IMPERSONAL REPORT STRUCTURES

REPORTING WITH THE PASSIVE

I buy a book

-> a book is bought by me

1/ It + passive + that clause:

Ex: It is claimed that even your financial records can be accessed.

Accept, agree, believe, consider, feel, know,suggest, think,…

It is believed that good students will enter gifted schools

2/ subject + passive + to-V:

CCTV camera are known to operate in more and more buildings

Linh is known to be the best students in her school

Believe, consider, find, say, think,…

3/ there + passive + to-V:

There are now estimated to be more mobie phones than people in many countries.

There are said to be over 1000 people with CoVID 19 in America

Claim, believe, expect, find, say, think,…

REPORTING WITH SEEM AND APPEAR

It seems/appear + that-clause

It seems that no one knew about the problem

It appears that I can’t meet you because of work

Seem/appear + to-V:

The government appear to be obsessed with the idea of watching people.

1. It seems that someone has taken my keys.

-> Someone seems to have taken my keys

2. We have found that the drug delays the onset of the disease by up to ten years.

-> The drugs have found to delay the…

3. We expect a delay to your flight.

-> There is expected to have a delay to your flight.

4. The public seem to be mainly in support of CCTV

-> It seems that the public are mainly in support of CCTV

Government expected to announce tax cut this week

-> It is expected that the government will announce a tax cut this week.

1. Suggestion that murder gang-related

->It is suggested that murder gang-related

2. Assumed to have fled abroad

-> It was assumed to have…

3. CCTV cameras agreed to be installed throughout university.

->It was agreed that CCTV cameras were installed …

4. Estimated 530,000 people driving without insurance.

->It was estimated that 530,00 pp are driving without …

5. People think the film is his finest work to date. People expect it to win ‘’Best picture’’ at the
Oscars.

->the film is thought to be ….

It is expected to win…

6. People say that he has spent 15 years researching the book. People expect it to be a summer best
seller.

-> he is said to have spend

It is

7. We believe the suspect to be between 18 and 25. We think he caught- catch a train to London on
Thursday

-> he is thought to catch a train