Advanced passive structures
Use sophisticated passive forms: passive infinitives and gerunds, get-passives, passive reporting with continuous and perfect forms, and verbs with two objects.
In this lesson you will
- Use passive infinitives and gerunds
- Use perfect and continuous passive reporting structures
- Choose passive for focus and cohesion
Learn
Passive infinitive/gerund: She hopes to be chosen. He hates being interrupted. The report needs to be checked* / needs checking. I remember being told.*
Reporting structures: He is said to be working* on a new book. The ship is believed to have sunk in 1872. She is thought to have been living abroad.* Also It is widely accepted that…
Two-object verbs: They gave her an award → She was given* an award* (usually more natural) / An award was given to her.
get-passive (informal, often unexpected or negative events): He got fired. Our car got stolen. Why passive? To focus on the result, to keep the topic as subject for cohesion, or when the agent is unknown or obvious.
Examples
- The painting is thought to have been stolen in the 1970s.
- Nobody likes being kept waiting.
- Applicants will be sent a confirmation email.
- The bridge is currently being repaired and is expected to reopen in May.
Vocabulary
agent
the person/thing doing the action (by…)
cohesion
how sentences link together
allegedly
according to claims not yet proved
be believed to
people believe that…
confirmation
a message that something is certain
Practice
He is believed ___ the country last week.
Speaking
Report three rumours or news stories using passive reporting: X is said to…, Y is believed to have…, It is widely thought that…
Writing
Write a short news report (130–160 words) about a historical mystery, using at least five advanced passive forms.
Lesson quiz
The minister is reported ___ at the moment.
Review
Key points
- to be done / being done.
- is said to do / to be doing / to have done / to have been doing.
- Person as subject with two-object verbs.
- get-passive is informal.
What you learned
- ✓ I use advanced passives.
- ✓ I report information impersonally.
- ✓ I choose passive for focus and cohesion.
Grammar reference: The passive voice