Exercises ((link)) — Passive Impersonal

Here’s a breakdown of the of passive impersonal exercises (common in English grammar practice, often for B2–C1 levels).

There are two primary ways to form these constructions using "reporting verbs" such as say, believe, think, know, consider, estimate, and report . passive impersonal exercises

People say that he speaks 5 languages. Passive impersonal: He is said to speak 5 languages. Also: It is said that he speaks 5 languages. Here’s a breakdown of the of passive impersonal

However, the exercise of writing in passive and impersonal voices requires caution. There is a tendency in academic and bureaucratic circles to overuse these constructions, leading to prose that is turgid and evasive. This phenomenon, often criticized as "bureaucratese" or "the passive voice of evasion," can be used to obscure responsibility. A classic example is the political statement "Mistakes were made," which avoids naming the person who made the mistakes. When the agent is relevant and responsible, the active voice is usually superior for its clarity and energy. Therefore, the goal of practicing these exercises is not to eliminate the active voice, but to understand when the suppression of the agent serves a legitimate communicative purpose. Passive impersonal: He is said to speak 5 languages

| Infinitive form | Meaning | |----------------|---------| | to do | same time or later than the main verb | | to be doing | action in progress at same time | | to have done | earlier time | | to have been doing | earlier continuous action |

It’s used to report what people — without specifying who.