What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to introduce beliefs and opinions impersonally with "It is believed / thought / said that...".
When do I use it?
Use "It is + past participle + that..." to present a belief, opinion or fact without attributing it to anyone specific. It is common in news, academic and formal writing:
- "It is believed that the economy will recover."
- "It is thought that exercise improves memory."
- "It was announced that the museum will close."
The structure moves the attention from who believes to the belief itself.
How do I form it?
It + is/was + believed/thought/said/reported/announced + that + clause
- It is believed that the meeting was cancelled.
- It was reported that two people were injured.
- It is estimated that half the students work.
- It was announced that taxes will rise.
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish speakers usually master "se cree que" but often translate it with a wrong subject or tense: "they believe that the economy recovers" (informal, and wrong tense) instead of "It is believed that the economy will recover". Keep "It" as the dummy subject — never "It is believed the economy..." (the "that" is required), and keep the past participle after "is/was".
It is believed that + clause. The "that" stays; "It" stays as subject.
Practice
Multiple Choice
B2Which sentence is correct?
Fill in the Blank
B2It was that the store would close.
Hint: It + was + past participle + that + clause.
Find the Error
B2Sentence Transformation
B2Task: Rewrite with 'It is thought that...'
Hint: It + is thought + that + clause.
Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: B2