POPULAR AND DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA

Tahri Mohamed University-Bechar Level B 2.1

CEIL Ms. BELMECHERI. H

Final Revision

I. Impersonal Report Structures:

These passive structures are used to show what people generally think or to report what people
claim or believe is true. Like the Passive Voice, it can be used for a number of reasons:

1. To create an objective impression by distancing the author from the idea.

It is known that the prisoner escaped through the tunnel.
(The author of this sentence wanted to create a great distance between him and the written
sentence.)

2. We are more interested in the statement than who made it.

The economy is expected to improve next year.
(We are interested in the economy.)

3. To make the sentence more formal and less personal.

It is claimed that the government is doing a bad job.
(It is a formal style.)

In informal speech, we can avoid using the passive by using a subject like you, they, we,
someone, people, etc. This sounds more personal and friendly. In more formal texts, the
impersonal report structures are preferred because they are less personal. This is especially true in
scientific, technical or academic writing. We use these structures with such verbs as: say, think,
believe, claim, report, know, expect, agree, understand, and others.

We can change an informal simple statement into the formal one. There are two ways of forming
this type of structure: it + passive + that or Subject + passive + infinitive.

It might look a bit confusing but it is not. The first structure It + passive + that is easy to use. We
can take any sentence, put in front of it something like It is said or It is thought and ta-da you
have got a formal style.

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Compare the following pairs of sentences:

People say Irish people drink a lot.

It is said that Irish people drink a lot.

Children believe that Santa’s helpers are preparing some presents for them.
It is believed that Santa's helpers are preparing some presents for children.

We claim that the Vikings explored the New World long ago.
It is claimed that the Vikings explored the New World long ago.

Somebody agrees Leonardo DiCaprio has been filming a lot lately.

It is agreed that Leonardo DiCaprio has been filming a lot lately.

The second structure Subject + passive + infinitive (infinitive can be used in various tenses) is a
little more complicated. At the beginning, we write the person on whom we give some
information, then we use such passive structures as is said, is believed, is thought, etc., and then
we have to use the infinitive according to how the events occurred.

Compare:

People say Irish people drink a lot.

(Present Simple)
Irish people are said to drink a lot.
('To drink' is Simple Infinitive. We use it to report on things happening at the same time frame as
the reporting structure.)

Children believe that Santa’s helpers are preparing some presents for them.
(Present Continuous)
Santa’s helpers are believed to be preparing some presents for children.
('To be preparing' is Continuous Infinitive. We use it to report on something that is happening at
the moment.)

We claim that the Vikings explored the New World long ago.
(Past Simple)
The Vikings are claimed to have explored the New World long ago.
('To have explored' is Perfect Infinitive. We use it to make clear that an event happened before the
time it was reported.)

PS: In case you decide to write a report or a scientific article, I am sure Impersonal Report
Structures will be very helpful for you.

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 Practice 1a: Fill in the gaps with six forms of the to-infinitive of the verb do.
Standard: We need……………………….. it immediately.
Continuous: She appears ………………………………it right now.
Perfect: He seems……………………………………..it already.
Perfect continuous: We seem………………………………. it for hours.
Passive: It needs………………………………..before the end of the week.
Passive perfect: It appears………………………………….rather well.
Note: Perfect infinitives are used for actions that happened before the reporting.

Practice 1b: Fill in the gaps with a suitable verb in the appropriate form of the infinitive.
Each infinitive is in a different form.
announce · publish · consider · arrest · hide · escape
1. The minister is expected…………………………………….his resignation tomorrow.
2. The government are understood……………………………………….an early election.
3. They are thought…………………………………………………... in a deserted cottage.
4. The couple had earlier been believed……………………………….from police custody.
5. The results of the survey are expected……………………………………….. next week.
6. Two people are reported…………………………………….. in connection with the robbery.

Practice 2: Rewrite the sentences starting with It plus a passive structure. Pay attention to tense,
but don't add any punctuation. Don’t use any contractions.

1. They felt that the cost was too high.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. Forecasters have predicted that the weekend will be very cold.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. They don't think that the government will call an early election.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Experts are suggesting that inflation will remain steady.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. We had understood that the hostages would be released yesterday.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. Officials have announced that the princess will leave hospital next week.

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……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Practice 3: Rewrite the following sentences.

Study the following sentences fist:

Many people believe that exercises keep you fit.

It is believed that exercises keep you fit.

Exercises are believed to keep you fit.

