WIJC EiM5 Passive report structures

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4

PASSIVE REPORT STRUCTURES + REPORTING VERBS

Make this passive: The thief stole the diamonds.

If students don't remember the passive, give them an example before they answer the question.

Many people think Messi is the best footballer in the world.

Make this into a sentence with the same meaning, that starts with Messi...

Not an interactive slide, so let them just think and give someone a turn.

Many people think Messi is the best footballer in the world.

Make this into a sentence with the same meaning, that starts with Messi...

Messi is thought to be the best footballer in the world.

Passive report structures

We use passive report structures 

When we want to report information and the agent (the person/people/thing(s) doing something) is not important.

Chinese is thought to be the most spoken language in the world. 

(It is not important to say who thinks this.)

We commonly use passive report structures with verbs such as 

say, think, believe, know and consider (reporting verbs)

Passive report structures

If we use a passive report structure to talk about beliefs or knowledge in the present, we use to be + past participle of the reporting verb + infinitive

He is believed to be the last man who speaks this language.

They think he is innocent

1. He is not innocent
2. people think he is innocent
3. He is innocent
4. He is thought to be innocent

Passive report structures

If we use a passive report structure to talk about beliefs or knowledge in the past, we use to be + past participle of the reporting verb + to + present perfect

He is thought to have spoken more than 12 languages.

Everyone knew OJ was guilty of the crime

1. OJ was known to have been guilty of the crime
2. It was known that OJ had been guilty of his crime
3. Everyone knew OJ was guilty
4. OJ was guilty, it was known

Rewrite this sentence using a passive report structure: "Many people believe that university education is expensive."

Rewrite this sentence using a passive report structure: "The newspaper says that the police arrested ten people."

REPORTING VERBS

Remind students that reporting verbs are verbs like say, think, believe

Reporting verbs

claim

promise

warning

refusal

denial

encouragement

recommendation

advice

"I didn't break the window." What is this?

1. claim
2. warning
3. refusal
4. denial

"I'll help you do your homework." What is this?

1. promise
2. encouragement
3. recommendation
4. advice

ANY QUESTIONS?