正式 = 人们都这么说）

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

  听说拐角那家店要关门了。

💡be supposed to 还有另一个意思：“按照规定或计划应该”（You're supposed to wear a helmet）。见“be supposed to / about to / likely to”一课。

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

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

  需要形式主语 It。

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

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

  事情发生在之前 → 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 + 动词，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 没有“say + 人 + to + 动词”的主动句型。

• ✗The lake says to be very deep.

  ✓The lake is said to be very deep.

  湖不会说话 → 用被动 is said。

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

  ✓She is said to have won the prize twice.

  过去的主动动作 → to have + V3。