435. The clause with that in indirect discourse is sometimes replaced by an infinitive clause ([§ 325]).
- The jury declared him to be innocent. [Compare: The jury declared that he was innocent.]
- Morton admitted them to be counterfeit. [Compare: Morton admitted that they were counterfeit.]
In these sentences, him and them are, of course, the subjects of the infinitives, not the objects of declared and admitted.
436. When the verb of telling or thinking is in the passive voice, three constructions occur:—
1. A clause with that is used as the subject of the passive verb.
That Rogers desires the office is commonly reported.
2. The expletive it is used as the grammatical subject, and a that-clause follows the passive verb.
It is commonly reported that Rogers desires the office.
3. The subject of the that-clause becomes the subject of the passive verb, and the verb of the clause is replaced by an infinitive.
Rogers is commonly reported to desire the office.