PASSIVE VOICE WITH REPORTING VERBS

Let's take a sentence where the main verb is a reporting verb in the active voice, such as:
People say that Stephen will move to the city centre with his girlfriend.
We have an indefinite subject (people, they, etc.), the reporting verb (say, report, allege, think, believe, understand,
expect, etc.) and a subordinate clause which is the object of the reporting verb. Of course, this subordinate
clause has its own subject and verb. As the subject of this sentence is unknown (or perhaps we are not
interested in it) we can make the sentence impersonal, rephrasing it using this structure:
It + reporting verb in the passive voice + that + subject + verb
(subject and verb of the subordinate sentence, as it appears in the active voice).
It is said that Stephen will move to the city centre with his girlfriend.
But there is another way to say this, using a different structure which has exactly the same meaning and usually
makes the sentence shorter and more natural:
Subject + reporting verb in the passive voice + to + infinitive
Stephen is said to move to the city centre with his girlfriend.
Be careful when the verb of the subordinate sentence in the active voice refers to an action in the past. In that
sentence, we would have to turn the verb into to + infinitive; however, a new problem arises: infinitives don't
have verb tenses, so, how do we express a past tense with an infinitive? Just the same way we do it in Spanish
that is, using a perfect infinitive: to + have + past participle. Compare 1 and 2:
1. It is said that Stephen moved to the city centre with his girlfriend.
2. Stephen is said to have moved to the city centre with his girlfriend.

Let's practise:
Write these sentences in another way, beginning as shown. Use the underlined word each time.
1. It is expected that the strike will end soon. The strike

is expected to end soon.

2. It is expected that the weather will be good tomorrow.

The weather is
3. It is believed that the thieves got in through a window in the roof.
The thieves
4. It is reported that many people are homeless after the floods.
Many people
5. It is thought that the prisoner escaped by climbing over a wall.
The prisoner
6. It is alleged that the man was driving at 110 miles an hour.
The man
7. It is reported that the building has been badly damaged by the fire.
The building
8. a) It is said that the company is losing a lot of money.
The company
b) It is believed that the company lost a lot of money last year.
The company
c) It is expected that the company will make a loss this year.
The company

Answer key:
1. The strike is expected to end soon.
2. The weather is expected to be good tomorrow.
3. The thieves are believed to have got in through a window in the roof.
4. Many peopel are believed to be homeless after the floods.
5. The prisoner is thought to have escaped by climbing over a wall.
6. The man is alleged to have been driving at 110 miles per hour.
7. The building is reported to have been badly damaged by the fire.
8. a) The company is said to be losing a lot of money.
b) The company is believed to have lost a lot of money last year.
c) The company is expected to make a loss this year.