FOCUS : GRAMMAR - THE IMPERSONAL PASSIVE VOICE
WE EXPLORE AND ATTEMPT TO GAIN SOME PROFICIENCY IN USING THE 3 FORMATS
LET'S HEAR FROM 'THE MAN'
BEFORE WE GET STUCK INTO SOME ACTIVITIES LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE 'ACADEMIC VOICE' :
Passive Grammar is…
…common in academic English because it helps to create formality, focus on the object and develop an impersonal stance. This blog will look at impersonal passive structures and nominalisation (using the verb as a noun).
A common way of reporting what is said by people or by an unspecified group of people
It is said that….
[It + passive verb (be + past participle) + that clause]
They report the defense minister is to resign
It is reported that the defense minister is to resign
Nominalised: There is a report that the defense minister is to resign
Nominalised: One report is that the defense minister is to resign
To infinitive impersonal passives
The subject + passive verb (be+past participle) + to infinitive
They claim the terrorist is living abroad
It is claimed that the terrorist is living abroad
The terrorist is claimed to be living abroad
Nominalised: There is a claim that the terrorist is living abroad
Nominalised: One / a claim is that the terrorist is living abroad
Common verbs used in impersonal passive forms Iinclude:
agree / allege / announce / assume / believe / calculate / claim / consider / declare / discover / estimate / expect / find / known / mention / propose / recommend / rumour / show / suppose / suggest / understand
WORKBOOK ACTIVITIES
