Desperate director loses sense of direction – Impersonal report structures

Task 1 – Look at the picture and read the headline. Try to guess what the story is about, then read the
article and check your predictions.
Task 2 – Underline the equivalents to sentences 1 – 4 in the article, then compare them to sentences
a - d and choose the correct form in italics.
Following the instructions, do tasks 3 and 4. Then read Check it out on page 136. Rewrite the rules in
your notebook:
IMPERSONAL REPORT STRUCTURES

1 IT + PASSIVE = used to report what people generally believe or say is true, and it's not important
who the people are. This sentence structure is formal and is mainly used in written English.

 It is believed that octopuses have a very good memory.

 It was supposed that the prisoner had already escaped.

2 SUBJECT + PASSIVE + INFINITIVE = when we mention the person or thing being talked about at the
time of reporting

 He is believed to be very successful businessman.

3 SUBJECT + PASSIVE + PERFECT INFINITIVE = used to make clear that an event happened BEFORE the
time it was reported

 He was said to have hidden the money.

4 IS / ARE EXPECTED TO DO sth = used to refer to future event

 We are expected to do the job properly.

PASSIVE AND CONTINUOUS FORMS OF THE INFINITIVES

 She is said to be living on the brink of starvation.

 They were thought to have been kidnapped at daybreak.

Task 5 – Complete the second sentence so it has the same meaning as original one.
Task 6 – Think what could have happened to Mr Powell. Then turn the page 121 and check your
predictions.
Task 7 – Complete the texts with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets.
Task 8 – Read the questions and answer them in your notebooks.