Impersonal Reporting
Structures
It + passive form of reporting
verb + that
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It is often claimed that stress is a fact of
life.
It has been estimated that 85 percent of
all illness and disease is caused by stress.
It has been demonstrated that music
which is slower than 72 beats per minute can
help us unwind.
It was declared that the disease had
spread.
It is thought that endorphins are released
during exercise.
subject + passive form of
reporting verb + to
infinitive
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This position is believed to be effective in
stimulating the brain.
Repetitive rhythms are also supposed to
calm the nerves.
Listening to music that has 60 beats per minute
has been shown to increase alpha waves.
In ancient Greece saffron was believed to be
an effective remedy for anxiety.
Endorphins are thought to be released
during exercise. (passive)
To emphasise that a situation/fact happened
before the time it was reported we use
a perfect infinitive (to have + Past
Participle).
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The Chinese are thought to have known
about the properties of tea as long ago as
2000BC.
Infectious diseases were once thought to
have been a punishment for people's
sins.
To emphasise that a situation/trend
is/was continuing at the time it was
reported we can use the continuous
form of the infinitive (to be+ -ing).
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More and more young people are
thought to be skipping breakfast.
(an ongoing trend)
He was rumoured to be living in
London. (a continuing situation at that
time in the past)
Rewrite the sentences in two different
ways, replacing the underlined phrases
with an impersonal reporting form and
the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
1 Apparently the Amy Winehouse concert
has been cancelled! (rumour)
The Amy Winehouse concert is rumoured
to have been cancelled.
It is rumoured that the Amy Winehouse
concert has been cancelled.
2 The government is likely to lose the next election.
(expect)
The government
is expected to lose the next election.
It is likely
that the government will lose the next election.
3 Supposedly they’re getting married. (think)
They
are thought to be getting married.
It is thought
that they are getting married.
4 It appears that he's resigned. (say)
He
’s said to have resigned.
It is said
that he has resigned.
5 They're probably living in London now.
(rumour)
They
are roumored to be living in London.
It is
roumored that they are living in London.
6 They say that chamomile tea helps you get to
sleep. (claim)
Chamomile tea
is clamed to help you get to sleep.
It is claimed
that chamomile tea helps you (to) get to sleep.
7 They once thought that a stressful classroom
atmosphere was conducive to learning.
(believe)
A stressful classroom atmosphere
was believed to have been conductive to learning.
It was believed
that a stressful classroom atmosphere was conductive
to learning.
8 It seems that they survived the accident.
(report)
They
are reported to have survived the accident.
It is reported
that they (have) survived the accident.
From
McKinlay, Stuart & Hastings, Bob.
SUCCESS ADVANCED