ENGLISH
REFERENCE

be said to have sth

fixed phr..
C1 Advanced Oxford

fixed phr.. people believe or report that someone has a certain quality, item, or history, even if it is not proven.

fixed phr.. a passive reporting structure used to attribute a possession, characteristic, or experience to a subject based on general belief or hearsay.


SIMPLE

The old house is said to have a ghost.

CONTEXTUAL

The new CEO is said to have a very aggressive management style by those who worked with him previously.

COMPLEX

The manuscript is said to have a profound influence on early modern philosophy, though its original author remains a subject of intense academic debate.

Usage

often used in journalism or formal writing to distance the writer from the claim.

Teaching tip

this is a 'passive reporting verb' structure; teach it alongside 'it is said that' to show how the subject of the second clause moves to the front.

Pitfall

He says to have a lot of money.He is said to have a lot of money.the passive 'is said' is required to show that other people are making the claim about him.

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