Chapter 4B - Reporting Clauses In the Passive

Question 1

Reporting clauses in tenses

• simple present - It is suggested that passangers report anything suspicious to the driver.
• simple past - It was flatly denied that any government radar station had sighted a UFO.
• present perfect - It has been estimated that over half of all Americans believe in UFOs.
• past perfect - It had been rumored that a monster was living in the lake.
• with modals - It couldn’t be denied that many mysteries elude scientific understanding.
• with past modals - It should have been confirmed that the flight wouldbe delayed.q

Answer 1

Useful expressions

Get this -
Get this, it’s been reported that …

Believe or not, ….
Did you hear what happened ?

Question 2

Report clauses in the passive:
To report a general claim or opnion, you can use a passive form of a reporting verb and it. Notice that the agent is often omitted and understood to be “some people” or “many people”.

Answer 2

Sample:
It is believed (that) the device emits a sound thatk irritates young people.

It is claimed (that) the lollipops are actually quit tasty.