A summary of passive constructions A. Basic Use Shakespeare wrote Hamlet Hamlet was written by Shakespeare B.

Passive and modals Somebody must do this job This job must be done C. Verbs with two objects Somebody handed a note to me I was handed a note A note was handed to me D. Use of gerunds She likes people driving her home She likes being driven home E. Need + gerund Your hair is too long. You need somebody to cut it. Your hair needs cutting. F. Causative have (or get). Somebody repaired my car. My car was repaired. I had my car repaired (or I got my car repaired) G. get as an alternative to be in passives Compare: He was killed in the war. (not his fault at all) He got killed in the war. (implies that he was in danger) He got himself killed in the war (implies that he put himself in danger) H. Make/let My parents made me do the housework I was made to do the housework I. Reporting verbs (believe, know, say, think, ) People think John is in England John is thought to be in England People believe John left yesterday. John is believed to have left yesterday People said John was very selfish John was said to be very selfish Everybody knows the portrait was painted by an Italian The portrait is known to have been painted by an Italian People know the robber is living in Switzerland The robber is known to be living in Switzerland

7B Exercise 7 & 8 face2face Advanced Unit 7B Exercise 7

Rewrite the sentences starting with the words in bold

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. We believe that millions of commuters avoided paying the congestion charge last year.
Millions of commuters are believed to have avoided paying the congestion charge last year.

It appears that most people in this country are against the introduction of ID cards.
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It is estimated that 75% of people have at least one store card.

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It is rumoured that the government is introducing RFID tags in passports next year.
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Some people have alleged that big stores are keeping detailed personal records of their customers.
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It seems that secret monitoring of children has become acceptable in some schools.
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Exercise 8

Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets to make two sentences as shown.
1. House prices have fallen by 8%.(report) It is reported that house prices have fallen by 8%.

it +
House prices

passive
are reported

+ that subject verb

to have fallen by 8%.

subject +

passive

+ to VERB.

2. The rebels have withdrawn. (know)

3. London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in. (say)

4. The senior manager has resigned. (rumour)

5. More than 3,000 people have lost their lives in a devastating earthquake. (fear)

6. The airport strike is affecting thousands of holiday flights. (believe)