A. We often use a passive to report what people say, think, etc., particularly if it is not important to mention who is being reported:
- People in the area have been told that they should stay indoors.
- Everyone was asked to bring some food to the party.
B. Another common way of reporting what is said by an unspecified group of people is to use it + passive verb + that-clause. Using this pattern can allow us to put important information at the end of the sentence:
- It is reported that the damage is extensive. (Compare the damage is extensive, according to government sources.)
- It has been acknowledged that underfunding contributed to the problem.
- It can be seen that prices rose sharply in September.
Other verbs that can be used in this pattern include:
agree, allege, announce, assume, believe, calculate, claim, consider, decide, demonstrate, discover, establish, estimate, expect, feel, find, hope, intend, know, mention, plan, propose, recommend, reveal, say, show, suggest, suppose, think, understand. |
Notice that many other verbs connected with reporting are not used in this pattern, including encourage, inform, persuade, reassure, remind, tell, warn, but can be used as in A:
- We have been informed that we have to leave the building. (but not It has been informed us...)
C. An alternative to it + passive verb + that-clause is to use subject + passive verb + to-infinitive if we want the subject to be the topic of the sentence.
Compare:
- It is reported that the damage is extensive.
And - The damage is reported to be extensive.
Let's also compare:
- It has been acknowledged that underfunding contributed to the problem.
And - Underfunding has been acknowledged to have contributed to the problem.
We can only use tell in this pattern when it means 'order'. So we can say:
I was told =( ordered) to go with them to the railway station.
But not The accident was told =( said) to have happened just after midnight.
D. With the verbs discover, establish, explain, find, know, reveal, show, understand we can also use it + passive verb + wh-clause to report information given or found out:
- It has now been revealed who was responsible for the accident.
- The decision to build the bridge was taken before it was established whether it was actually needed.
E. When a that-clause begins that + there..., we can make a corresponding passive form there + passive verb +to be/to have been.
Compare:
- It is thought (that) there are too many obstacles to peace.
And - There are thought to be too many obstacles to peace.
Let's also compare:
- In 1981, it was believed (that) there were only two experts on the disease in the country.
And - In 1981 there were believed to be only two experts on the disease in the country.
We can use the same verbs in this pattern as with subject + passive verb + to-infinitive.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
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C1-C2 Grammar : Reporting With Passive Verbs; It Is Said That
Choose the correct word.