Passive reporting verbs

Passive Reporting Verbs

1. PASSIVE REPORTING VERBS Prepared by Ebru KIRIKOĞLU

2. The passive can be used to report general feelings, beliefs or facts in a formal way (especially in news reports or scientific texts). We only include the agent if necessary. The commonly used verbs are: agree, accept, believe, consider, decide, expect, hope, report, say, suppose, understand, think, know , etc.

3. There are two patterns : It is said that Ralph Lauren is the world’s richest fashion designer. It was reported that three prisoners escaped from the island. It + passive reporting verb + ‘that clause’

4. Active : Ralph Lauren is said to be the world’s richest fashion designer. Active: Three prisoners were reported to escape from the island . (* Main sentences are active.) Passive : The employees are claimed to be supervised by the boss. ( It is claimed that the employees are regularly supervised by the boss. ) (* Main sentence is passive.) Active: Subject + passive reporting verb + to infinitive Passive: Subject + passive reporting verb + to be V 3

5. When there is a time gap between the passive reporting verb and the clause, we use ‘perfect infinitive’. Active: to have + V 3 Passive: to have been + V 3 It is believed that the Romans built the town. Active: The Romans are believed to have built the town. It is believed that the town was built by the Romans. Passive: The town is believed to have been built by the Romans.