1. It is supposed that his latest movie will soon become a blockbuster.

His latest
movie_______________________________________________________________________

2. It is said that women live longer than men.

Women____________________________________________________________________________
_

3. They claim that he has killed his mother-in-law.

He_________________________________________________________________________________

4. It was expected that Manchester United would win the match.

Manchester United___________________________________________________________________

5. It is expected that Rio de Janeiro will host the Olympic Games in 2016.

Rio de Janeiro_______________________________________________________________________

6. In the Middle Ages people believe that some women were witches.

Some women________________________________________________________________________

7. It was suspected that he had forged his brother's signature on a cheque.

He________________________________________________________________________________

8. It is alleged that he has passed on secret information to a newspaper.

He________________________________________________________________________________

9. It is reported that the President has broken his leg.

The President_______________________________________________________________________

10. It is thought that the Incas left a rich cultural heritage.

The Incas__________________________________________________________________________

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 11. They say she is 110 years old.

She______________________________________________________________________________

12. People believe that the climate is changing.

The climate_________________________________________________________________________

II. How to form questions in English:

1. WH Questions:

In English, information questions depend on using specific words ( WH question words). We have nine
WH question words: what (what kind of/ what sort of), when, where, which, who, why, whom,
whose, and how ( how many/ how much/ how long/ how often).

The structure:

(WH Question Word) + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb Form + the rest + ?

Examples: When do you get to work? How long have you been working on this project?

2. Yes/No Questions

Yes/No questions refer to simple questions you ask to receive either a yes or no as a response. Yes/No
questions do not use question words and always begin with the auxiliary verb.

The structure:

Auxiliary + Subject + Verb Form + the rest + ?

Examples: Does he live in Algeria? Have you seen that film? Is she going to come to the party?

3. Question Tags:

Question tags are short questions at the end of statements. They are mainly used in speech when we
want to confirm that something is true or not, or to encourage a reply from the person we are speaking
to.

The structure:

Auxiliary or modal verb from the statement + the appropriate subject (in negative or positive) +?

 A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag.

Jack is from Spain, isn't he?

Mary can speak English, can't she?

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  A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag.

They aren't funny, are they?

He shouldn't say things like that, should he?

Practice 1: Ask for the underlined part. Write the complete English question into the gap.

John is writing a letter.

_______________________________________________________________________________?

She walks home from school.

_______________________________________________________________________________?

The children are sitting in the garden.

________________________________________________________________________________?

Peter runs with his dog on Sundays.

________________________________________________________________________________?

My rabbit has a cage in the garden.

________________________________________________________________________________?

They go to work by bus.

_________________________________________________________________________________?

David likes cats because they are nice.

_________________________________________________________________________________?

Jenny isn't sleeping late today.

__________________________________________________________________________________?

We are going to the cinema.

________________________________________________________________________________?

I'm leaving now.

__________________________________________________________________________________?

Practice 2: Ask yes/no questions about the followings:

English- games- lion- Brazil- job- car- Tuesday- best friend.

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Practice 3: Complete the sentences with a word from the followings.

Auxiliary- to do- negative -to be-positive

1. If the main part of the sentence is positive, we add a_____________ question tag.
2. If the main part of the sentence is negative, we add a______________question tag.
3. If the sentence contains an__________verb or modal verb, we use that for the question tag.
4. The other exception is the verb__________we use that for the question tag if it appears in the main
part of the sentence.
5. If the main part of the sentence contains a different verb, we make the question tag
using_____________, in the correct form.

Pratice 3a: Circle the correct tag to complete the questions.

1. It's next to the supermarket, don’t it / isn’t it ?

2. You've met my brother before, don’t you / haven’t you ?

3. He was born in 1970, didn’t he / wasn’t he ?

4. Bela can help, can’t she / doesn’t she ?

5. I'm right, aren’t I / am I ?

6. You can't drive down your road, can’t you / can you ?

7. They won't be late, will they / are they ?

8. You're coming tomorrow, aren’t you / do you ?

Practice b: Write the correct verb to complete the question tag.

1. It’s a lovely day,…………………………it?

2. That pasta wasn’t very good, …………..it?

3. He didn’t wash up,……………………he?

4. You couldn’t check my homework,……………..you?

5. I’m going in your car,……………………I?

6. You booked the tickets,………………you?

7. She's finished, …………………………she?

8. He eats meat,…………………………he?

9. They're coming tomorrow,………………they?

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10. You've been to Paris,…………………….you?

III. Describing Photos and Pictures:

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