RULE: A fact that is believed by most people [to] be true

[tung quoc]

Dear teachers,

Please read:

A fact that is believed by most people to be true. (1)

Why there is the word “to” in (1)? What is the meaning of “to”? What is the rule?

Thanks
Quoc

[Alan]

Hi,

In your sentence you have an object the fact. You can either write:

I believe the fact is true

or

I believe the fact to be true.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Too Many Words