Advanced Passive: Reporting & Two Objects

By /
B2 (Upper-Intermediate)Grammar

Advanced Passive: Reporting & Two Objects

At B2 the passive goes beyond the basics. You learn passive reporting structures (used to distance yourself from a claim) and the passive with two objects. These are common in…

At B2 the passive goes beyond the basics. You learn passive reporting structures (used to distance yourself from a claim) and the passive with two objects. These are common in news, academic writing and formal English.

Passive reporting (distancing)

When we report what people say or believe without naming them, two passive patterns are used with verbs like say, believe, think, know, report, expect, consider:

Pattern Example
It + is + past participle + that… It is said that he is very rich.
Subject + is + past participle + to-infinitive He is said to be very rich.
Present vs past reportFor something happening now, use the to-infinitive: “She is believed to live abroad.” For something earlier, use the perfect infinitive (to have + pp): “She is believed to have left the country.” The reporting verb stays present; the time is shown in the infinitive.

Passive with two objects

Verbs like give, send, offer, tell, show, pay have two objects, so either can become the subject of the passive — usually the person:

Active Passive (preferred)
They gave Aisha a prize. Aisha was given a prize.
They sent me an email. I was sent an email.

Examples from EduCareer

  • It is thought that online learning improves flexibility.
  • Our method is believed to help learners progress faster.
  • Students are given detailed feedback after each test.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersTo transform “People say that he is honest” into the personal passive, move the person to the front and use to be: “He is said to be honest.” For a past idea, switch to to have been: “He is said to have been honest.” Keep the reporting verb in the present.
Common mistakes

  • He is said that he is rich. → He is said to be rich. / It is said that he is rich.
  • She is believed to left. → She is believed to have left.
  • A prize was given to Aisha a medal. → Aisha was given a prize.

Practise with the 20 questions below.

Check your understanding

Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.

1."___ that he is very wealthy."
It is said that + clause.
2."He ___ to be very wealthy."
Subject + is said + to-infinitive.
3."She is believed ___ abroad now."
present situation → to-infinitive.
4."She is believed ___ the country last year."
past → perfect infinitive (to have + pp).
5."Aisha ___ a prize." (passive, person as subject)
person becomes subject → was given.
6."I ___ an email yesterday." (passive)
I was sent an email.
7.Which is correct?
personal passive → to be.
8.Which is correct?
past → to have left.
9."It ___ that prices will rise."
It is expected that...
10."The suspect ___ to have fled."
is thought to have fled.
11.Which object usually becomes the passive subject?
usually the person.
12."Students ___ feedback after each test."
are given (passive, two objects).
13."It ___ that the method works well."
It is believed that...
14."The CEO ___ to have resigned."
is reported to have resigned.
15."He ___ to be working on a new project." (now)
is known to be + -ing.
16.Perfect infinitive (for past report) is:
to have + past participle.
17."We ___ a discount on the course." (passive)
were offered.
18."It ___ that exercise improves memory."
It is considered that...
19."They ___ the news." → passive (person subject)
They were told the news.
20."The painting ___ to have been stolen."
is believed to have been + pp.

Want feedback from a real tutor on your reading, writing and speaking?

Book a Free Consultation
PreviousConditional Alternatives: unless, as long as, providedNext lessonThe Causative: have & get something done
Scroll to Top