The Ultimate Guide to Personal, Impersonal, and Passive Exercises: A Comprehensive PDF Resource
In the realm of English grammar, understanding the concepts of personal, impersonal, and passive voice is crucial for effective communication. These grammatical structures can significantly impact the clarity, tone, and style of your writing and speaking. To help you master these concepts, we have compiled a comprehensive guide, complete with exercises and a downloadable PDF resource.
Understanding Personal, Impersonal, and Passive Voice
Before diving into the exercises, let's briefly review the definitions and uses of personal, impersonal, and passive voice:
Why Practice Personal, Impersonal, and Passive Exercises?
Practicing personal, impersonal, and passive exercises can help you:
Personal, Impersonal, and Passive Exercises PDF
To help you practice and reinforce your understanding of personal, impersonal, and passive voice, we have created a comprehensive PDF resource. This downloadable guide includes:
Sample Exercises
Here are a few sample exercises from our PDF resource:
Exercise 1: Changing Personal Voice to Passive Voice
Change the following sentences from personal voice to passive voice:
Exercise 2: Changing Impersonal Voice to Personal Voice
Change the following sentences from impersonal voice to personal voice:
Exercise 3: Identifying and Correcting Errors
Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences:
Tips for Practicing Personal, Impersonal, and Passive Exercises
To get the most out of our PDF resource, follow these tips:
Conclusion
Mastering personal, impersonal, and passive voice is essential for effective communication in English. With our comprehensive PDF resource, you'll have access to a wealth of exercises and explanations to help you improve your writing and speaking skills. Download our PDF resource today and start practicing your personal, impersonal, and passive exercises!
Download the PDF Resource
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Happy practicing!
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.
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
The rain lashed against the library windows, blurring the world outside into a grey smear. Inside, the air smelled of old paper and desperation. It was the night before the final grammar exam, and the atmosphere in the study hall was thick with tension.
Elias sat with his head in his hands, a heavy textbook open in front of him. The chapter title was bold and unforgiving: The Personal and Impersonal Passive.
"It’s impossible," Elias groaned, pushing the book away. "I’ll never understand this. It’s too abstract."
Across the table, Clara was calmly highlighting a worksheet. She didn’t look up. "It is said that you are dramatic, Elias." personal impersonal passive exercises pdf
Elias frowned. "What?"
"She just used the impersonal passive on you," chimed in Marcus from the next seat, spinning a pen between his fingers. "It’s a classic move. She took the active idea—'Everyone says Elias is dramatic'—and made it distant and formal."
Clara finally looked up, smiling. "Exactly. People think the passive voice is difficult. Or, to use the impersonal structure: It is thought that the passive voice is difficult."
"I'm lost," Elias admitted. "Why would I write like that? It sounds like a robot."
"Because," Clara said, sliding a printed sheet across the table. "This isn't just about rules. It’s about shifting focus. Sometimes the subject isn't important. Sometimes the action is all that matters."
Elias looked down at the paper. It was a crinkled Personal Impersonal Passive Exercises PDF that Clara had printed from the university portal. The header read Advanced Transformations.
"Let's look at the first exercise," Clara suggested, tapping the paper. "The prompt is: People believe that the old librarian haunts the third floor."
"Okay," Elias said slowly. "I need to change that?"
"Yes. You have two options," Clara explained. "First, the Impersonal Passive. You focus on the report, not the people. You say: It is believed that the old librarian haunts the third floor."
Elias scribbled it down. "Okay. That sounds like a newspaper headline."
"Good. Now, the second option is the Personal Passive," Clara continued. "You make the librarian the subject. The old librarian..."
Elias hesitated, his pen hovering over the paper. "The old librarian... is believed to haunt the third floor?"
"Bingo," Marcus said, leaning over. "That’s the sophisticated stuff. That’s the structure that gets you an A. Subject + passive verb + to-infinitive."
Elias looked at the sentence. It felt cleaner, more objective. It removed the messy element of "people" and left only the spooky core of the idea.
"Try another one," Clara urged. "Number five. They expect the storm to hit by midnight."
Elias looked out the window at the howling wind. The storm was already there, but he tried to formulate the sentence in his head.
