IMPERSONAL PASSIVE - EXAMPLES

1. Police have reported that it was Peter who caused the accident.
It has been reported that it was Peter who caused the accident.
Peter has been reported to have caused the accident.

2. Everybody thinks that she sings beautifully.

It is thought that she sings beautifully.
She is thought to sing beautifully.

3. People believed that they had killed the animals during the night.
It was believed that they had killed the animals during the night.
They were believed to have killed the animals during the night.

4. Experts consider that drugs are very dangerous.

It is considered that drugs are very dangerous.
Drugs are considered to be very dangerous

5. My mother suggested selling the old car and buying a lorry.

My mother suggested (that) the old car should be sold and a lorry should be bought.

6. They decided not to give him any money.(two solutions)

They decided (that) he shouldn’t be given any money.
They decided that no money should be given to him.

Now try these sentences.

7. It is said that Henry eats ten eggs a day.

Henry………………
Ten…………………………

8. They say that the wanted man is living in New York.

The ………………

9. They will have to put off the meeting until later in the week.
The ………………

10. He wanted them to treat the information as confidential.

He ………………