The Passive with Reporting Verbs: Examples and Usage
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The Passive with Reporting Verbs
We can use passive reporting verbs in two ways:
1. Subject of the subordinate clause + verb in the main clause is the passive + to + infinitive of the verb in the subordinate clause.
The university is said to be one of the best in the country. (= Se dice que la universidad es una de las mejores del país.)
The exam is expected to be really difficult this year. (= Se espera que el examen sea más difícil este año.)
2. It + passive form of the reporting verb + that + subject + verb
It is believed that the class will be very popular. (= Se cree que la clase será muy popular.)
It's thought that boys prefer exams to coursework. (= Se cree que los chicos prefieren los exámenes al trabajo diario.)
Reporting Verbs:
- accept
- hope
- say
- believe
- know
- think
- claim (afirmar)
- predict
- understand
- expect
- report (informar)
- agree
- suggest
- consider
- estimate
Conditional Sentences
First Conditional: For probable conditions
If + Simple Present, will/won't + infinitive
If it rains this evening, I will put on my new raincoat.
Second Conditional: For improbable or imaginary conditions
If + Simple Past, would(n't) + infinitive
If I could get the results, I would phone you.
I wouldn't tell him the truth if I were you.
Third Conditional: For past hypotheses
If + Past Perfect, Perfect Conditional (would(n't) + have + past participle)
If Lauren hadn't been ill, she would have come on the trip.