REPORTING WITH PASSIVE VERBS

We use the passive voice to report what people think, say, etc…, particularly if we want to avoid mentioning who said or thought what we are reporting: People in the area have been told to stay

indoors. Everyone was asked to bring some food to

the party.

A common way of reporting what other people say or think is to use:

IT + PASSIVE VERB + THAT CLAUSE

It is reported that the finance minister is to resign.

It can be seen that prices rose sharply in September.

Other verbs that can be used in this pattern are: agree, allege, announce, assume, calculate, claim, consider, decide, declare, discover, estimate, expect, feel, find, know, mention, propose, recommend, say, show, suggest, suppose, think, understand.

many other verbs are not used in this pattern, including inform, persuade, reassure, remind, tell, warn

With the verbs agree, decide, forbid, hope, plan, and propose, we can use

it + passive verb + to- infinitive

It was agreed to postpone the meeting. It has been decided to build a road

around the village.

You can use He, The man, etc. (i.e. the subject of the clause) + is said, believed, etc. + to+ infinitive (e.g. to be) or perfect infinitive (e.g. to have been).

People say the man is in his 40s. The man is said to be in his 40s.

The police believe he has left the country. He is believed to have left the country.