Page 73 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

R e p o r t i n g w i t h p a s s i v e v e r b s
verbs
passive
Reporting
with
often use a passive to report what people say, think, etc., particularly if we want to avoid
We
We often use a passive to report what people say, think, etc., particularly if we want to avoid
said or thought what we are reporting:
mentioning who
mentioning who said or thought what we are reporting:
have been told that they should stay indoors.
• * People in the area have been told that they should stay indoors.
People in the area
asked to bring some food to the party.
Everyone was
• ¢ Everyone was asked to bring some food to the party.
way of reporting what is said by people in general or by an unspecified group of
A common
A common way of reporting what is said by people in general or by a an unspecified group of
is to use it + passive verb + that-clause (see Units 44 and 45 for more on that-c\auses):
people
people is to use it + passive verb + that-clause (see Units 44 and 45 for more on that-clauses):
reported that the finance minister is to resign.
• ¢ It
It is is reported that the finance minister is to resign.
has been acknowledged that underfunding is part of the problem.
• * It It has been acknowledged that underfunding is part of the problem.
seen that prices rose sharply in September.
• ¢ It can be seen that prices rose sharply in September.
It can be

prices
Jan

Dec
Nov
Jul
Jun
Aug
Feb
Oct
Sep
May
Mar
JuL_aug
Jn
Sp
Ny
Qt
Ar
Fé
kn
Apr My
Var
verbs that can be used in this pattern include agree, allege, announce, assume, calculate,
Other verbs that can be used in this pattern include agree, allege, announce, assume, calculate,
Other
claim, consider, decide, declare, discover, estimate, expect, feel, find, know, mention, propose,
claim, consider, decide, declare, discover, estimate, expect, feel, find, know, mention, propose,
recommend, say, show, suggest, suppose, think, understand.
recommend, say, show, suggest, suppose, ‘think, understand.
that many other verbs are not used in this pattern, including inform, persuade, reassure,
grouce
«Notice that many other verbs are not used in this pattern, including inform, persuade, reassure,
tell, warn.
remind,
•remind, tell, warn.
With the verbs agree, decide, forbid, hope, plan, and propose, we can use it + passive verb + to-
With the verbs agree, decide, forbid, hope, plan, and propose, we can use it + passive verb + to-
(notice that some of these are also used in the pattern it + passive verb + that-dause):
infinitive (notice that some of these are also used in the pattern it + passive verb + that-clause):
infinitive
It was agreed to postpone the meeting.
• e It was agreed to postpone the meeting.
It has been decided to build a road around the village.
• ¢ It has been decided to build a road around the village.
n a t e r n a t : v e t o +
i
it passive verb +
that-clause is to
subject + passive verb + to-infinitive:
l
use
В B ^ Analternative toit passive verb + that-clause is to use subject + passive verb + to-infinitive:
expected that the damage would or
• e It was be extensive, or
It was expected that the damage would beextensive.
The damage was expected to be extensive.
• * The damage was expected to be extensive.
that the chemicals convey important information to the or
It had been thought
• * It had been thought that the chemicals convey important information to thebrain.
brain, or
chemicals had been thought to convey important information to the brain.
• * The
The chemicals had been thought to convey important information to the brain.
of the verbs listed in the box in A can also be used in this pattern except for agree,
«Most of the verbs listed in the box in A can also be used in this pattern except for agree,
e Most
• announce, decide, mention, propose, recommend, suggest.
announce, decide, mention, propose, recommend, suggest.
use tell in this pattern when it means 'order'. So we can say:
We can only use tell in this pattern when it means ‘order’. So we can say:
We can only
I was told (= ordered) to go with them to the railway station.
• * Iwas told (= ordered) to go with them to the railway station.
be. Compare: are it was were to be too many only two experts on the on the disease in the country, or
(=
have happened just after midnight'.
said) to
but not 'The accident was told (= said) to have happened just after midnight’.
but not 'The accident was told
When a that-dause begins that + there..., we can make a passive form there + passive verb + to
When a that-dause begins that + there..., we can make a passive form there + passive verb + to
be. Compare:
(that)
there
or
thought
• *
are too many obstacles to peace, or
It is is thought (that) there are too many obstacles topeace.
It
thought
peace.
to
obstacles
There
• *
There are thought to be too many obstacles to peace.
1981
only two experts
there were
or
(that)
reported
In
In 1981 it was reported (that) there were only two experts on the disease in thecountry.
• *
reported to be
there
disease
1981
in the country.
• *
In 1981 there were reported to be only two experts on the disease in the country.
In
or
fight,
• *
It was alleged (that) there had been a a fight, or
It was alleged (that) there had been
fight.,
There was alleged to have been a
• *
There was alleged to have been a fight.,
verb
can
verbs
+
passive
B).
same
(see
+
to-infinitive
use
pattern
in
this
the
as
with
subject
We
We can use the same verbs in this pattern as with subject + passive verb + to-infinitive (see B).
It. =>
Reporting
Reporting = =>
ee