Personal Impersonal Passive Exercises Pdf

The Personal and Impersonal Passive (also known as passive reporting structures) are essential tools for academic writing and formal journalism. They allow writers to report rumors, beliefs, and opinions without attributing them to a specific person. Key Differences and Structures

The Impersonal Passive focuses on the action or thought itself, using a "dummy" subject. In contrast, the Personal Passive shifts the focus to the person or thing being talked about. Type Impersonal It is said that he is a genius. Personal He is said to be a genius. How to Transform Sentences

To convert an active sentence like "People believe she is rich" into these forms:

Impersonal Passive: Start with "It", use the passive form of the reporting verb, and keep the original "that" clause: It is believed that she is rich.

Personal Passive: Take the subject of the second clause ("she"), use the passive reporting verb, and change the second verb to a "to-infinitive": She is believed to be rich. Common Reporting Verbs These structures typically use verbs like:

Say, Think, Believe, Know, Report, Expect, Allege, Claim, Understand, Consider. Practice Exercises

You can download comprehensive worksheets and guides from these sources:

Impersonal Passive PDF (ksmclasses): Features clear transformation examples like "They say she works hard" → "She is said to work hard."

Passive Voice PDF Worksheets (english-grammar.at): A library of downloadable PDFs covering all passive levels from elementary to advanced.

Advanced Passive Review (British Council): In-depth explanations of "It is estimated that..." and other complex structures.

Comprehensive Passive Table (Aprendeinglesenleganes): Offers a detailed table and "Key Word Transformation" exercises for FCE/CAE levels. Quick Transformation Challenge: Active: They expect that the economy will grow next year.

Impersonal: It is expected that the economy will grow next year. Personal: The economy is expected to grow next year. impersonal-passive-2.pdf

This feature explores the mechanics of the Personal and Impersonal Passive, providing a comprehensive overview of how to report general beliefs and opinions without naming a specific source. Understanding the Advanced Passive

In formal English, reporting verbs like believe, say, think, know, report, and claim are often used in passive structures to sound more objective or to distance the speaker from the information. 1. The Impersonal Passive (The "It" Construction)

This structure is used to report a general fact or opinion using a dummy subject "It." Formula: It + Passive Reporting Verb + that + Clause. Example: It is said that coffee is good for your health. 2. The Personal Passive (The "Subject" Construction)

This structure shifts the subject of the reported clause to the beginning of the sentence, making it sound more direct yet still formal. Formula: Subject + Passive Reporting Verb + to-infinitive. Example: Coffee is said to be good for your health. Grammar Exercises

Practice converting these active sentences into both impersonal and personal passive forms. Active Sentence Impersonal Passive (It...) Personal Passive (Subject...) People believe he is hiding. It is believed that he is hiding. He is believed to be hiding. They say she won the lottery. It is said that she won the lottery. She is said to have won the lottery. Experts think the economy is improving. It is thought that the economy is improving. The economy is thought to be improving. People know the thief escaped. It is known that the thief escaped. The thief is known to have escaped. Deep Dive: Infinitive Forms personal impersonal passive exercises pdf

When using the Personal Passive, the infinitive form changes based on the timing of the action: Present/Future: Use the simple infinitive (to do). He is expected to arrive tomorrow. Continuous: Use the continuous infinitive (to be doing). They are thought to be living in London. Past: Use the perfect infinitive (to have done). She is reported to have resigned last week. Resource Library

For further practice and downloadable worksheets, you can explore these educational platforms:

British Council LearnEnglish: Detailed review of advanced passive structures.

Aprende Ingles en Leganes: Features one of the best comparison tables for these structures.

Engels Klaslokaal: Offers interactive grammar exercises and PDF-style explanations. Personal and Impersonal Passive (best table ever)

Personal and impersonal passive constructions are advanced English structures used primarily with reporting verbs like say, believe, think, know, report, expect, and consider

. They are common in formal news reporting and academic writing. Learn English Online | British Council Grammar Overview Structure Type Example (from "People say he is rich") Impersonal It is said that he is rich. He is said to be Practice Text: The Legend of the Lost City Read the following text. The sentences in

are written in the active voice. On a separate sheet, rewrite each bolded sentence into both (a) Impersonal Passive (b) Personal Passive

Archaeologists have recently discovered a site that may change history.

(1) Many experts believe that the ruins belong to the lost city of Atlantis. For centuries, explorers have searched the Atlantic Ocean. (2) People say that the city was incredibly wealthy.

Even today, local fishermen tell stories of strange lights beneath the waves. (3) They report that these lights appear every full moon. The discovery has sparked international interest.

(4) Historians expect that the site will provide clues about ancient technology. However, some are skeptical.

(5) Several critics claim that the artifacts were planted by a rival team. Despite this, the project continues.

(6) We know that the lead researcher has spent decades on this search. Answer Key

Personal and Impersonal Passive Exercises | PDF | Verb - Scribd

7. How to convert into a printable PDF

If you want, I can generate a downloadable PDF version of these exercises and answers — say “Create PDF.” The Personal and Impersonal Passive (also known as

The Mysterious Case of the Missing PDF

It was a typical Monday morning at the office when Emma, a diligent employee, stumbled upon a peculiar problem. She had been tasked with completing a series of grammar exercises to improve her language skills, specifically focusing on personal, impersonal, and passive voice constructions. The exercises were provided in a PDF format, which she had downloaded from the company's online learning platform.

