045 : it is said that … / he is said to … / he is supposed to …

   A   

Study this example situation:

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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.'

 

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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.

 

 

 

   B   

(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.

 

 

 

 

※ allege :

 

 

 

 

※ lawsuit :

 

lawsuit (against somebody/something)

(ex.) The actor filed/initiated a lawsuit against the publisher.

 

 

 

※ suspicion :

 

 

 

 

※ suspect :

 

 

 

 

※ prosecution :

 

 

prosecution : 기소

- the act or process of holding a trial against a person

- the process of being officially charged with a crime in court

 

the prosecution : (a person or an organization that prosecutes somebody in court) 검사, 검찰

 

 

 

※ accuse :

 

 

accuse : ac(=to) + cuse(=cause, reason, lawsuit), (잘못을) 지적하다

• accuse somebody of something  to accuse somebody of murder/a crime
• accuse somebody of doing something  She accused him of lying.
• be accused of something  The government was accused of incompetence.
• to be falsely/wrongly/unjustly accused of something
• (formal) They stand accused of crimes against humanity.

 

(참고) cause, accuse, excuse

 

 

 

※ strike :

 

 

 

 

※ suppose :

 

 

 

 

※ firework :