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KaaJee Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Was said to be?
What does it mean if one “was said to be something”? If that is said, does it mean one occasion or that that thing/person was generally mentioned so?
If the time is present, it seems to be clear: “Joe is said to be a coward.” I think it means that there are several people who often say that Joe is a coward. But is “Joe was said to be a coward?” the same case in past? Just see: “Joe was sad because he was said to be a coward.” I think we don’t know that he had met somebody (only one person) saying “Joe’s a coward,” or it was often said by several people. How to make it clear if it happened often? Maybe “Joe used to said to be a coward?” Or “Joe was generally mentioned as a coward?”
If the time is present, it seems to be clear: “Joe is said to be a coward.” I think it means that there are several people who often say that Joe is a coward. But is “Joe was said to be a coward?” the same case in past? Just see: “Joe was sad because he was said to be a coward.” I think we don’t know that he had met somebody (only one person) saying “Joe’s a coward,” or it was often said by several people. How to make it clear if it happened often? Maybe “Joe used to said to be a coward?” Or “Joe was generally mentioned as a coward?”
Top answer
"He is said to be (something)" cannot be taken literally. It simply means that it is common knowledge that he is that. He can't be sad because he is said to be a coward, because he isn't supposed to know that people think that.
- "He is said to be (something)" cannot be taken literally.
- It simply means that it is common knowledge that he is that.
- He can't be sad because he is said to be a coward, because he isn't supposed to know that people think that.
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10 Answers
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"He is said to be (something)" cannot be taken literally. It simply means that it is common knowledge that he is that. He can't be sad because he is said to be a coward, because he isn't supposed to know that people think that.
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OK, it means that people talk so. For. e.g. they often say that he’s a coward. And it really doesn’t mean that the person said to be anything is aware of that. Not to mention that if I say “The chair was said to be beautiful,” it’s sure that the chair isn’t aware of anything. But I supposed in my sentence, imagining such a situation, that Joe heard what people generally say about him or what only
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KaaJeeHow to make it clear if it happened often?It was often said that Joe was a coward.
CJ
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The chair was said to be beautiful. = The chair has been lost. The only descriptions were from people who saw it.
“Joe was said to be a coward, but he saved the lives of many soldiers, and was awarded a purple heart." It implies that Joe was killed in action. If you use the past, it almost always means that the person or thing is no longer.
“Joe was said to be a coward, but he saved the lives of many soldiers, and was awarded a purple heart." It implies that Joe was killed in action. If you use the past, it almost always means that the person or thing is no longer.
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Really? It's a new turn that I haven't expected. What should we say if the chair/Joe/etc. keep existing? And can I take a special question? Is it right that "Zeus was said to appear in several shapes"? I mean that he hasn't died, though ancient Greek religion is believed by very few people now, maybe by nobody. Is it like existing no longer?
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Is it right that "Zeus was said to appear in several shapes"? Yes, because we can read about Zeus in Homer, Ovid, and other ancient texts.
KaaJeeI mean that he hasn't died,I doubt that he ever existed. After all, we call these stories myths.
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Sorry but I don’t understand. You say that “was said to” is used when somebody has already died. And you say that Zeus, as far as he can regarded as ever existing, so to say exists now too (through litarary works), and that is why “was said to” is correct.
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"Is said to be" and "was said to appear" are different. "Is said to be a coward" is a delicate and oblique way of saying "has a reputation as a coward". "Was said to appear" does not mean "had a reputation for appearing"; Homer and the rest actually said it, and that's what you mean.
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