THE PASSIVE TO

DESCRIBE SITUATIONS
AND TO REPORT
OPINIONS
Unit 7
WHICH ARE
SOME
TRADITIONS
IN PERU?

Some traditions are

____
GRAMMAR
NOTES
Subj + be + past participle Stative Passive
• We can use "the stative
passive" when we want
to describe situations or
conditions (general
ideas/information).
Ex:
• Machu Picchu is located
in Cusco. (general
information)
Important!
• Most stative passive sentences do not describe actions and most
do not contain a "by phrase".
• Ex: We can't change it to an active
sentence and we can't add a "by
• Machu Picchu is located in Cusco.
phrase" because we don't have
an object in the sentence.

• Cusco locates in Machu Picchu This doesn't describe

an action
Note ! • Some stative passive have "an active
sentence". We can do this when we use
"connect" and "surround".
Ex 1:
• England and France are connected by the
Chunnel.

• The Chunnel connects England and

France. (active sentence)
Ex 2:
• The house is surrounded by water.

• The water surrounds the house. (active

sentence)
 Note !
• In "stative passive
sentences" the past
participle functions
as an adjective and it
is often followed by a
prepositional
phrase.
Ex:
• Cuba is located in
the Caribbean.
preposition
located is
describing
"Cuba"
Important !
• Remember we use "the stative passive" to
describe situations and states. We don't
normally describe actions.
Ex:
• Cuba is located in the Caribbean.

We aren't describing an
action
OPINION/BELIEF
PASSIVES
It + be + past participle Reporting Opinions or
+ that clause Ideas ( it + be + past
participle+ that clause)
• We can also use "passives" to
report ideas, opinions or
beliefs. We use these common
verbs : allege, assume, believe,
say, claim , report and think.
Ex:
• It is assumed that this culture
is very old.
Allege =
These phrases are
insist formal
Note ! Sometimes you
have to add the
subject

• These passive sentences have active sentences.

Ex:
• It is assumed (by students) that this culture is very old. (in
passive)

• Students assume that this culture is very old. (active)

Subj verb that clause
 "that" can be
Be careful ! omitted in informal
English
• We use this structureonly with some
specific verbs. Do not use it with the verb
"regard".
Ex:
• It is said (that) these people came from
Asia.
NOT
• It is regarded (that) these people came
from Asia.
Regard =
consider
 Note !
We can include an optional "by
phrase" if you think it's
necessary. "by
phrase"
Ex:
It is assumed (by some students)
that this culture is very old.
 OPINION /BELIEF
PASSIVES + TO PHRASE
Passive Sentences with "to A to phrase is a
phrase that starts
phrase" with "to"
• We can also report ideas and opinions with
other structure.
Subject + be + past
participle + to phrase
Ex:
• People think that Bigfoot lives in the Pacific
Northwest. (active sentence )
These phrases are
formal
• Bigfoot is thought to live in the Pacific
Northwest. They can be formed
• (report in passive sentence with to phrase) from active sentences
 For the present : to +
Note ! the verb in base form

• The verb in the "to phrase" can be in the present or past.

Ex:
• Bigfoot is thought to live in the Pacific Northwest. (present)

• The Japanese are thought to have visited the New World

before Columbus. (in the past)
For the past : to +
aux (have) + past
participle
 Noun clauses / noun
phrases are incomplete
Note ! sentences.

• We can use "consider" with an infinitive but is often followed by

a noun phrase/adj.
Ex:
• Native Americans are considered (to be) the discoverers.

Infinitive noun phrase

We can omit
the infinitive
Note !
• When we use "regard "we do the following:

Regard in past part + as + noun

phrase
Ex:
• Columbus is regarded as the discoverer of America.

Regard in p.p + as + noun phrase

PASSIVES IN ACADEMIC
DISCOURSE AND THE
NEWS
IMPORTANT!
• We use these structuresin formal writing. We also them when
we want to express the opinions of the people in general. (ex:
myths, legends, speculations)
 GAME !!
Complete with the correct answer
1. Spain _______ Portugal to the west and
France to the north.
• A) bordered by
• B) is bordered by
Africans are regarded____ the ancestors
of the Nacirema.
• A) as
• B) that
3. It ____that the nation of Atlantis
actually existed.
• A) claims
• B) is claimed
4.The capital _____the center of the
nation.
• A) locates in
• B) is located in
5. Bigfoot ____ live in the forests of the
Pacific Northwest.
• A) is thought to
• B) thinks to live
6. The Basques ____ to have come from
Atlantis
• A) allege
• B) are alleged
7. England and France are connected ___
the Chunnel.
• A) by
• B) to
8. It ______ that this culture is old.
• A) assumed
• B) is assumed
9. Indonesia is composed ___ many
islands.
• A) from
• B) of
10. The yeti ____ to live in the Himalayas.
• A) is said
• B) says