"Okay, impersonal first," Elias said. "It is expected that the storm will hit by midnight."
"Correct," Clara nodded.
"And personal..." Elias paused. "The storm... is expected to hit by midnight."
"Perfect," Clara said. "You're getting it. You're distancing the action from the doer. You're making it objective."
For the next hour, the trio worked through the PDF. The exercises were repetitive, but slowly, the logic began to click in Elias's mind. He stopped seeing the structures as riddles and started seeing them as tools of perspective.
People know that he is a strict professor. -> It is known that he is a strict professor. (Impersonal) People know that he is a strict professor. -> He is known to be a strict professor. (Personal)
As the library clock ticked toward closing time, the librarian approached their table. She was a stern woman with wire-rimmed glasses.
"Everyone expects you to leave now," she said sharply. "We are closing."
Elias packed his bag, a strange calm settling over him. He looked at the librarian, then at his friends.
"Well," Elias said, standing up. "It is expected that we leave now. Or, I suppose, We are expected to leave."
The librarian raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "You have been studying the exercises, I see."
As they walked out into the rainy night, clutching the now well-worn PDF, Elias felt a spark of confidence. The grammar wasn't just rules on a page; it was a way of seeing the world. The rain was no longer just falling; it was said to be falling. The exam wasn't just a test; it was feared to be difficult.
But Elias? He was thought to be ready.
Part A:
Part B:
Part C:
Part D:
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. The Ultimate Guide to Personal, Impersonal, and Passive
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
For exercises specifically focusing on the reporting verb "report" in personal and impersonal passive structures, you can find high-quality PDF worksheets and online practice modules through the following resources: 📥 Downloadable PDF Exercises
Perfect English Grammar offers clear PDF worksheets focusing on the "it is said/reported that" (impersonal) and "he is said/reported to" (personal) structures.
Aprende Ingles en Leganes provides a comprehensive table and exercise sheet specifically for reporting verbs like report, say, and believe.
ISLCollective features a variety of community-uploaded PDF reports and worksheets that require transformation between personal and impersonal forms. 📝 Structure Breakdown for "Report"
When using the verb "report" to express a general opinion or fact, you can use these two formal structures: Impersonal Passive: Structure: It + passive reporting verb + that-clause Example: "It is reported that the thief has escaped." Personal Passive: Structure: Subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive Example: "The thief is reported to have escaped." 💻 Interactive Online Practice
English-Grammar.at has specific online tasks where you must rewrite sentences starting with "It..." or the personal subject.
Engelsklaslokaal provides a quick-fire exercise to test your ability to distinguish between the two forms using common verbs like think, believe, and report.
Personal and impersonal passive constructions are advanced English grammar tools used to report opinions, rumors, or general beliefs without naming a specific source. These forms are common in formal writing, news reports, and academic texts. 1. Understanding the Two Structures
These constructions usually follow reporting verbs such as say, think, believe, know, report, expect, consider, and understand.
Impersonal Passive: Uses a "dummy" subject (it) to refer to a whole situation or general thought. Structure: It + passive verb + (that) clause. Example: "It is believed that he is innocent".
Personal Passive: Focuses on the person or thing that is the subject of the belief. Structure: Subject + passive verb + to-infinitive. Example: "He is believed to be innocent". 2. Formulating Tenses in Personal Passive
The form of the infinitive in a personal passive sentence depends on the time relationship between the reporting verb and the action in the that-clause. Personal and Impersonal Passive | explanation and exercises
The English passive voice can be tricky enough, but two advanced structures often leave learners scratching their heads: the Personal Passive and the Impersonal Passive. These forms are essential for formal writing, academic reports, news articles, and professional correspondence.
This write-up introduces a free, downloadable PDF worksheet designed to help you (or your students) distinguish between these two structures and use them with confidence.
The Personal Passive is used when the focus is on the person or thing affected by the action. The agent (the doer) is often omitted or introduced by the preposition by.
When dealing with reporting verbs (believe, think, expect, say), the Personal Passive can transform the object clause into an infinitive phrase.
The leap from intermediate to advanced English is marked by your ability to manipulate sentence structure gracefully. The personal and impersonal passive voice allows you to report information with nuance, authority, and precision.
