Impersonal passive

 The impersonal passive: is a formal way of reporting thoughts, saying, beliefs and
opinions.

 The verbs that are used in impersonal passive construction.

 Examples:
- People say that children are afraid of ghosts.
It is said that children are afraid of ghosts.

- People say that this orchestra is the best in the world.

- They think that he will be attending the meeting.

- People say that Mr. Brown owns a lot of land in the north.
Mr. Brown is said to own a lot of land in the north.

- People think that learning a new language also presents the brain with unique challenges.
It is thought that learning a new language also presents the brain with unique challenges.

 The rule:
 (It + passive construction + that-clause)
- E.g. The students say that the exam was easy.
It is said that the exam was easy .

 (S + passive construction + to + inf.)

 The passive voice of these verbs (Think, believe, say, report, know, expect, consider, and
understand):
Present simple: Is / are +
Thought, believed, said, reported, known,
Past simple: was / were +
expected, considered, understood
Present perfect simple: have / has been
  Changes on the verbs after ( to):
V1(s/es) / V(inf.) To + V (inf.)
His parents say that he goes to school by bus. he is said to go to school by bus.
V2 To + Have + V3
People say that this team played well in the match. this team is said to have played well in the match
Will + V(inf.) To + V(inf.)
The teachers say that we will go on a school trip. We are said to go on a school trip.
Don’t / Doesn’t + V(inf.) Not to V(inf.)
The doctor says that you don’t do daily exercises. You are said not to do daily exercises.
Didn’t V(inf.) Not to have + V3
Mum says that I didn’t have any dangerous I am said not to have had any dangerous diseases
diseases in the past. in the past.
Isn’t / Aren’t Not to be
The students say that the exam is difficult. The exam is said to be difficult.
Wasn’t / weren’t Not to have been
The students say that the exam was easy. The exam is said to have been easy.

 Exercises:
1. They say that fish is good for the brain.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Fish -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
2. People think that we use a small percentage of our brain power.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
We ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
3. They claim that we remember things we hear in our sleep.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
We ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
4. People believe that solving puzzles keeps the brain active.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Solving puzzles ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
5. Experts have proved that exercise is good for concentration.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Exercise ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
6. People say that the exams are disastrous.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
The exam-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
7. People know that the sun shines itself.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
The sun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
8. The students say that the exercise wasn’t easy.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
 The exercise--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
9. People believed that Anna stole the money.
It---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Anna----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
10. The teacher believes that Ali doesn’t study well.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Ali ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
11. Experts think that the weather will be cool.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
The weather -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
12. They think that the boys didn’t arrive on time.
It --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
The boys -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
13. It was known that the man was telling the truth.
People --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
14. It is believed that learning languages improve your decision-making skills.
Scientist ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
15. It is believed that the thieves have left the country.
People --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
16. It is known that he is making a lot of money.
People --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.