Impersonal Passive Constructions

People rumour that Angelina Jolie has anorexia

It + passive verb + that –clause It is rumoured that Angelina Jolie has anorexia.
Subject + passive verb + to-infinitive Angelina Jolie is rumoured to have anorexia

The tense of the passive verb is determined by the active sentence: rumour = present simple is rumoured

Change to impersonal passive Change to impersonal passive

1. They say the PM is dying. 1. They say the PM is dying.
It_____________________________ It is said that the PM is dying.
___________________________ The PM is said to be dying
The____________________________
___________________________ 2. They expect the concert will finish at
2. They expect the concert will finish at about 11pm.
about 11pm. It is expected that the concert will
It_____________________________ finish at about 11pm.
___________________________ The concert is expected to finish…
He_____________________________
___________________________ 3. People said she had been driving drunk.
3. People said she had been driving drunk. It was said that she had been driving
It_____________________________ drunk.
___________________________ She was said to have been driving drunk.
She____________________________
___________________________ 4. They thought she lied to the police
4. They thought she lied to the police It was thought that she lied to ….
It_____________________________ She was thought to have lied to….
___________________________
She____________________________ 5. People know he committed the murder.
___________________________ It is known that he committed the…
5. People know he committed the murder. He is known to have committed the..
It_____________________________
___________________________ 6. They think rebels have kidnapped him.
He_____________________________ It is thought that rebels have kidnapped
___________________________ him.
6. They think rebels have kidnapped him. He is thought to have been kidnapped.
It_____________________________
___________________________ 7. People claim she is a secret agent.
He_____________________________ It is claimed that she is a secret agent.
___________________________ She is claimed to be a secret agent.
7. People claim she is a secret agent.
It____________________________
Answers
She___________________________