Remember the golden rule:
Don't just read about it—practice it. Download the personal impersonal passive exercises pdf above, complete one set of exercises every day, and within a week, these structures will become second nature.
Bonus Tip for Teachers: This PDF is ideal for B2/C1 level classrooms. Use the impersonal passive exercises for writing news reports, and the personal passive exercises for debates or biographies.
Meta Description (for SEO): Download a free personal impersonal passive exercises PDF with answers. Master B2/C1 English grammar: reporting verbs, infinitive clauses, and transformation drills.
Passive reporting structures—often called personal and impersonal passives—are formal ways to express opinions, beliefs, or rumors using reporting verbs like say, believe, think, report, know, claim, and expect. 1. The Two Structures
When you have an active sentence like "People say that he is rich," you can rewrite it in two passive ways: Structure Type Impersonal It + passive verb + that + clause It is said that he is rich. Personal Subject + passive verb + to-infinitive He is said to be rich. 2. Choosing the Right Infinitive (Personal Passive)
The infinitive used in the personal passive depends on the tense of the original second verb: Simple Present/Future: Use to + base verb. They expect him to win. →right arrow He is expected to win. Present Continuous: Use to be + -ing. People think he is waiting. →right arrow He is thought to be waiting. Past/Present Perfect: Use to have + past participle. They say she played well. →right arrow She is said to have played well. impersonal-passive-2.pdf
To master personal and impersonal passive constructions, it is helpful to understand how they transform active reporting sentences (e.g., "People say that...") into objective, formal statements Core Concepts and Structures
These structures are primarily used with "reporting verbs" such as think, believe, say, report, know, expect, consider, understand Construction Type Grammatical Structure Example (from "People say Susan is a thief") Impersonal Passive past participle It is said that Susan is a thief. Personal Passive past participle positive t o -infinitive Susan is said to be a thief. Verb Tense Transformations When using the Personal Passive
, the infinitive form changes depending on the timeframe of the original action: Present/Future: Use a simple infinitive ( "They expect him to arrive soon." "He is expected Past/Completed Action: Use a perfect infinitive ( past participle). "People know Susan has stolen the car." "Susan is known to have stolen Practice Exercises
You can practice by converting these active sentences into both passive forms. You can find more comprehensive Personal and Impersonal Passive Exercises (PDF) MyEnglishTeacher or view detailed grammar tables Aprende Ingles en Leganes aprendeinglesenleganes.com Personal and Impersonal Passive | explanation and exercises
Once upon a time in the quiet village of Linguistia, the residents were obsessed with how information was shared. They didn’t care who said something; they only cared that it was said.
In this village lived a scribe named Leo. Leo was tired of writing simple sentences like "People say that the dragon is friendly." He felt it lacked mystery. He wanted to master the Personal and Impersonal Passive. Chapter 1: The Impersonal Passive (The "It" Factor) One morning, a rumor started.
Active: People believe that the dragon guards a treasure.Leo transformed this into the Impersonal Passive. It was easy: he started with "It," used the passive form of the reporting verb, and kept the rest of the sentence the same.
Impersonal Passive: It is believed that the dragon guards a treasure. "How formal! How mysterious!" Leo thought. Chapter 2: The Personal Passive (The Subject Shift)
The village Mayor wanted more focus on the dragon itself. He asked Leo to make the dragon the star of the sentence. This was the Personal Passive.Leo took the subject of the second clause (the dragon), moved it to the front, and changed the second verb into an infinitive.
Personal Passive: The dragon is believed to guard a treasure. Chapter 3: The Time Travelers (Past Events)
The next day, the villagers talked about a knight who had visited years ago.
Active: People say that the knight stole an egg.Leo knew that because the stealing happened in the past, he needed a perfect infinitive (to have + past participle). Personal Passive: The knight is said to have stolen an egg. Chapter 4: The Scribe’s Challenge
Leo realized that to truly help the villagers, he needed to provide them with practice. He sat down and wrote out a "scroll of exercises" (which we would call a PDF today). The Exercise List: Active: They claim that the mysterious cave is empty.
