B2.7 Passive reporting structures

In the sentence

Many people think Messi is the best player ever.

which is the object?

• Many people

• think

• Messi

• is the best player ever.

Answer explanation

The object is MESSI.

The object always comes after a verb.

When we transform from active to passive voice, we start our sentence with the object.

• true

• false

If we want to transform the sentence

Many people think Messi is the best player ever.

into passive reported speech, we begin...

• Many people think...

• Messi is thought to be...

• People are thought to be...

Many people think Messi is the best player ever.

Messi ... the best player ever.

• thought

• is thought

• is thought to be

How are you going to begin this sentence in passive reported speech?

Scientists know that pollen allergy affects a lot of people.

• Scientists

• know

• pollen allergy

• affects a lot of people

Answer explanation

Scientists know that pollen allergy affects a lot of people.

POLLEN ALLERGY is the object, and the beginning of passive reported speech.

Scientists know that pollen allergy affects a lot of people.

Pollen allergies ... a lot of people.

• is known

• are known to affect

• were known to affect

Journalists expect that the president will give a speech at 2pm.

What is the object?

• Journalists

• expect

• the president

• give a speech at 2pm

Transform into passive reported speech:

Journalists expect that the president will give a speech at 2pm.

The president ... a speech at 2 pm.

Transform:

Experts say that 8 hours of sleep is the perfect amount.

8 hours of sleep ...the perfect amount.

TRANSFORM:

Police think that the stolen money is buried in the garden.

The stolen money... buried in the garden.