She Is Said to Have Left
Explore how short fictional news reports use “is said to” and “is believed to” for present situations, past actions, and future events.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
Whose statement does this report describe?
The local baker is said to start work before sunrise.
- The baker says that other people start work early.
- Other people say that the baker starts work early.
- The baker has been told to start work earlier.
The baker is the subject of the report, but not necessarily its source.
Show solution
- Other people say that the baker starts work early.
“Is said to” reports what other people say. It does not identify who provided the information.
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2. Συμπληρώστε το κενό.
The two missing puppies ___ believed to be safe at a nearby farm.
- is
- be
- are
The subject refers to more than one animal.
Show solution
The two missing puppies are believed to be safe at a nearby farm.
The reporting verb agrees with the subject: “The puppies are believed,” but “The puppy is believed.”
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3. Συμπληρώστε το κενό.
The new library is said ___ offer free evening classes.
- to
- that
- for
The next word, “offer,” is the base form of a verb.
Show solution
The new library is said to offer free evening classes.
When the person or thing begins the report, use “is said to” followed by an infinitive. A that-clause needs a different structure: “It is said that the library offers…”
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4. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
How can the report begin with Eva without changing its meaning?
It is believed that Eva runs the community kitchen.
- Eva believes that she runs the community kitchen.
- Eva is believed to run the community kitchen.
- Eva is believed to have run the community kitchen in the past.
Keep Eva as the person running the kitchen, not the person expressing the belief.
Show solution
- Eva is believed to run the community kitchen.
Personal passive reporting makes Eva the sentence subject while leaving the people who hold the belief unnamed.
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5. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
How is the search described?
At this moment, firefighters are believed to be searching the empty warehouse.
- It is thought to have ended.
- It is thought to be a regular weekly activity.
- It is thought to be in progress.
Notice “be searching” and “at this moment.”
Show solution
- It is thought to be in progress.
“To be searching” presents the activity as ongoing, rather than as a habit or a completed action.
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6. Συμπληρώστε το κενό.
The museum director is said ___ the city late last night.
- to have left
- to leave
- to be leaving
The departure happened before the current report.
Show solution
The museum director is said to have left the city late last night.
“To have left” is a perfect infinitive. It places the reported action before the present reporting time.
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7. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
Which timeline matches this report?
The neighborhood pool is believed to reopen next Monday.
- People think the pool reopens every Monday.
- People think the reopening will happen next Monday.
- People think the reopening has already happened.
The time expression helps establish when the event is expected.
Show solution
- People think the reopening will happen next Monday.
A simple infinitive can refer to the future. Here, “next Monday” gives “to reopen” its future meaning.
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8. Συμπληρώστε το κενό.
Next Saturday's concert is said ___ live on local radio.
- to broadcast
- to be broadcasting
- to be broadcast
The radio station broadcasts the concert; the concert receives that action.
Show solution
Next Saturday's concert is said to be broadcast live on local radio.
“To be broadcast” is a passive infinitive. The concert is the subject, but someone else will broadcast it.
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9. Συμπληρώστε το κενό.
The portrait vanished during last night's break-in. It is believed ___ by the intruders.
- to have been taken
- to have taken
- to be taken
The portrait received the action, and that action happened before the report.
Show solution
The portrait vanished during last night's break-in. It is believed to have been taken by the intruders.
“To have been taken” combines past time with passive meaning: someone is believed to have taken the portrait earlier.
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10. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
What do people believe about the director?
The theater director is believed not to support the new ticket policy.
- The director supports the policy.
- The director does not support the policy.
- The director does not know whether others support the policy.
“Not” belongs to the part describing the director's position.
Show solution
- The director does not support the policy.
In “is believed not to support,” the reported belief is negative: people think the director does not support the policy.
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11. Επιλέξτε τη σωστή απάντηση.
Relative to the ranger's call, when was the hikers' arrival thought to have happened?
When the ranger called, the hikers were believed to have reached the cabin.
- After the call.
- At exactly the same moment as the call.
- Before the call.
The belief belongs to a past moment, and the perfect infinitive looks further back.
Show solution
- Before the call.
After “were believed,” “to have reached” places the arrival before that past reporting point, not merely before today.
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12. Συμπληρώστε το κενό.
The report emphasizes an activity that continued for several hours before her arrival.
The cyclist arrived at the shelter at dawn. She is believed ___ for several hours before she got there.
- to be riding
- to have been riding
- to ride
The ride lasted for a period of time before another past event.
Show solution
The cyclist arrived at the shelter at dawn. She is believed to have been riding for several hours before she got there.
“To have been riding” is a perfect continuous infinitive. It highlights the time spent on an activity before a later event.