personal impersonal passive

Impersonal and Personal Passive

It is said he is a nice man.

​Impersonal Passive

People say he is a nice man.

​Active

Active vs. Impersonal Passive

He is said to be a nice man.

Subject + passive form + to + do / be doing / have done / have been doing

​Personal

It is said he is a nice man.

It + passive verb + that....

​Impersonal

Impersonal vs. Personal Passive

​Present Simple

Active: This company makes a lot of profit.

Impersonal passive: It is assumed that this company makes a lot of profit.

Personal passive: This company is assumed to make a lot of profit.

​Present Continuous

Active: The sea level is rising every day.

Impersonal Passive: It is known that the sea level is rising every day.

Personal passive: The sea level is known to be rising every day.

​Future Simple

Active: They predicted that the weather will change soon.

Impersonal passive: It is predicted that the weather will change soon.

Personal passive: The weather is predicted to change soon.

​Past Simple

Active:  Columbus discovered America.

Impersonal passive:  It is known that Columbus discovered America.

Personal passive:  Columbus is known to have discovered America. 

The boss stole the money.
The boss is said to have stolen the money.

​Past Continuous

Active: The famous rock star was having breakfast when the news about the accident arrived.

Impersonal passive: It was mentioned that the famous rock star was having breakfast when the news about the accident arrived.

Personal passive: The famous rock star is reportered to have been having breakfast when the news about the accident arrived.
She was watching the news when the police came.

​Present Perfect

Active: This school has always had good teachers.

Impersonal passive: It is said that this school has always had good teachers.

Personal Passive: This school is said to have always had good teachers.

​Present Perfect Continuous

Active: Sean has probably been waiting in the queue for hours.

Impersonal passive: It is believed that Sean has probably been waiting in the queue for hours.

Personal passive: Sean is believed to have been waiting in the queue for hours.

​Rewrite

1) He asked them to arrive on time.

2) The charity is building a block of flats for the homeless.

3)  The government has reached their decision about the new law.

4) Thomas hit a man in the pub last night.

5) Tom is a very considerate man.

6) The press thinks that the government is planning a new law on advertising.

​Rewrite

7) The thieves got in through the window.

8) Brenda speaks three languages.

9) The presidents of two countries have a meeting. People hope that they will find a common language.

10) John knows Maths well.

11) The town was hit by an earthquake.