be said to

[Anonymous]

These are both correct with different meanings, aren't they?

1. Charles Baudelaire is said to have been a great poet.
2. Charles Baudelaire was said to be a great poet.

Thanks.

[Pete]

These are both correct with different meanings, aren't they?

1. Charles Baudelaire is said to have been a great poet.
2. Charles Baudelaire was said to be a great poet.

Thanks.
Correct. #1 tells us what is being said in the present time, and #2 tells us what was said at some past time.

[Anonymous]

Please check my thoughts.

1. The boy is said/believed/thought to be a great pianist when he grows up.
1a. It is said/believed/thought that the boy [will, is going to] be a great pianist when he grows up.
The sentence 1 is incorrect, and it should be 1a.

But
2. The boy was said/believed/thought to be a great pianist when he grows up.
2a. It was said/believed/thought that the boy [would, was going to] be a great pianist when he grows/grew up.
These sentences are both correct.
Am I right?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Help with this!

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Let me give a shot!

You said;
1. The boy is said/believed/thought to be a great pianist when he grows up.
1a. It is said/believed/thought that the boy [will, is going to] be a great pianist when he grows up.
The sentence 1 is incorrect, and it should be 1a.

I think;
Your thoughts are OK, but [1a] is also unnatural. Try this;
1b. People say/believe/think that the boy [will, is going to] be a great pianist when he grows up. [I think 'will' is pretty better, but I'm not 100% sure.]

************

You said;
2. The boy was said/believed/thought to be a great pianist when he grew up.
2a. It was said/believed/thought that the boy [would, was going to] be a great pianist when he grew up.
These sentences are both correct.

I think;
Your thoughts are OK (as corrected), but [2a] is a bit unnatural. Try 2 or this;
2b. People said/believed/thought that the boy would be a great pianist when he grew up.

I hope I'm correct!

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Bear!