2nd bachillerato - second term - year 2012-2013

PASSIVE OF REPORTING VERBS / IMPERSONAL PASSIVE

Verbs that refer to saying or thinking ( think, believe, say, report, know,
consider, presume, hope…) are often followed by a to-infinitive form in the passive.

Example: The police think he is in Argentina.

He is thought to be in Argentina.

There are FOUR INFINITIVE FORMS, which we will use depending on the tense we have
in the active sentence.

Simple to write escribir

Continuous to be writing estar escribiendo
Perfect to have written haber escrito
Perf. Continuous to have been writing haber estado escribiendo

IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS TYPE OF PASSIVE SENTENCE, WE

1 Take the subject of the second sentence: He

2 Passive verb of the Reporting verb in the same tense as in the active: is
thought
3 The verb of the second sentence in the Infinitive form: to be

WHICH FORM OF THE INFINITIVE DO WE USE?

 If it carries an idea of present or future  Simple: to write

 It it carries an idea of past, whatever the tense (Past Simple, Past Perfect, Present
Perfect)  Perfect: to have written.
 If either of them are in a continuous form, you use the adequate Infinitive
continuous form  to be writing or to have been writing

SOME MORE EXAMPLES:

ACTIVE PASSIVE

They say she works hard. She is said to work hard.

They say she played well. She is said to have played well.
They said she has done well. She was said to have done well.
They believe he is having an affair. He is believed to be having an affair.
They believe he has been having an affair. He is believed to have been having an
affair.
She believes the repairs have been finished. The repairs are believed to have been
finished.

1 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT. I.E.S. Diego de Siloé

 2nd bachillerato - second term - year 2012-2013

GET / HAVE SOMETHING DONE (Passive Voice)

This construction is passive in meaning. It may describe situations where we want someone else to
do something for us.

Examples
 I must get / have my hair cut.
 When are you going to get that window mended?
 We're having the house painted.
If the verb refers to something negative or unwanted, it has the same meaning as a passive
sentence:

 Jim had his car stolen last night. (= Jim's car was stolen)
 They had their roof blown off in the storm. (= Their roof was blown off in the storm)
The construction can refer to the completion of an activity, especially if a time expression is used:

 We'll get the work done as soon as possible.

 I'll get those letters typed before lunchtime.
In all these sentences, we are more interested in the result of the activity than in the
person or object that performs the activity.

'X' NEEDS DOING

In the same way, this construction has a passive meaning. The important thing in our minds is the
person or thing that will experience the action, e.g.

 The ceiling needs painting (= the ceiling needs to be painted)

 My hair needs cutting (= my hair needs to be cut)

SOME VERBS HAVE SPECIAL PASSIVE FORMS:

 MAKE AND HELP
They are followed by a bare infinitive in the active, but take a to-infinitive in the
passive
Active: Her two sisters made him clean the house
Passive: He was made to clean the house by her two sisters.
 LET
In the passive, let is replaced by allowed and is followed by a to-infinitive.
Active: The teacher let us leave early
Passive: We were allowed to leave early (by the teacher)

 SEE AND HEAR

Some verbs of the senses can be followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund
form in the passive.
Active: They heard the baby cry / crying.
Passive: The baby was heard to cry / crying.

