Learn and Practice the Impersonal Passive | Advanced Grammar

Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer from English with  Jennifer. Do you know what a doppelgänger  

is? Some words are fun to learn and use and  this is one of them. I taught the meaning of  

doppelgänger in another video on foreign  words used in English. A doppelgänger is  

your double. It's someone who looks a lot like  you or a lot like another person. Some viewers  

have told me I look a lot like Winona Ryder.  I don't exactly think I'm her doppelgänger,  

but I guess there are some similarities. You know,  dark hair, dark eyes, about the same age. Another  

way to state that idea is like this: I've been  told that I look like Winona Ryder. What changed?

I went from active to passive. The passive uses a  form of BE + the past participle. Have been told.  

The focus isn't on who told me but on the fact  that I received these comments. The passive is  

a way to shift the focus from the doer to the  receiver of the action. But now consider this  

variation: It's been said that Jennifer looks like  Winona Ryder. This is also passive, and again,  

it's not important who said this, but there's a  change. Here the subject is "it." The structure is  

IT + a passive reporting verb like "be said" and  then a that -clause. A clause has a subject and  

a verb. It's been said that Jennifer looks like  Winona Ryder. This sentence sounds objective. Some  

call this the impersonal passive. Whoever says  this or writes this is being neutral. Think how  

this passive structure can serve you when you  don't want to connect yourself to the source.  

It's believed that doppelgängers are spirits,  like ghosts. I'm not saying I believe this.  

I'm just reporting what some people believe. The  impersonal passive is a way to keep my distance  

and separate myself from those who hold that  belief. In everyday conversation, you might say,  

"Some people think that.. Some people say that..."  The impersonal passive is similar in meaning but  

different in form. It is thought that... It is  said that... Since this structure is passive,  

it's probably more typical of written English, but  you'll hear plenty of examples in academic talks,  

news reports, and maybe in some documentaries.  You can go to YouGlish.com and do a search,  

and you'll hear examples of the impersonal  passive used in different contexts.

The impersonal passive lets us report  information without including ourselves  

in the group that made that claim. Or we  can report the information without naming  

the source because we aren't sure. Also, we may  lack evidence, so we can't report the idea with  

100% conviction. We don't have proof. Consider  these examples. Note the different reporting  

verbs. It's often said that there's no use in  worrying about the future. It's believed that  

opening an umbrella indoors is bad luck. It's  been argued that Japan has the healthiest diet.

Note we can use other verb tenses and verb  forms. We don't have to stick to the simple  

present. At one point in history, it was  thought that the Sun revolved around the  

Earth. It's been estimated that the Titanic  might be completely gone by 2030. One day,  

it might be said that YouTube was the  greatest teaching tool of our time.

Time for a quiz. Form the impersonal passive.

One.

It's said that vinegar and  baking soda can remove any stain.

Two.

It's been suggested that taking a cold shower  for 1 to 3 minutes has health benefits.

Three.

At one point, it was commonly  believed that the world was 

flat.

Now let me read a short text. Can you spot a new  form of the impersonal passive? There are many  

beautiful cities around the world including Kyoto,  Prague, and Sydney. But Venice is often said to be  

the most beautiful of all. Do you see it? Venice  is often said... Said to be what? Our subject is  

Venice. Then the reporting verb is followed  by an infinitive, not a that-clause. This is  

also a form of the impersonal passive. I'm not  agreeing with the claim. Maybe personally I feel  

that Kyoto is more beautiful, but I'm objectively  stating the belief I'm reporting it. It's time for  

another quiz. Form the impersonal passive.  Use subject + reporting verb + infinitive.

One.

Turmeric is considered to be helpful for digestion  and other bodily functions. A little note on  

pronunciation. I've heard different pronunciations  of this spice: "too me rik"..."ter me rik."

Two.

Briefly in the 1800s, there were milk injections!  Milk was thought to be a substitute for blood.

Three.

The Phoenix Lights in 1997 were  believed to be extraterrestrial 

aircraft.

How did you do? Here's a bonus challenge. Read  these next examples. Identify the full infinitive  

phrase. Ready? The legend has been told a thousand  times, and the jewel is said to have been lost  

forever in the sea. The art thieves are believed  to be looking for buyers on the black market.  

What do these examples tell us? They remind us  that infinitives have perfect and progressive  

forms. See my full lesson on infinitives  to review the different forms and uses.

Little by little, lesson by lesson, you  can master English grammar. After all,  

grammar is said to be the foundation of  language, so build it well. That's all  

for now. Please like and share the video  if you found the lesson useful. And please  

join as a member to support my channel  and study beyond my videos. As always,  

thanks for watching and happy studies!  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, X,  

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