Question

Raju is believed _________ in Australia

• A. to be living
• B. to live
• C. to being living
• D. living

Answer 1

Answer:

A. to be living

Understanding the 'Believe To Be' Construction in English Grammar

Auxiliary Verbs and Infinitives: A Deeper Dive

• The phrase 'believe to be' is a common idiomatic construction in English, often tested in competitive exams, particularly in sections related to verb usage and sentence structure.
• It functions as a passive infinitive construction. When a verb of opinion or belief (like 'believe', 'think', 'know', 'suppose', 'report', 'understand', 'say') is followed by an object and then an infinitive, the structure often implies a passive meaning about the object.
• The general pattern is: Subject + Verb of Opinion + Object + Infinitive (to + base verb). In this case, 'Raju' is the subject, 'believed' is the verb of opinion, and '_______' (the blank) would logically be filled by the infinitive part that describes what Raju is believed to be doing or to have done.
• The correct form here is the present continuous infinitive: 'to be living'. This indicates an ongoing action or state. The sentence implies that Raju is currently in the process of living in Australia, and this fact is believed by others.
• Key Grammatical Point: When a verb of perception or belief is used in the passive voice (e.g., 'He is believed to have...'), or in specific active constructions like the one here, the infinitive form often follows the object.
• Distinction from Active Voice: A simpler, active sentence would be 'People believe Raju is living in Australia.' The construction 'Raju is believed...' shifts the focus and uses a different grammatical structure.
• Common Errors to Avoid:
  • Using the simple infinitive ('to live'): This would suggest a general belief about Raju's habit or permanent state, rather than an ongoing situation.
  • Using a gerund ('living'): A gerund cannot follow 'believed' in this structure.
  • Using a finite verb form ('lives'): Infinitives are required after such constructions, not finite verbs.
• Exam Relevance: Questions involving this structure often test your ability to identify the correct tense and form of the infinitive needed to convey the intended meaning of an ongoing action. Pay attention to context clues that suggest a present or past continuous state.