2 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT. I.E.S. Diego de Siloé

 Here are the impersonal passive constructions for the sentences you
provided: l

2nd bachillerato - second term - year 2012-2013 3. **A journalist reports that they are leaving Las Vegas tomorrow night.**
- It is reported that they are leaving Las Vegas tomorrow night.
- They are reported to be leaving Las Vegas tomorrow night.
EXERCISES 4. **The lecturer thought that Columbus never realized that he had
discovered America.**
IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
- It was thought that Columbus never realized that he had discovered
America.
1. People believe that English is the most widely spoken language
- Columbus was thought not to have realized that he had discovered
 It is believed that English is the most widely spoken language.
America.
 English is believed to be the most widely spoken language.
5. **Their parents thought that the teenagers were dancing at the disco.**
2. Police have reported that it was Peter who caused the accident. - It was thought by their parents that the teenagers were dancing at the
 It has been reported that it was Peter who caused the accident.
disco.
 Peter has been reported to have caused the accident.
- The teenagers were thought to be dancing at the disco.
3. A journalist reports that they are leaving Las Vegas tomorrow night.
 It ________________________________________________________________ 6. **Everybody thinks that she sings beautifully.**
They _____________________________________________________________ - It is thought that she sings beautifully.
4. The lecturer thought that Columbus never realized that he had discovered America. - She is thought to sing beautifully.
 It ________________________________________________________________
Columbus _________________________________________________________ 7. **The children reported that their friends were swimming when they
5. Their parents thought that the teenagers were dancing at the disco. disappeared.**
 It ________________________________________________________________ - It was reported by the children that their friends were swimming when
 The teenagers ______________________________________________________ they disappeared.
6. Everybody thinks that she sings beautifully - Their friends were reported to have been swimming when they
 __________________________________________________________________ disappeared.
 __________________________________________________________________
7. The children reported that their friends were swimming when they disappeared. 8. **People believed that they had killed the animals during the night.**
 __________________________________________________________________ - It was believed that the animals had been killed during the night.
 __________________________________________________________________ - The animals were believed to have been killed during the night.
8. People believed that they had killed the animals during the night.
 __________________________________________________________________ 9. **My friends think that my parents are the best parents in the world.**
 __________________________________________________________________ - It is thought by my friends that my parents are the best parents in the
9. My friends think that my parents are the best parents in the world. world.
 __________________________________________________________________ - My parents are thought to be the best parents in the world.
 __________________________________________________________________
10. They believed that the horse was a present. 10. **They believed that the horse was a present.**
 __________________________________________________________________
- It was believed that the horse was a present.
 __________________________________________________________________
- The horse was believed to be a present.
11.People are thinking that drugs are very dangerous.
 __________________________________________________________________
 __________________________________________________________________ 11. **People are thinking that drugs are very dangerous.**
12.They knew that Mr. Brown was stealing iron from the factory. - It is being thought that drugs are very dangerous.
 __________________________________________________________________ - Drugs are being thought to be very dangerous.
 __________________________________________________________________
13.Ancient people thought that the stars would fall on them. 12. **They knew that Mr. Brown was stealing iron from the factory.**
 __________________________________________________________________ - It was known that Mr. Brown was stealing iron from the factory.
 __________________________________________________________________ - Mr. Brown was known to have been stealing iron from the factory.
14. People consider that the team will be classified for the final.
 __________________________________________________________________ 13. **Ancient people thought that the stars would fall on them.**
 __________________________________________________________________ - It was thought by ancient people that the stars would fall on them.
15. Everybody says that he settled the business. - The stars were thought to be falling on them.
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________ 14. **People consider that the team will be classified for the final.**
16. The reporters believed that the meeting would finish soon. - It is considered that the team will be classified for the final.
 _________________________________________________________________ - The team is considered to be classified for the final.
 _________________________________________________________________
15. **Everybody says that he settled the business.**
- It is said that he settled the business.
3 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT. I.E.S. Diego de Siloé - He is said to have settled the business.

