THE IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
ACTIVE PASSIVE
They say she works hard. She is said to work hard.
They say she played well. She is said to have played well.
They said she has done well. She was said to have done well.
They believe he is having an affair. He is believed to be having an affair.
They believe he has been having an affair. He is believed to have been having an affair.
She believes the repairs have been finished. The repairs are believed to have been finished.
EXERCISES IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
1. People believe that English is the most widely spoken language
a. It is believed that English is the most widely spoken language.
b. English is believed to be the most widely spoken language.
2. Police have reported that it was Peter who caused the accident.
a. It has been reported that it was Peter who caused the accident.
b. Peter has been reported to have caused the accident.
3. A journalist reports that they are leaving Las Vegas tomorrow night.
a. It is reported that they are leaving Las Vegas tomorrow night.
b. They are reported that are leaving Las Vegas tomorrow night.
c. 4. The lecturer thought that Columbus never realized that he had discovered
America.
a. It was thought that the lecturer thought that Columbus never realized that he had
discovered America.
b. Columbus was thought to have realized that he had discovered America.
5. Their parents thought that the teenagers were dancing at the disco.
a. It was thought that the teenagers were dancing at the disco.
b. The teenager were thought to be dancing at the disco by their parents.
6. Everybody thinks that she sings beautifully
a. It is thought that she sings beautifully.
b. She is thought to sing very beautifully. (by everybody)?
7. The children reported that their friends were swimming when they disappeared.
a. It was reported that their friends were swimming when they disappeared.
b. Their friends were reported to have been swimming when they disappeared.
8. People believed that they had killed the animals during the night.
a. It was believed that they had killed the animals during the night.
b. The animals were believed to have been kill during the night.
9. My friends think that my parents are the best parents in the world.
a. It is thought that my parents are the best in the world by my friends.