As she sat at her desk, sipping her coffee and opening her laptop, Emma realized that the PDF file was nowhere to be found. She had saved it to her desktop the previous day, but now it had vanished into thin air. She searched her computer, checked her downloads folder, and even looked in the recycle bin, but there was no sign of the file.

Panicked, Emma tried to access the online learning platform again, but it seemed that the PDF had been removed or was no longer available. Her deadline to complete the exercises was looming, and she needed the file urgently. She decided to reach out to her colleagues and superiors, hoping someone might have a copy of the PDF or know how to retrieve it.

The response she got was surprisingly passive. Her colleagues seemed uninterested in helping her, and her superiors were too busy to respond. It was as if the entire office had become impersonal, with no one taking responsibility for the missing file.

Determined to solve the mystery, Emma took matters into her own hands. She began to investigate, scouring the company's digital archives and searching for any clues that might lead her to the PDF. Along the way, she encountered a series of cryptic messages and ambiguous instructions, which only added to her frustration.

As she delved deeper into the mystery, Emma realized that the disappearance of the PDF was not just a simple technical glitch. It seemed to be a symptom of a larger problem, one that involved the company's approach to communication and employee support. The more she learned, the more she became convinced that the issue was not just personal, but also reflective of a broader, impersonal culture.

With her detective skills sharpened, Emma eventually tracked down the PDF to a hidden folder on the company's server. It turned out that the file had been intentionally removed by a colleague, who had been tasked with updating the learning materials. The colleague had been too busy to update the platform properly, and the PDF had slipped through the cracks.

With the PDF safely back on her computer, Emma completed the exercises and submitted them on time. As she reflected on her experience, she realized that the mystery of the missing PDF had taught her a valuable lesson about perseverance, initiative, and the importance of clear communication in the workplace.

From then on, Emma approached her tasks with a more proactive and problem-solving mindset, using her skills to overcome obstacles and improve the work environment. And as for the PDF, it became a symbol of her determination and resourcefulness, a reminder that even the most impersonal challenges can be overcome with a personal touch.

Exercises:

  1. Identify the personal, impersonal, and passive voice constructions in the story.
  2. Rewrite the story using a more passive voice throughout.
  3. Create a list of questions that Emma could have asked her colleagues and superiors to retrieve the PDF more efficiently.

Answers:

  1. Personal: Emma, she, her; Impersonal: it, there; Passive: the PDF had been removed, the file had been intentionally removed.
  2. (Example) The PDF was needed by Emma, but it had been removed from the platform. The file was searched for by her, but it was nowhere to be found.
  3. (Example) What steps had been taken to update the learning materials? Who was responsible for removing the PDF? Can I get a copy of the updated materials?

Mastering the Personal and Impersonal Passive (also known as "Reported Passive") is a common hurdle for advanced English learners. These structures allow you to report what "people say" or "it is believed" without naming a specific person, which is essential for academic and formal writing. 1. Understanding the Two Structures

When reporting general beliefs or opinions using verbs like say, believe, think, report, know, or expect, you can choose between two passive forms:

Impersonal Passive (The "It" Structure): This uses the dummy subject "It." Example: It is said that the CEO will resign. Structure: It + Passive Reporting Verb + that-clause.

Personal Passive (The Subject-Focused Structure): This makes the subject of the reported clause the subject of the new sentence. Example: The CEO is said to resign. Copy this guide into a document editor (Google Docs, Word)

Structure: Subject + Passive Reporting Verb + to-infinitive. 2. Quick Practice Exercise

Try transforming these active sentences into both impersonal and personal passive forms: Active: People believe that he owns a lot of land. Impersonal: It is believed that he owns a lot of land. Personal: He is believed to own a lot of land.

Active: Journalists report that the fire started by accident.

Impersonal: It was reported that the fire started by accident.

Personal: The fire was reported to have started by accident. 3. Recommended PDF Exercise Resources

If you are looking for downloadable practice sheets, the following sites offer comprehensive worksheets and tables:

Scribd Collection: A wide variety of Personal and Impersonal Passive Exercises including keyword transformation tables and answer keys.

Academic English UK: Provides an Impersonal Passive Blog/PDF that focuses on nominalisation and formal reporting.

KSM Classes: Offers a direct PDF link with 14 practice sentences for transformation.

EnglishGrammar.org: Features a Challenging Impersonal Passive Exercise that is useful for C1-level students.

Impersonal and Personal Passive Exercises | PDF | Verb - Scribd

This paper is formatted to be easily convertible into a PDF for distribution or study.

TITLE: Structural Transformation and Stylistic Shifts: A Practical Guide to Personal and Impersonal Passive Constructions

AUTHOR: [Your Name/Institution] DATE: October 2023

5. Conclusion

Mastery of Personal and Impersonal Passive constructions is essential for high-level proficiency in English, particularly in academic and professional contexts. The Impersonal Passive allows writers to cite sources or express general consensus without resorting to informal or vague agents. The exercises provided in this paper offer a scaffolded approach to acquiring these structures, moving from basic transformation to complex infinitival manipulation.

1. Quick Explanation

Quick guide: personal, impersonal, passive exercises (PDF-ready)

When to use it?

Sample Exercise (from the PDF)

Task: Rewrite the following active sentences using both the impersonal and personal passive.

Active: Journalists report that the company is launching a new product.

(Answers: It is reported that the company is launching a new product. / The company is reported to be launching a new product.)