Passive reporting verbs
Form
‘We can report actions and events using the passive in
two different ways:
A: It + passive verb + that clause
It is believed that the company was sold jor $20 million,
B: subject + passive verb + 0+ infinitive
The company is believed to have been sold for $20
‘milion
A: It + passive verb + that clause
Reporting verbs that commonly follow this pattern.
are: agre, allege, announce, assume, tliew, claim,
consider, decide, estimate, expect, fear, hope, know,
presume, report, say, suggest, think, understand
Present
Itis thought that the eyespots on butterfly wings startle
‘their enemies.
Itis believed that the minister is considering
resignation following the scandal
Past
‘tis estimated that ten thousand people took part in the
demonstration.
It was alleged that the boy hacked into his school's
computer.
Itzeasn’t thought that permanent damage had been
caused.
Future
Itis expected that the new stadium will open in
Ianuary.
B: Subject + passive verb + to ive
Reporting verbs that commonly follow this pattem
are: allege, assume, beliece, cnsider, estimate, expect,
know, report, say, think, understand,
Present
‘The eyespots on butterfly wings are thought to startle
their enemies
The minister is believed to be considering resignation
following the scandal
Past
Ten thousand people are estimated fo have taken part
The boy was alleged to have hacked into his school’s
computer
[No permanent damage zwas thought to have been
caused
This structure is very common in formal writing
eg, newspaper articles, academic essays and business
documents, as well asin formal speaking contexts,
‘4 academic discussions and business meetings or
presentations.
Practice
1 Revit the sentences using passive reporting
verbs.
1. Conservationists fear that polar bears may soon
become extinct.
Iti fare thot polar bears may soon become extinct
2. Journalists reported that an oil spill has
‘occurred off the coast of Mexico.
An oil spill.
3. Detectives know the robbery took place in the
early hours of this morning.
‘The robbery
4 Insider sources say that the player has not been
selected for the Olympic team,
‘The player
5. Scientists think that dinosaurs were wiped out
when an asteroid hit Earth.
Dinosaurs
6 Doctors say a climber who fell 100 metres
down a steep ridge is recovering well.
climber who
7 The finance minister is expected to announce a
tax increase tomorrow.
It
8 The police believe there weren't any witnesses
present.
No witnessesFuture
The new stadivim is expected to open in January.
affirmative negative
active
simple to sell not tose
continuous ‘tobe selling rot to be selling
perfect to have sold not to have sold
perfect continuous tohavebeen not to have been
selling selling
passive
simple tobe sold not tobe sold
perfect tohavebeen sold not tohave been
sold
Notice how we use passive reporting verbs with there,
It is known that there ave small traces of mereury in fish
‘There is knowe to be smtall traces of mercury in fish.
Use
We use reporting verbs in the passive when:
+ we cannot verify the source of the information.
+ weassume that the reader or listener is not
interested in who the agent or source is,
the agent or souree is obvious from the context
no... except/but to + infinitive
{humo choice but 10 resign,
Wehave no aiternative except to sel the louse.
Helhad no option but to eport the matter fo te police.
no matter + relative pronoun
No matter wat I sry, he wom’ believe me
Nomatter how hard ¥ try can’t forget wiht happened.
Practice
2 Rewrite the sentences using an expression with no
land the word in brackets
1 You've got nothing te loseby applying forthe
jeb. (harm)
There's
2. The advertising campaign has defintely been
fective. (cous)
There's
3. Why pay for an expeasivelaptop if you don’t
really need one? (point)
‘There's
4 The reality i, however many possessions we
have, we always want more. (matter)
Tho reality is,
5. Calling him is a waste of time as he never
answers his phone. (use)
Ws
(6 loss say that they wil be forced to go on strike
itan agreement isn’t reached, alternative)
Pilots say
7 Youccant access the data without a password.
(way)
Theres
8 assure you I don’t intend to leave before this,
matter solved. (intention)
Tassure you
CER SEAN
Expressions with no
Form and use
Only certain nouns are used in these expressions.
Here are some of the most common.
no + noun + -ing
There’s no point (in) worrying.
aad no difficulty (ov) finding the venue.
‘There's no harm (in) tring.
There's no sense (in) waiting
It's no use arguing.
1s no good complaining.
no + noun + of + -ing
Theres no wy of finding out
He had no intention of ferving.
‘There was 10 mention of having to pay.
‘She made no suggestion of changing it.
We had no means of getting there.
I've got no chance of winning.
There's no hope of frshing the project om time.
no + noun + that
‘There's no question that tl work.
There's no doubt that she's right.
‘There was mo suggestion that we would have to attend.
‘There wus mo expectation that he would pay.