Passive: personal and impersonal structures

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 5

Passive: personal and impersonal constructions

We often use reporting verbs such as think, believe, say, report, know, expect, consider, understand, claim, etc. in impersonal passive structures in formal situations.

Consider the following sentences:

The meaning of all three sentences do not differ from each other. However, numbers 2 and 3 are more formal.

Active:

People believe that he lied in court.

Passive:

It is believed that he lied in court. (impersonal)

(it + be + verb + that)

He is believed to have lied in court. (personal)

subject + be + verb + infinitive)

Everyone knows that eating fruit is good for you.
1. It is known that eating fruit is good for you.
2.Eating fruit is known to be good for you.

Which sentence is the impersonal passive?

1. 1
2. 2

They say that the palace was destroyed by the earthquake.
1. It is said that the palace was destroyed by the earthquake.
2. The earthquake is said to have been destroyed by the earthquake.
Which sentence is the personal passive?

1. 1
2. 2

People say that the company paid $50 million for the shares.

If you want to make a personal passive, you start the sentence with...

1. It is said that
2. The company

People say that Mr Johnson was difficult to work with.

If you want to make an impersonal passive, your start the sentence with:

1. It is said that
2. Mr Johnson

They think that one of the guests stole the jewels.

What is the reporting verb in this sentence?

1. think
2. stole

Now you try: turn into a passive sentence!

We believe that the Chinese invented gunpowder.
(make a personal passive sentence)

They think that the two injured men were repairing high-tension cables.
(make an impersonal passive sentence)

They say that the escaped prisoner lives in Spain. (impersonal)

We believe that the government prepared a plan.(personal)

The police know that a professional killer assassinated the king.
It is known that a professional killer assassinated the king.
Give option 2: personal passive!

They consider that Maths is a difficult subject.
Maths is considered to be a difficult subject.

Give option 2: impersonal passive

They think that Helen has missed the train.
It is thought that Helen has missed the train.

Give option 2: personal passive

They say that all the answers are included in her book.
It is said that all the answers are included in her book.\

Give option 2: personal passive

Nobody knew that Peter was in Madrid.
Peter was not known to be in Madrid.

Give option 2: impersonal passive

They say that their marriage is breaking up.
It is said that their marriage is breaking up.

Give option 2: personal passive