KOÇ UNIVERSITY – ELC SPRING 2024

UPPER-INTERMEDIATE SUPPLEMENTARY GRAMMAR MATERIAL

REPORTED PASSIVE

Part A: Passives with it + be + past participle + that clause.

Passives are commonly used to report ideas, beliefs, and opinions. They often occur in the form it + be + past
participle + that clause. Common examples of verbs used to form this type of passive are allege, assume, believe,
claim, say, and think.
Examples:
- It is assumed that this culture is very old.
- It is said that present-day Basques are descendants of Atlanteans.
Passive sentences of this type have corresponding active sentences.
Example:
- Scholars assume that this culture is very old.
BE CAREFUL! We use this structure only with verbs that can be followed by a that clause. That is optional and is
frequently omitted in informal English. Regard cannot be followed by a that clause.
- It is said (that) these people came from Asia.
NOT: It is regarded (that) these people came from Asia.
Note: These passive structures may take an optional by phrase.

- It is claimed (by some scholars) that Shakespeare didn’t write all his plays.

Part B: Passives with subject + be + past participle + to.

Passives that report ideas, beliefs, and opinions also commonly occur in the form of subject + be + past
participle + to phrase. This type of sentence can be converted from an equivalent active sentence with a that clause.
A by phrase is optional.
Examples:
- Scholars assume that the culture dates from 5000 B.C.E.
- The culture is assumed (by scholars) to date from 5000 B.C.E.
- Bigfoot is thought to live in the Pacific Northwest.
Note: Consider can take an infinitive but is often followed by just a noun phrase or an adjective. Regard is followed
by just as + a noun phrase.
- Native Americans are considered (to be) the real discoverers.
- Columbus is regarded as the discoverer of America.

Part C: See the chart below to learn more about reported passives.

With present reference, the passive is followed
by the present infinitive:
With past reference, the passive is followed by
the past infinitive:
Present and past continuous infinitives are also
used:
Passive infinitives can also appear:
People think that Johnson is inCardiff.
Johnson is thought to be in Cardiff.
People believe that Johnson left Cardiff last month.
Johnson is believed to have left Cardiff last month
They think that the forger is living in Florence.
The forger is thought to be living in Florence.
People know that the suspect has been dealing with drugs.
The suspect is known to have been dealing with drugs.
People believe that the portrait was painted by Vermeer.
The portrait is believed to have been painted by Vermeer.
They think that the staff are given a bonus whenever they have to
work overtime.
The staff are thought to be given a bonus whenever they have to
work overtime.

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The reporting verb can also be past: People considered the government had spent too much.
The government was considered to have paid too much.
PRACTICE:
A. Rewrite each sentence so that the meaning stays the same.

1. People think that neither side wanted war.

Neither side is thought to have wanted war
2. People say that fewer than 1,000 blue whales survive in the southern hemisphere.
Fewer than 1,000 blue whales are said to survive in the southern hemisphere.
3. Everyone knows that eating fruit is good for you.
Eating fruit is known to be good for you.
4. People consider that one in three bathing beaches is unfit for swimming.
One in three bathing beaches is considered to be unfit for swimming.
5. At least 130,000 dolphins are reported to be caught in the nets of tuna fishers every year.
It is reported that at least 130,000 are caught in the nets of tuna fishers every year.
6. It is estimated that in the past 15 years about 10 million dolphins have been killed.
About 10 million dolphins are estimated to have been killed in the past 15 years.
This treasure ......................................................................................................
B. Rewrite each sentence so that it is reported passive, using a form of the verb in capitals.

1. Two suspects have been arrested. THINK

Two suspects are thought to have been arrested. __________________________.
2. The plane crashed into the sea near a small island. BELIEVE
_the plane is believed to have crashed into the sea near a small island.
________________________________________________________________.
3. The minister is considering changing the laws on smoking in public. SAY
_it is said that the minister is considering changing the laws on smoking in public.
______________________________________________________________.
4. Yesterday the situation had improved. REPORT
_it is reported that the situation had improved yesterday.
_________________________________________________________________.
5. Whales have been seen in the area for the first time. SAY
__it is said that whales have been seen in the area for the first time.
________________________________________________________________.
6. The fire broke out at 3 am. BELIEVE
____it is believed that the fire broke out at 3 am.
______________________________________________________________.
7. Last year the company recorded rising profits. REPORT
___the company is reported to have recorded rising profits last year.
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_____________________________________________________________.
8. The number of unemployed has fallen by 10%. THINK
__it is thought that the number of unemployed has fallen by 10%.
________________________________________________________________.

C. Read the information about the life of Shakespeare and the example reported passive sentence. Then write six
more reported passive sentences about events in his life, beginning “he is believed” or “he is thought”.

The Life of Shakespeare

We know some definite facts about Shakespeare’s life, but we can only make informed guesses about many other
details.
 His actual birthday is unknown but is celebrated today on 23 April.
 He probably started his education at the age of seven in 1571.
 In 1582, aged 18, he married Anne Hathaway, aged 26.
 Twins, Judith and Hamnet were born in 1585.
 Between 1585 and 1592, Shakespeare probably left his family in Stanford to join a company of actors. He was
probably both a playwright and a performer.
 In 1589-1590, he may have written his first play, Henry VI, Part One.
 By 1592, he was well known in London as a writer.
 In 1592-93, Shakespeare may have written the poem Venus and Adonis while the London theatres were closed
because of plague.
 In 1597, he bought an expensive house in Stratford on Avon.
 1600-1601 is when he probably wrote Hamlet.
 In 1616, William Shakespeare died on 23 April. He is buried in Stratford on Avon

Example: He is thought to have been born on 23 April, 1564.

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Extension Activity

A. Make some comments upon these topics, using reported passive.

aliens global warming historical situations

B. Comment on situations in the news, using reported passive.

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Sources:

- Macmillan English Grammar in Context, Advanced

- Pearson Focus on Grammar 5

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