IMPERSONAL PASSIVE CONTRUCTIONS
The verbs think, believe, say, report, know, expect, consider, understand etc are used in
the following passive patterns in personal and impersonal constructions.
Active: People believe that he lied in court.
Passive: 1. It is believed (that) he lied in court. (impersonal)
It + passive + that-clause
2. He is believed to have lied in court. (personal)
Subject + passive + to-infinitive
Active: They expect him to arrive soon.
Passive: 3. It is expected (that) he will arrive soon. (impersonal)
It + passive + that-clause
4. He is expected to arrive soon. (personal)
Subject + passive + to-infinitive
Different tenses in personal passive constructions.
Present active:
People believe that Mr Brown owns a lot of land in the north.
Present personal passive construction:
Mr Brown is believed to own a lot of land in the north.
Future active:
people expect that a new law will be introduced next year.
Future personal passive construction:
A new law is expected to be introduced next year.
Past active:
People believed that Mr Brown owned a lot of land in the north.
They thought that the prisoners had escaped.
Present personal passive construction:
Mr Brown was believed to have owned a lot of land in the north.
The prisoners were thought to have escaped.
Exercise 3
Personal and Impersonal Constructions
Gap-fill exercise
Finish the sentences using personal and impersonal passive constructions. Fill in all the gaps, then press
"Check" to check your answers.
1. It is said that this orchestra is the best in the world
This orchestra .
2. It is believed that the thieves have left the country.
The thieves .
3. The fire is reported to have started by accident.
It .
4. He is known to be making a lot of money.
