the passive structure is used when we want to talk about an action, but are not interested in saying...

The Passive Structure is used when we want to talk about an action, but are not interested in saying who or what does / did it.

Personal / Impersonal PassivePassive Structures are often used in news

reports.They are used to express thoughts, beliefs,

considerations, expectations, suppositions.What we want to express is made clear by the

verbs we use: said, thought, believed, considered, reported, understood, expected, alleged, supposed, known.

How to form the Impersonal / Personal PassiveLook at the sentences:People say that Harlem is a must-see

destination.It is said that Harlem is a must-see

destination.Harlem is said to be a must-see destination.

Impersonal / Personal PassiveThe police alleged that he stole the car.It was alleged that he stole the car.He was alleged to have stolen the car.People said that he sold drugs.It was said that he sold drugs.He was said to have sold drugs.

Impersonal / Personal Passive ExercisesPeople say that the Japanese work harder

than anybody else.People think that Chinatown is a lively

neighbourhood.People consider that the British are very

polite.Some thought that he took advantage of his

political situation.

Impersonal / Personal Passive KeyIt is said that the Japanese work harder than anybody

else.The Japanese are said to work harder than anybody

else.It is thought that Chinatown is a lively neighbourhood.Chinatown is thought to be a lively neighbourhood.It is considered that the British are very polite.The British are considered to be very polite.It was thought that he took advantage of his political

situation.He was thought to have taken advantage of his

political situation.