Advanced Passive Constructions in Formal English

Master advanced passive constructions used in academic and formal English. Clear rules, real examples, and common mistakes explained for C1 learners.

  • المسار: اللغة الإنجليزية
  • القسم: القواعد
  • المستوى: C1
  • وقت القراءة: 2 دقيقة
  • آخر تحديث: 20 أغسطس 2026
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Why the Passive Gets More Powerful at Advanced Level You already know the basic passive: The report was written by the team. But in formal and academic English, writers use advanced passive constructions that go far beyond this pattern. These structures let you shift focus, sound authoritative, and avoid naming who is responsible — all of which are prized skills in academic and professional writing. Three structures appear constantly in formal texts and cause real difficulty for learners at this level: Passive reporting verbs (e.g. It is believed that… / The results are said to indicate… ) Pa…

الأسئلة الشائعة

What is the difference between 'is said to be' and 'is said to have been'?
'Is said to be' refers to a present situation, while 'is said to have been' refers to something that happened in the past — use the perfect infinitive when the action is already completed.
Can I use these passive structures in spoken English?
They are primarily formal writing tools; in speech, they can sound stiff or overly academic, so use them selectively in presentations or formal discussions.
Which verbs work with the impersonal passive reporting structure?
Common verbs include believe, argue, claim, suggest, report, find, consider, and acknowledge — all frequently used in academic and journalistic writing.
Why do academic writers prefer the passive voice?
The passive removes the focus from the agent (the person doing the action) and places it on the result or finding, which creates the objective, impersonal tone expected in formal writing.