進階被動與保持距離

🎯 這一課你會學會

學術與新聞英文常需要不指名消息來源、保持客觀與距離——"It is widely believed that…"「The company is said to have lost millions.」這是 B2 被動報導的升級版,讓你能引述「大家的說法」而不必為真假背書,是論文、報導、正式報告的標配。

💬 先聽一段對話

Ken: Is the merger confirmed?（合併確定了嗎?) Mia: Not officially. But it is thought to be close.（沒正式。但據信已接近。) Ken: And the CEO?（那執行長呢?) Mia: She is said to have known for months.（據說她幾個月前就知道了。) Ken: Interesting. It is widely believed that she'll step down.（有意思。普遍認為她會下台。)

🔑 兩個被動報導句型

• It + is + PP(said/believed/thought…) + that + 句子:It is believed that he is guilty.
• 主詞 + is + PP + to + 原形/have PP:He is believed to be guilty. / He is believed to have left.

🧩 文法點:兩種「據說」句式

① It + is said/believed/thought/reported/estimated + that + 完整句子:

• It is said that the painting is genuine.（據說這幅畫是真跡。)
• It is widely believed that the plan will fail.（普遍認為計畫會失敗。)
• It was reported that dozens were injured.（據報數十人受傷。)
• 好處:不必說是誰說的,焦點在「內容」+ 保持客觀。

② 主詞提前版:主詞 + is said/believed… + to + 動詞:

• 同時:The company is said to be in trouble.（= It is said that the company is…)
• 較早:The company is said to have lost millions.（用 to have + PP 表更早發生)
• 進行:He is believed to be hiding abroad.（to be + Ving)
• 規則:主句時態 vs 引述內容時間 → 用 to V(同時/未來)或 to have PP(更早)區分。

③ 常用的報導動詞(被動):said, believed, thought, reported, known, expected, estimated, alleged, considered, understood。

• He is expected to win.（預料他會贏。)
• The damage is estimated to be severe.（損失據估嚴重。)

④ 為什麼 C1 需要它:

• 學術:引述研究/共識而不武斷("It is generally accepted that…")。
• 新聞:報導未證實消息、免責("is alleged to have…")。
• 外交/職場:婉轉轉述,不把話說死。

⑤ 中文母語者常犯:

• ❌ He is said that he is rich. → ✅ He is said to be rich. / It is said that he is rich.(兩種句型別混用)
• 更早發生用 to have + PP:He is believed to have left(不是 to leave)。
• alleged(被指控/未證實)語氣中性偏保留,別當成「確定」。

📒 高頻單字

單字	KK 音標	中譯	例句
widely	/ˈwaɪdli/	普遍地	It is widely believed…
estimate	/ˈɛstəˌmet/	估計	is estimated to be…
allege	/əˈlɛdʒ/	指稱(未證實)	is alleged to have…
confirm	/kənˈfɝm/	證實	not officially confirmed
merger	/ˈmɝdʒɚ/	合併	The merger is close.

🗣️ 發音提醒

• is said to 連讀「ɪz-sɛd-tə」;is believed to →「ɪz-bɪ-livd-tə」。
• to have 在這裡常弱讀成「tə-həv / tə-əv」:is said to have left。
• 報導句語調平穩、客觀——不帶個人情緒,那正是它的重點。

✍️ 開口練習

練習 1:改成 It + 被動報導。

• People believe the story is false. → It is believed that the story is false.

練習 2:改成主詞提前版(注意時間)。

• People say she resigned last week. → She is said to have resigned last week.
• People think he is abroad. → He is thought to be abroad.

練習 3:用被動報導轉述一則未證實消息。

The company ＿ (report) to be planning layoffs.（→ is reported）

🎒 帶走

• It is said/believed/thought that + 句子;或 主詞 + is said/believed to + V / to have PP。
• to V = 同時/未來、to have PP = 更早發生。
• 用途:學術客觀、新聞免責、婉轉轉述——不為真假背書。

下一課,學把段落「扣起來」的正式連接詞:語篇銜接。