Reporting a simultaneous event in the passive voice

subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive (simple or continuous)

If the reporting and the reported event happen simultaneously, i.e. in the same time frame, we use simple or continuous infinitives, depending on whether the verb in the reported clause was simple or continuous.

If the time frame is the present:

My son's football coach is said to be very strict. (They say my son's football coach is very strict.)

J. K. Rowling is rumoured to be writing a new book. (Rumour has it that J. K. Rowling is writing a new book.)

If the time frame is the past:

Paul was thought to be in the house. (Everybody thought Paul was in the house.)

Vincent was reported to be staying in Paris at that time. (They reported Vincent was staying in Paris at that time.

In the following examples, the verb in the reported clause of the original sentence was passive, so we use passive infinitives in the new sentence.

If the time frame is the present:

The manuscript is believed to be owned by Mr Wilkins. (They believe the manuscript is owned by Mr Wilkins. / They believe Mr Wilkins owns the manuscript.)

The painting is said to be being restored. (rarely used) (They say the painting is being restored. / They say that some experts are restoring the painting.)

If the time frame is the past:

The money was thought to be provided by a private foundation. (They thought the money was provided by a private foundation. / They thought a private foundation provided the money.)

The spy's phone was believed to be being tapped. (rarely used) (The CIA believed that the spy's phone was being tapped. / The CIA believed that someone was tapping the spy's phone.)