16. **The reporters believed that the meeting would finish soon.**
- It was believed by the reporters that the meeting would finish soon.
- The meeting was believed to finish soon.
 ### Mixed Types
2nd bachillerato - second term - year 2012-2013
Here are the impersonal passive constructions for the new 1. **The students all know that Shakespeare was born in Stratford.**
sentences you provided: - It is known by all the students that Shakespeare was born in Stratford.
17.They have thought the sportsmen are arriving today. - Shakespeare is known to have been born in Stratford.
### Impersonal Passive  _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________ 2. **We saw the baby crawl towards the window.**
- The baby was seen to crawl towards the window.
17. **They have thought the sportsmen are arriving today.** 18. Citizens presume that the government is responsible for the accident.
 _________________________________________________________________
- It was seen that the baby crawled towards the window.
- It has been thought that the sportsmen are arriving today.
- The sportsmen are thought to be arriving today.  _________________________________________________________________
3. **My parents used to let me go out at night.**
19. The newspapers are reporting that the most outstanding athletes represent their
- I was allowed to go out at night by my parents.
18. **Citizens presume that the government is responsible for the country.
- It was allowed that I went out at night by my parents.
accident.**  _________________________________________________________________
- It is presumed by citizens that the government is responsible  _________________________________________________________________
4. **The teacher helped his students finish the exercise.**
for the accident. 20. The shareholders thought that the group had rejected the offer. - The students were helped by the teacher to finish the exercise.
- The government is presumed to be responsible for the  __________________________________________________________________
- The exercise was helped to be finished by the teacher.
 __________________________________________________________________
accident.
21. They say that the meeting will be held here 5. **Reporters at the airport are expecting that the president will be arriving
 __________________________________________________________________
19. **The newspapers are reporting that the most outstanding soon.**
 __________________________________________________________________
athletes represent their country.** - It is being expected by reporters at the airport that the president will be
22. The hooligans expected that their team would win arriving soon.
- It is being reported by the newspapers that the most
 __________________________________________________________________ - The president is expected to be arriving soon.
outstanding athletes represent their country.  __________________________________________________________________
- The most outstanding athletes are being reported to
represent their country. 6. **My mother always made me do the housework.**
MIXED TYPES - I was always made to do the housework by my mother.
- It was always made that I did the housework by my mother.
20. **The shareholders thought that the group had rejected the 1. The students all know that Shakespeare was born in Stratford.
offer.**
1 We saw the baby crawl towards the window. 7. **Football fans have thought that their team is arriving today.**
- It was thought by the shareholders that the group had - It has been thought by football fans that their team is arriving today.
rejected the offer. 2 My parents used to let me go out at night. - Their team is thought to be arriving today.
- The group was thought to have rejected the offer. 3 In the Middle Ages, people thought the devil sometimes got into their bodies
8. **Everybody knew that Peter had copied at his access exam.**
21. **They say that the meeting will be held here.** 4 The teacher helped his students finish the exercise. - It was known by everybody that Peter had copied at his access exam.
- It is said that the meeting will be held here. 5 Reporters at the airport are expecting that the president will be arriving soon. - Peter was known to have copied at his access exam.
- The meeting is said to be held here.
6 My mother always made me do the housework. 9. **Doctors consider that lung cancer will have a cure in the next fifty years.**
22. **The hooligans expected that their team would win.** 7 Football fans have thought that their team is arriving today. - It is considered by doctors that lung cancer will have a cure in the next fifty
- It was expected by the hooligans that their team would win. years.
8 Everybody knew that Peter had copied at his access exam. - Lung cancer is considered to have a cure in the next fifty years.
- Their team was expected to win.
9 Doctors consider that lung cancer will have a cure in the next fifty years.
10. **The police always thought that he had escaped and that he was living in
10 The police always thought that he had escaped and that he was living in Sweden. Sweden.**
11 We could usually hear an opera singer singing upstairs. - It was always thought by the police that he had escaped and that he was
living in Sweden.
12 The headmaster made them sit down and stay there until 5 o’clock. - He was thought to have escaped and to be living in Sweden by the police.
13 The usher didn’t let us go into the theatre.
11. **We could usually hear an opera singer singing upstairs.**
14 People in the town believed that the heavy rainfall was the reason for the bursting of - An opera singer could usually be heard singing upstairs.
the dam. - It could usually be heard that an opera singer was singing upstairs.

12. **The headmaster made them sit down and stay there until 5 o’clock.**
- They were made to sit down and stay there until 5 o’clock by the
headmaster.
- It was made that they sat down and stayed there until 5 o’clock.

13. **The usher didn’t let us go into the theatre.**

- We were not allowed to go into the theatre by the usher.
- It was not allowed that we went into the theatre by the usher.

14. **People in the town believed that the heavy rainfall was the reason for the
bursting of the dam.**
- It was believed by people in the town that the heavy rainfall was the reason
4 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT. I.E.S. Diego de Siloé
for the bursting of the dam.
- The heavy rainfall was believed to be the reason for the bursting of the
dam.
 5th LEVEL. GRAMMAR UNIT 8
EOI REUS

REPORTED AND IMPERSONAL PASSIVE

With opinion verbs such as allege, believe, consider, estimate, expect, know, report,
say, think, understand a passive construction is used when reporting people’s
generalized opinions.

This happens because the action referred to is more important than the subject who is
doing the action, usually because it would be a weak subject (they, people).

You can build this kind of sentences following both these structures:

IT + PASSIVE OPINION VERB + THAT CLAUSE

PERSONAL SUBJECT + PASSIVE OPINION VERB + TO INFINITIVE

Depending on the tense reference in the active sentence, the infinitive may vary into
perfect infinitive (to have + pp), present continuous infinitive (to be + -ing form),
perfect continuous infinitive (to have been + -ing form), or perfect passive infinitive (to
have been + pp).

