1.

INTRODUCTION

The English verb has two voices: active voice and passive voice.
ACTIVE voice is when the subject performs the action of the verb.
PASSIVE voice is when the subject is affected by the action, that is, the person or thing denoted
by the subject is the receiver of the action: I gave my mother a bunch of flowers/ A bunch of
flowers was given to my mother (by me) / My mother was given a bunch of flowers (by me). The
passive voice is more appropriate in official language, journalese or scientific English rather
than in everyday conversation.
Generally speaking, the passive voice is the grammatical device that gives the object of a
transitive verb prominence by making it the subject.
2.

REPORTING WITH PASSIVE VERBS: IT IS SAID THAT HE IS SAID

TO

1. A common way of reporting what is said by people in general or by an unspecified

group of people is to use: it + passive verb + that clause. :

It is reported that the defence minister is to resign.

It has been acknowledged that lack of funding is part of the problem.

It can be seen that unemployment figures rose sharply in November.

Other verbs that can be used in this pattern include:

2.
AGREE / ALLEGE / ANNOUNCE / ASSUME / BELIEVE
CALCULATE / CLAIM / CONSIDER / DECLARE / DISCOVER
ESTIMATE / EXPECT / FEEL / FIND / KNOW
MENTION / PROPOSE / RECOMMEND / RUMOUR / SAY
SHOW / SUPPOSE / THINK / UNDERSTAND
Notice, however, that there are certain verbs that cannot be used in this pattern,
including inform, persuade, reassure, remind, tell, warn.
2. An alternative to it + passive verb + that clause is to use it + passive verb + toinfinitive. Here are a few examples using some of the words above:

It is claimed that the terrorist is living in Paris or

The terrorist is claimed to be living abroad.

It is alleged that three hundred people died in the plane crash or

Three hundred people are alleged to have died in the plane crash.

It is thought that he stole over a million pounds or

He is thought to have stolen over a million pounds.

It was reported that he was killed in a fire or

He is reported to have been killed in a fire.

It is expected that the strike will begin tomorrow or

The strike is expected to begin tomorrow.

Notice that most of the verbs listed in the box can also be used in this pattern except for
agree, announce, decide, mention, propose, recommend, suggest. For example, we can
only use tell in this pattern when it means order. So we can say: I was told (ordered)
to go with them to the airport, but not The murder was told (said) to have happened in
the early hours of the morning.
3. When a that-clause begins that + there, we can make a passive form there + passive
verb + to be. Compare:

It is thought (that) there are too many obstacles to peace or

There are thought to be too many obstacles to peace.

In 1999 it was reported (that) there were only two experts on the disease in the
country or

In 1999 there were reported to be only two experts on the disease in the country.

It was alleged (that) there had been an explosion or

There was alleged to have been an explosion.

4. The expression (be) supposed to has two meanings:

a) Sometimes (be) supposed to means said to: Lets go and see that film. Its
supposed to be very good It is said to be very good.
b) (be) supposed to is also used to say what is planned or arranged (and this is often
different to what really happens):

Im supposed to see Mary this afternoon, but Im not going to have time.

He was supposed to phone me yesterday but he didnt.

Put that cigarette out! Youre not supposed to smoke in class.

Youre supposed to start work at 8.00 every morning, but you always arrive 15
minutes late.

As you can see from the above examples, we use supposed to talk about what people are
expected to do because of an arrangement, a rule or an obligation. Consequently, we use
not supposed to express prohibitions or to say what is not advisable:

Youre not supposed to park here. Youll get fine (Youre not allowed to park
here).

Mr Jones is much better now after his illness but hes not supposed to do any
heavy work.

3.

HAVE / GET SOMETHING DONE: CAUSATIVE CONSTRUCTIONS

The structure have something done is used to describe a service performed for us by someone
else. Compare these two sentences:

Sue is cutting her hair (Sue is doing it herself)

Sue is having her hair cut, that is, The hairdresser is cutting Sues hair (She has
arranged for someone else to do it).

The word order is very important: HAVE + OBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE:

Jill had the roof fixed yesterday.

Where did you have your hair permed?

We are having the house painted at the moment.

Tom has just had his tooth taken out.

Im going to have my hair trimmed tomorrow.

Why dont you have that dress dry-cleaned?

We had the car delivered to the airport.

Get something done is possible instead of have something done. It is used mainly in
informal spoken English and suggests more activity or effort.

Get is common when there is a feeling that something must be done:

I must go to the garage and get the car serviced.

It is also common in orders and imperatives: Get your hair cut!

There is a feeling of eventually managing something in some uses: I eventually got

the car fixed / She always gets things done in this office.

Have / get something done sometimes has a different meaning:

Sue had her car stolen while she was on holiday: This doesnt mean that Sue
arranged for someone t steal her car. It means that Sues car was stolen. So as we can
see, with this meaning, we use have / get something done to say that something
(often something unpleasant) happened to someone:

George had his nose broken in a fight.

My arms got badly burned in the sun.