masterMind Level 2

Unit 12 Grammar 2

IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
IN THE PAST
 IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
IN THE PAST
1. Find examples of the impersonal passive in the
past.
2. Can you notice an error?

All IAll
know
I know
is, the
is, the
information
information isis reported
reported
to
to have
have been
been published
published
without
withoutthethe
CEO’s
CEO’s
permission.
permission.He Heisissaid
said
to to
being
being
be very
very
angry
angry
about it.about it.
 IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
IN THE PAST
1. Identify the impersonal passives in the past.
2. Did the events happen before or at the same
time as the impersonal verb?
Britain is estimated to have been separated from the
__________________________________________________________
continent of Europe just over 6,000 years ago when
sea levels rose.
before

Sea levels are now said to be rising by over three mm

________________________________________________
a year.
at the same time
 IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
IN THE PAST

Examples of impersonal passive in the past

• The annual rate of sea level rise is said to
have doubled since 1993.

• Around 4% of the population of China,

which is about 50,000,000 people, are
perceived to be at risk from rising sea levels.

• Governments are assumed to be taking the

necessary actions to protect their populations.
 IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
IN THE PAST
Forms Examples

subject + The moon is thought to have

impersonal passive been formed by a collision
+ perfect infinitive between Earth and a smaller
astronomical body.

subject + The Earth is estimated to be

impersonal passive just over 4.5 billion years old.
+ infinitive
 IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
IN THE PAST
1. The impersonal passive with an infinitive refers to
events that happen at the same time as the impersonal
verb.
2. The impersonal passive with a perfect infinitive
refers to events that happened before the impersonal
verb.
In Aztec society the sun was believed to be the
leader of Heaven. at the same time
Mars is thought to have had an atmosphere
similar to Earth’s but to have lost it billions of
years ago, according to recent theories.
before
 IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
IN THE PAST

Complete the sentences.

1. The dam project is reported to have cost (cost)

___________
more than three times the original estimate by the time it
was completed.
2. Local people were worried about the dam as many rare
to breed
species were known __________ (breed) on the river.
3. The rock formations are thought to have been shaped
___________________
(shape) by the weather conditions in the area.
 IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
IN THE PAST
Put the words in the correct order to form sentences with
the impersonal passive in the past.

Dolphins are known to live in large groups called pods.

1.___________________________________________
are/dolphins/called/known/pods/groups/large/live/in/to

Mountains are claimed to have an effect on rainfall.

2. ___________________________________________
mountains/have/an/on/rainfall/claimed/effect/to/are

The city was thought to have disappeared into the sea.

3.___________________________________________
the/the/sea/into/thought/city/have/to/was/disappeared
 IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
IN THE PAST

Discuss the following questions with a partner.

1. Have you ever been to or would you like to go to a
remote area of the world? Why did/would you
choose it?
2. Describe scenery that people consider to be
incredibly beautiful. Why do they think so? Do you
agree? Why or why not?

Use impersonal passives in the past to express your

ideas.
 IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
IN THE PAST

Grammar wrap-up

The Mariana Trench is said to be

____________________________________________ the deepest part of
the ocean. _______________________________
It is estimated to have a length of around
2,550 kilometers and a depth of about 11,000 meters.
The first measurements of the Trench are known to
________________________________________________________________________

have been taken

_______________________ in 1875.
Four descents into the Trench are reported to have
________________________________________________________________________

been made
_______________ between 1960 and 2012.