was believed to be

[ronmecer]

Hi, everyone,

1) The murderer was believed to be a hired assassin.

2) The murderer was believed to have been a hired assassin.


I have no idea what's the difference between these two sentences. Could anybody help me?

Very appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Raymott]

Hi, everyone,

1) The murderer was believed to be a hired assassin.

2) The murderer was believed to have been a hired assassin.


I have no idea what's the difference between these two sentences. Could anybody help me?

Very appreciated. Thanks!

In practice, they are often used to mean the same thing. The context of your sentences makes the meaning clear - "The murderer was a hired assassin, it was believed."

Here is a sentence where you need the second form: "The murderer was believed to have been an English teacher before he became a hired assassin." It's a similar requirement for that of the past perfect. You're looking at two events/states in the past. "It was believed that the murderer had been an English teacher before becoming a hired assassin."