English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 45: It is said that ... He is said to ... He is supposed to ...

Study this example situation:

George is very old. Nobody knows exactly how old he is, but:
It is said that he is 108 years old.
or He is said to be 108 years old.

Both these sentences mean: 'People say that he is 108 years old.'

You can use these structures with a number of other verbs, especially:

  • alleged
  • believed
  • considered
  • expected
  • known
  • reported
  • thought
  • understood

Compare the two structures:
  • Cathy loves running.
    It is said that she runs ten miles a day. or She is said to run ten miles a day.
  • The police are looking for a missing boy.
    It is believed that the boy is wearing a white sweater and blue jeans. or The boy is believed to be wearing a white sweater and blue jeans.
  • The strike started three weeks ago.
    It is expected that the strike will end soon. or The strike is expected to end soon.
  • A friend of mine has been arrested.
    It is alleged that he hit a policeman. or He is alleged to have hit a policeman.
  • The two houses belong to the same family.
    It is said that there is a secret tunnel between them. or There is said to be a secret tunnel between them.

These structures are often used in news reports. For example, in a report about an accident:
  • It is reported that two people were injured in the explosion. or Two people are reported to have been injured in the explosion.

(Be) supposed to

Sometimes (it is) supposed to ... = (it is) said to ... :
  • I want to see that film. It's supposed to be good. (= it is said to be good)
  • Fireworks are supposed to have been invented in China. Is it true?

But sometimes supposed to has a different meaning. We use supposed to to say what is intended, arranged or expected. Often this is different from the real situation:
  • The plan is supposed to be a secret, but everybody seems to know about it. (= the plan is intended to be a secret)
  • What are you doing at work? You're supposed to be on holiday. (= you arranged to be on holiday)
  • Our guests were supposed to come at 7.30, but they were late.
  • Jane was supposed to phone me last night, but she didn't.
  • I'd better hurry. I'm supposed to be meeting Chris in ten minutes.

You're not supposed to do something = it is not allowed or advisable:
  • You're not supposed to park your car here. It's private parking only.
  • Jeff is much better after his illness, but he's still not supposed to do any heavy work.

45.1 Write these sentences in another way, beginning as shown. Use the underlined word each time.

  1. It is expected that the strike will end soon.
    The strike .
  2. It is expected that the weather will be good tomorrow.
    The weather is __________ .
  3. It is believed that the thieves got in through a window in the roof.
    The thieves __________ .
  4. It is reported that many people are homeless aft er the floods.
    Many people __________ .
  5. It is thought that the prisoner escaped by climbing over a wall.
    The prisoner __________ .
  6. It is alleged that the man was driving at 110 miles an hour.
    The man __________ .
  7. It is reported that the building has been badly damaged by the fire.
    The building __________ .
  8. It is said that the company is losing a lot of money.
    The company __________ .
  9. It is believed that the company lost a lot of money last year.
    The company __________ .
  10. It is expected that the company will make a loss this year.
    The company __________ .

45.2 There are a lot of rumours about Alan. Here are some of the things people say about him:


Nobody is sure whether these things are true. Write sentences about Alan using supposed to.
  1. .
  2. He __________ .
  3. __________ .
  4. __________ .
  5. __________ .

45.3 Complete the sentences using supposed to be + the following:

  • on a diet
  • a flower
  • my friend
  • a joke
  • a secret
  • working
  1. How is it t hat everybody seems to know about the plan?
    It .
  2. You shouldn't criticise me all the time.
    You __________ .
  3. I shouldn't be eating this cake really.
    I __________ .
  4. I'm sorry for what I said. I was trying to be funny.
    It __________ .
  5. What's this drawing? Is it a tree?
    Or maybe it __________ .
  6. You shouldn't be reading t he paper now.
    You __________ .

45.4 Write sentences with supposed to + the following verbs:

  • block
  • depart
  • part
  • phone
  • start

Use the negative (not supposed to) where necessary.
  1. You here. It's private parking only.
  2. We __________ work at 8.15, but we rarely do anything before 8.30.
  3. Oh, I __________ Helen last night, but I completely forgot.
  4. This door is a fire exit. You __________ it.
  5. My flight __________ at 11 .30, but it was an hour late.

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