Wisdom English Learn about the world. Grow your English.
← Back to Grammar
Part 2 · Episode 36 B1-B2

He Is Said to Be a Genius

📐 Passive reporting verbs

Albert Einstein · 1920s: Einstein's growing fame 📖 5 min read

Episode 36: He Is Said to Be a Genius

Passive Reporting Verbs — Einstein, 1920s (B1-B2)

Grammar Box

Meaning: Passive reporting verbs (is said, is believed, is thought) express what people generally say or believe without specifying who says it.

Form: Subject + is/are + reporting verb (said/believed/thought/known/considered) + to be/to have. Creates distance from the claim.

Example 1: “He is said to be the smartest scientist alive.” (People say this, but we don’t say who specifically.)

Example 2: “The restaurant is believed to have the best pizza in town.” (General belief, source not specified.)

Common mistake: Wrong: “He is said be a genius.” Better: “He is said to be a genius.” (Need ‘to be’ after passive reporting verb.)

The Challenge

Luna read a news article: “The new CEO is said have revolutionary ideas.” Professor Wisdom circled the error. “After passive reporting verbs, we need ‘to be’ or ‘to have’: ‘is said to have.'” Luna corrected it, then asked: “Why not just ‘People say he has ideas’?” “Because,” the Professor explained, “passive reporting creates distance—it reports reputation without endorsing or sourcing it.” The watch glowed. “Let’s see someone whose reputation grew faster than truth.”

The Journey

Berlin and worldwide, 1920s. After confirming his theory of general relativity in 1919, Albert Einstein became something unprecedented: a celebrity scientist. Newspapers across continents tried to explain—and often misunderstood—his work.

Headlines proclaimed: “Einstein is said to be the world’s greatest genius.” “He is believed to have unlocked the secrets of the universe.” “His theories are thought to prove that time itself can bend.” The passive reporting allowed journalists to write with authority about things they barely understood, attributing claims to vague “experts” or “scientists say.”

Einstein himself found this both amusing and frustrating. In his modest Berlin apartment, reading yet another exaggerated article, he muttered to his colleague: “I am reported to have said things I never said. I am believed to understand things even I don’t fully grasp yet. They write ‘Einstein is known to be’ as if my reputation equals truth.”

His colleague laughed. “But Albert, you are considered the greatest mind of our generation. You are thought to have revolutionized physics.” Einstein shook his head. “Those passive constructions—’is said,’ ‘is believed’—they hide something important: who’s saying it? Who’s believing it? Often it’s journalists quoting other journalists, none of whom can explain my equations.”

Yet Einstein understood the power. “It is claimed that I’m a genius,” he admitted. “Whether that’s accurate or not, the passive voice makes it sound like universal truth rather than opinion. That’s both the danger and the usefulness of this grammar.”

The Deep Dive

Passive reporting verbs create formal distance between the speaker and the claim, useful for expressing common beliefs, rumors, or public opinion without taking personal responsibility for the statement. The structure shifts focus from who’s saying something to what’s being said. “Is said to be/have” works for current reputation; “was said to be/have” for past reputation.

Compare: “People say he’s brilliant” (active—informal, personal) vs. “He is said to be brilliant” (passive—formal, impersonal). The passive form sounds more authoritative because it implies widespread agreement, even when the source is vague or unknown.

When NOT to use: Avoid passive reporting for personal opinions or when you should cite specific sources. In academic or professional writing, “is said to be” can seem evasive if you actually know who said it. Use it for genuinely widespread beliefs or when the source is multiple people or unknown.

More Examples

Reputation: “She is considered to be one of the best surgeons in the country.” (Widespread professional opinion.)

Belief: “The building is believed to have been constructed in the 15th century.” (Historical consensus without certain proof.)

Rumor: “The company is said to be planning major layoffs.” (Unconfirmed reports from multiple sources.)

Assessment: “This restaurant is thought to serve the most authentic Italian food outside Italy.” (General opinion, no single source.)

Contrast: “I think he’s talented” (personal opinion) vs. “He is considered to be talented” (general reputation or consensus).

Practice & Reflection

Exercises:

  1. Fill in the blank: The manuscript _ (believe) to _ (write) by Shakespeare himself.

  2. Correct the mistake: “She is said be the fastest runner in the school.”

  3. Choose and explain: Which uses passive reporting correctly?
    a) “He is said very intelligent.”
    b) “He is said to be very intelligent.”

  4. Rewrite: Transform “People think the treasure is buried somewhere on the island” using passive reporting.

  5. Compare: Explain the difference in tone between “I believe he’s honest” and “He is believed to be honest.”

  6. Your reflection: Write a sentence using passive reporting about someone’s reputation in your field or community.

Answer Key:
1. is believed, have been written (passive reporting + perfect infinitive for past action)
2. “She is said to be the fastest…” (Need ‘to be’ after ‘is said.’)
3. (b) is correct. (a) is incomplete—needs ‘to be’ after ‘is said.’
4. “The treasure is thought to be buried somewhere on the island.” (Passive reporting creates formal distance.)
5. “I believe” = personal opinion (taking responsibility). “He is believed to be” = reporting general opinion (distancing from personal claim).
6. Check: Does your sentence use ‘is/are + reporting verb + to be/have’? Example: “Our director is considered to be one of the most innovative leaders in the tech industry.”

The Lesson

Luna wrote: “The new theory is said to challenge everything we know.” The Professor nodded. “Perfect. Einstein learned that passive reporting verbs have power—they make opinions sound like facts by hiding the opinion-holders. That can spread important ideas, but it can also spread misunderstanding.” Luna understood. “So we should use it carefully?” “Exactly. ‘Is said to be’ shouldn’t replace ‘I think’ when honesty requires owning your opinion. But when reporting genuine consensus or reputation, it’s the perfect tool.”