1. PRESENT REFERENCE
People say that Sam is in the UK.
It is said that Sam is in the UK.
Sam is said to be in the UK.

2. PAST REFERENCE
People know that Shane left Galway last week.
It is known that Shane left Galway last week.
Shane is known to have left Galway last week.

3. CONTINUOUS PRESENT/PAST REFERENCE

People rumour that George is / was visiting his relatives.
It is rumoured that George is / was visiting his relatives.
George is rumoured to be visiting / to have been visiting his relatives.

4. PASSIVE REFERENCE
People consider that Jane was badly mistreated.
It is considered that Jane was badly mistreated.
Jane is considered to have been badly mistreated.

ALSO KEEP IN MIND

 If the reporting or opinion verb is in the past in the active sentence, it stays the
same in the passive sentence:
People thought she had paid too much.
It was thought that she had paid too much.
She was thought to have paid too much.
 5th LEVEL. GRAMMAR UNIT 8
EOI REUS

 If the verb clause in the second part of the sentence contains a modal, or a
verb form which does not have an infinitive form, you wioll have to use an
alternative equivalent which can become an infinitive.

Can/could forms of to be able to

Will forms of to be going to
Must forms of to have to

PRACTICE
EXERCISE 1
Here are the rewritten sentences using the introductory Rewrite these sentences using the introductory words given, and one of the
words given: constructions above.

1. **Ten foreign passports** were confiscated by 1. We know that customs officials confiscated ten foreign passports last week.
Ten foreign passports ______________________________________________
customs officials last week.
2. People say that most small corner shops are losing business with the recession.
Most small corner shops ____________________________________________
2. **Most small corner shops** are said to be losing
3. It is expected that tax increases will be announced in tomorrow’s budget.
business with the recession. Tax increases _____________________________________________________
4. People thought at first that the Crown Prince had been attacked.
3. **Tax increases** are expected to be announced in The Crown Prince _________________________________________________
tomorrow’s budget. 5. We know that inner-city crime rates are increasing.
Inner-city crime rates ______________________________________________
4. **The Crown Prince** was thought at first to have 6. They say the star’s wife has had at least two face-lifts.
been attacked. The star’s wife ____________________________________________________
7. It is rumoured that the Princess is in hiding in Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
5. **Inner-city crime rates** are known to be increasing. The Princess ______________________________________________________
8. It is feared that nine crew members were lost overboard.
Nine crew members ________________________________________________
6. **The star’s wife** is said to have had at least two
9. It was considered that his speech was one of the best.
face-lifts.
His speech _______________________________________________________
10. We can’t deny that we made certain mistakes early on.
7. **The Princess** is rumoured to be in hiding in It ______________________________________________________________
Balmoral Castle in Scotland. 11. Police reported that a man had been helping them with their investigation.
A man ___________________________________________________________
8. **Nine crew members** are feared to have been lost 12. The accused was alleged to have committed fraud.
overboard. It ______________________________________________________________

9. **His speech** was considered to be one of the best.

10. **It** cannot be denied that certain mistakes were

made early on.

11. **A man** was reported to have been helping police

with their investigation.

12. **It** was alleged that the accused committed fraud.

 5th LEVEL. GRAMMAR UNIT 8
EOI REUS

EXERCISE 2
Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals.

1. We believe that the government has prepared a plan. HAVE

________________________________________________________________

2. We are thinking of getting someone to paint the outside of the house. PAINTED

________________________________________________________________

3. In the end I was unable to find a garage to service my car. GET

________________________________________________________________

4. People say that Mrs Turner was having business difficulties. BEEN

________________________________________________________________

5. The treasure is thought to date from the 13th century. IT

________________________________________________________________

6. The police towed away Alan’s car. GOT

________________________________________________________________
Here are the rewritten sentences using the words in 7. Your hair needs cutting. GET
capitals:
________________________________________________________________

1. We **have** believed that the government has 8. The police believe that a professional thief stole the statue. BEEN
prepared a plan. ________________________________________________________________

2. We are thinking of getting someone to have the 9. Jill’s parents are making her study hard. MADE
outside of the house **painted**. ________________________________________________________________

3. In the end, I was unable to get a garage to service my

car.

4. People say that Mrs. Turner has **been** having

business difficulties.

5. It is thought that the treasure dates from the 13th

century.

6. Alan’s car **got** towed away by the police.

7. Your hair needs to **get** cut.

8. The police believe that the statue has **been** stolen

by a professional thief.

9. Jill’s parents have **made** her study hard.