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In the , the focus is placed on a specific person or thing. The object of the active sentence becomes the grammatical subject of the passive sentence, followed by a passive reporting verb and a "to-infinitive" clause . This structure is often used to emphasize the person or thing being talked about. It follows this formula:
The English passive voice is an essential tool for achieving formality, focus, and objectivity, particularly in academic, journalistic, and professional writing. While basic passive voice focuses on the object, advanced users must master the and Personal Passive (also known as passive reporting structures) to report opinions, rumors, or known facts without identifying a specific, subjective agent. personal impersonal passive exercises pdf
The response she got was surprisingly passive. Her colleagues seemed uninterested in helping her, and her superiors were too busy to respond. It was as if the entire office had become impersonal, with no one taking responsibility for the missing file.
When using the verb "report" to express a general opinion or fact, you can use these two formal structures: Structure: It + passive reporting verb + that-clause Example: "It is reported that the thief has escaped." Personal Passive: Structure: Subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive Example: "The thief is reported to have escaped." 💻 Interactive Online Practice It follows this formula: The English passive voice
Change the main reporting verb into the passive voice (ensure it agrees with the new subject).
Personal/general active.
provides a quick-fire exercise to test your ability to distinguish between the two forms using common verbs like think, believe, and report .