Advanced passive structures
Use impersonal reporting passives, passive infinitives and gerunds, two-object passives and the causative.
20 minUpper Intermediate
1The grammar
News and formal writing often report opinions without saying who holds them. There are two patterns with verbs such as say, believe, think, expect, report and know: It + passive verb + that-clause (It is said that the bank is in trouble), or subject + passive verb + to-infinitive (The bank is said to be in trouble).
The form of the infinitive shows the time. Use to + base verb for the same time or the future (is thought to be), to be + -ing for an action in progress (is thought to be working), and to have + past participle for an earlier action (is thought to have left).
Passive forms also exist after modals and in gerunds and infinitives: should have been sent, can't stand being interrupted, hope to be promoted. Verbs with two objects (give, offer, send, show, tell) usually make the person the subject: I was sent a reminder is more natural than A reminder was sent to me.
The causative, have or get + object + past participle, shows that someone else does a job for you: We had the office painted. Get is slightly more informal than have.
2Structure and formation
Impersonal passive
It + is said / believed / reported + that + clause
It is believed that the company is losing money.
Personal passive, same time
subject + is said / believed + to + base verb (or to be + -ing)
The company is believed to be losing money.
Personal passive, earlier time
subject + is said / believed + to have + past participle
The thieves are thought to have escaped by car.
Past modal passive
modal + have been + past participle
The invoice should have been paid last week.
Causative
have / get + object + past participle
I need to get my passport renewed.
3Examples
The president is expected to arrive on Tuesday.
Personal passive for a future event: to + base verb.
It has been reported that two ministers will resign.
Impersonal passive with the present perfect.
The treasure is said to have been hidden in the castle.
A passive infinitive for an earlier action: to have been + past participle.
We were shown around the factory by the plant manager.
A two-object verb: the person becomes the subject.
She hopes to be promoted next year.
A passive infinitive after 'hope'.
We're having the kitchen renovated at the moment.
Causative with 'have': builders are doing the work for us.
4Common mistakes
The minister is said that he resigned.
It is said that the minister resigned.
Use 'It is said that' before a clause. With the person as subject, use an infinitive: 'The minister is said to have resigned.'
The hackers are believed to attacked the network.
The hackers are believed to have attacked the network.
An earlier action needs to have + past participle.
The invoice should have paid last week.
The invoice should have been paid last week.
An invoice receives the action, so the passive 'been paid' is needed.
I had repaired my watch last week.
I had my watch repaired last week.
'Had repaired' is the past perfect and means you did the work yourself. In the causative, the object comes between 'have' and the past participle.
5Practical usage
News reporting
Journalists use these structures to report claims carefully: 'The suspect is reported to have fled the country.' They avoid stating unconfirmed information as a fact.
Academic and formal writing
Impersonal passives keep the writing objective: 'It is widely accepted that exercise improves memory.'
Services
Use the causative for work done by professionals: 'We're having the roof repaired.' Saying 'We're repairing the roof' means you are doing the work yourselves.
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