Newspaper Passive -explanations

A. Present Simple, Future Simple, Future Perfect Simple

It is said that he blackmails rich businesspeople.  Present Simple
will blackmail  Future Simple
will have blackmailed  Future Perfect Simple

He is said to blackmail rich people.

B. Present Continuous, Future Continuous, Future Perfect

Continuous
It is said that he is blackmailing people.  Present Continuous
will be blackmailing  Future Continuous
will have been blackmailing  Future Perfect Continuous

He is said to be blackmailing people.

C. Past Simple, Present Perfect Simple, Past Perfect Simple

It is said that he blackmailed people.  Past Simple

has blackmailed people.  Present Perfect Simple
had blackmailed people  Past Perfect Simple

He is said to have blackmailed people.

 D. Past Continuous, Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect
Continuous
It is said that he was blackmailing people.  Past Continuous
has been blackmailing  Present Perfect Continuous
had been blackmailing  Past Perfect Continuous

He is said to have been blackmailing people.

WATCH OUT ! In negative sentences ( any tense), e.g.

‘It is said that he doesn’t blackmail people.’
it is necessary to put NOT before TO.
Example : He is said NOT TO BLACKMAIL people.

OTHER EXPRESSIONS (NOT ONLY IT IS SAID)

It is known = wiadomo

It is felt = panuje odczucie

It is thought/believed = uważa się, istnieje przekonanie

It is hoped = żywi się nadzieję

It is expected = oczekuje się

It is likely/ Unlikely = istnieje prawdopodobieństwo/ nie jest prawdopodobne

It is suspected = podejrzewa się

It is assumed = zakłada się

It is supposed = przypuszcza się

It is alleged = twierdzi sie bezpodstawnie, istnieją poszlaki

It is understood = rozumie się

It is reported = jak donoszą

It is rumoured = krążą pogłoski

 Exercise 1
Change the sentences into Newspaper Passive.

1. It is known that he has been in prison for 2 years.

…………………………………………………………………………
2. It is rumoured that last month our Accounting Manager stole 200 thousand dollars and got away
with the money abroad.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. It is expected that the police will soon charge him with rape.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. It is alleged that big business has been giving bribes to politicians for years.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. It is rumoured that he had murdered his wife before he got married to that millionaire’s
daughter.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. It is said that the capital punishment will not be restored.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7. It is hoped that this criminal will be staying in prison for life.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
8. It is suspected that the terrorists didn’t hijack the plane.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
9. It is likely that the smuggler has been sentenced to 5 year’s imprisonment.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
10. It is assumed that he regularly hacks the IT system of our company.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
11. It is known that they were robbing a bank at the time when they were absent from work.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
12. It is hoped that he isn’t breaking into people’s houses in order to steal valuable things.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

EXERCISE 2

Change the sentences into passive

1. Police closed the road after the accident.

The road………………………………………………….
2. Somebody has stolen my bag.
My bag………………………………………….
3. They are breaking into my house.
Mu house …………………………………….
4. They’ll detain him for 24 hours to question him.
He …………………………………………………………………………………..
5. If they hadn’t found the bomb in time, it would have exploded.
If the bomb……………………………………………………………………………..
6. The police can arrest you for driving without a valid insurance policy for your car.
You……………………………………….
 7. Miranda thinks someone was following her last night.
Miranda thinks she ……………………………….
8. I hate somebody overtaking my car in dangerous situations.
I hate ………………………………….
9. They are going to close the local police station.
The local police station…………………………………………..

EXERCISE 3

Rephrase the sentences in Newspaper Passive.

1. People think the murderer is a woman.

It is ……………………………………..
The murderer……………………………….
2. Police believe the burglar is a local man.
It …………………………………………….
The burglar………………………………………
3. People say the muggers are very dangerous.
It …………………………………………..
The muggers ………………………
4. Police think the robber entered through an open window.
It ………………………………………
The robber …………………………………………
5. Police say the murderer has disappeared.
It ……………………………….
The murderer………………………………..
6. Lawyers expect that the trial will last three weeks.
It ……………………………….
The trial………………………………………………….