She is said to be very rich

Question

She is said to be very rich.

It is said that she is very rich.

I would like to know if both of these sentences are possible. Thank you beforehand.

Answer 1

Sí, Nila, son las dos formas de hacer la pasiva en inglés, ambas formas son correctas.

Creo personalmente que la primera forma se usa más, como es normal, es la que menos sentido tiene en español, jeje

Mira lo que dice hithere, es cierto que es la forma que al menos coloquialmente se usa más, y es la que luego se transforma en lo que pones, en los examenes se piden las dos formas que mencionas arriba.

Answer 2

When using conversational English, I would be likely to express the idea in any of the ways below ... depending on various factors.

• It's said that she's very rich.
• She is said to be very rich.
• They say she's very rich. (perfectly acceptable.)
• People say she's very rich.
• Folks say she's very rich. (sounds "southern.")
• Everyone says she's very rich.
• I've heard she's very rich.
• I've been hearing that she's very rich.
• I've heard tell that she's very rich. (sounds old-fashioned)
• I hear she's very rich.
• From what I hear, she's very rich.
• I've heard through the grapevine that she is very rich. (sounds kind of corny)
• The word on the street is that she's very rich. (sounds kind of corny)
• The word is that she's very rich.
• The rumor is she's very rich.
• She's rumored to be very rich.
• There's a rumor going around that she's very rich.
• Rumor has it that she's very rich.
• It's rumored that she's very rich.
• I understand her to be very rich.
• It's my understanding that she's very rich.

In conversation, I'm more likely to say "Folks say she's very rich," but that's very regional. If I was trying not to sound regional, then I'd be likely to say "People say she's very rich."

When I am using formal English -- for instance, when writing a college essay or business letter -- I might use phrases like those below:

• Many people claim she is extremely wealthy.
• Often, one hears or reads that she is exceptionally wealthy.
• Rumors that she has great wealth are commonplace.

The differences between formal English and conversational English are too difficult for me to explain, though.

Very good - nobody should be able to argue with that - you've covered everything! - 00f2b5a1, DIC 1, 2009

Answer 3

You can also say: "They say she is very rich".

I wouldn't recommend this phrase as whomever it is said to often responds by saying, "who are they." - hithere3387, DIC 1, 2009

and the retort is often is "those who are in a position to know". - 0074b507, DIC 1, 2009

Or just "people say" - Issabela, DIC 1, 2009

People say... (this is the other way). We do not know who they are. - nila45, DIC 1, 2009

There is no problem saying it "They say..." or "People say..." both are completely acceptable in conversational English. - webdunce, DIC 1, 2009

Actually, I don't think I've ever had anyone say "who are they" when it was obvious I had no one in particular in mind. - webdunce, DIC 1, 2009

I agree that this is a good example by Mortimer. - --Mariana--, DIC 1, 2009

Answer 4

Yes, both sound very natural.

Studying linking verbs?

I am over the worst (estoy al otro lado). I am trying to teach. This is only a revision. - nila45, DIC 1, 2009

By the way, what are the linking verbs?. I am going to be obliged to open a new thread if not .... Can you give a short explanation about that?. This is not the first time I heard someone mentioning it. I am curious. - nila45, DIC 1, 2009

I agree with Q that both sentences sound very natural. - --Mariana--, DIC 1, 2009

Answer 5

Webdunce, yes, I see. There are a lot of ways of saying the same. All of them sound perfect to me.