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. Personal Voice : In personal voice, the subject
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:
Answers:
This feature introduces a comprehensive, downloadable PDF guide for mastering Personal and Impersonal Passive structures—a critical advanced English grammar topic.
📘 Master Passive Structures: Personal & Impersonal Passive PDF Guide
Ever wonder how to sound more formal, objective, and authoritative in English? You probably know basic passive voice (e.g., The report was written), but advanced English requires a shift toward impersonal and personal passive structures.
These structures are essential for academic writing, journalism, and business communication, allowing you to report opinions or facts without needing a specific subject. What is Inside the PDF?
This structured 10-page guide provides everything you need to master this topic:
Clear Definitions: Simple explanations of impersonal (It is thought that...) and personal (He is thought to...) passive structures.
Formulaic Breakdown: Clear diagrams showing how to shift from active voice to personal/impersonal passive.
Targeted Exercises: 40+ practice questions covering various tenses. Answer Key: Detailed explanations for every answer. 🔥 Feature Spotlight: Key Concepts Covered 1. The Impersonal Passive (Objective Reporting)
Used to report opinions or beliefs without focusing on who holds them. Active: People say he is rich. Impersonal: It is said that he is rich. 2. The Personal Passive (Direct Focus)
Used to make a specific person or thing the subject, highlighting them while remaining formal. Active: People believe the company is failing. Personal: The company is believed to be failing. 3. Advanced Tense Changes
The PDF tackles tricky transformations, including how to handle past actions within a passive structure: Active: People believe he stole the money. Personal: He is believed to have stolen the money. 📝 Exercise Sample Transform the sentences using the structure provided:
Active: People believe that the suspect has left the country.
Impersonal Passive: It __________ the suspect has left the country. Active: They expect that the new law will pass soon. Personal Passive: The new law __________ soon. (Answers: 1. is believed that, 2. is expected to pass) 🚀 Get the PDF
Download the comprehensive Personal Impersonal Passive Exercises PDF and start mastering advanced English today. Download the PDF Guide Now
g., intermediate vs. advanced), or perhaps focus more on a specific tense like past or future?
If you provide a topic (e.g., journalism, business, academic reports), I can customize the examples in the guide to better suit your needs.
Mastering Personal and Impersonal Passive: A Complete Guide with Exercises
The passive voice is a staple of English grammar, but as you move toward an upper-intermediate (B2) or advanced (C1) level, you’ll encounter its more sophisticated cousins: the Personal and Impersonal Passive.
These structures are essential for formal writing, journalism, and academic reports. They allow you to report information without focusing on a specific person, giving your writing an objective, professional tone.
In this guide, we’ll break down the formulas, show you how to switch between them, and provide personal impersonal passive exercises to help you practice. 1. What is the Impersonal Passive?
The impersonal passive is used to report what "people" in general say, think, or believe. It uses the dummy subject "It." The Formula: It + Passive Verb (is said/is believed) + that + clause. Active: People say that he is a genius. Impersonal Passive: It is said that he is a genius. Common Reporting Verbs:
Say, believe, think, report, know, claim, understand, consider, expect. 2. What is the Personal Passive?
The personal passive shifts the focus to the subject of the second clause, making the sentence feel more direct while remaining formal. The Formula: Subject + Passive Verb + to-infinitive. Active: People say that he is a genius. Personal Passive: He is said to be a genius. Handling Different Tenses
The "to-infinitive" part changes depending on when the action happened:
Present/Future Reference: Use the Simple Infinitive (to do). It is thought that she lives in London. →right arrow She is thought to live in London. Past Reference: Use the Perfect Infinitive (to have done). It is reported that the thieves escaped. →right arrow The thieves are reported to have escaped.
Continuous Action: Use the Continuous Infinitive (to be doing). It is believed that they are working hard. →right arrow They are believed to be working hard. 3. Transformation Chart Active Voice Impersonal Passive (It...) Personal Passive (Subject...) People believe he is rich. It is believed that he is rich. He is believed to be rich. They expect the price will rise. It is expected that the price will rise. The price is expected to rise. Reporters say the fire started at 3 AM. It is said that the fire started at 3 AM. The fire is said to have started at 3 AM. 4. Personal Impersonal Passive Exercises
Try these practice sentences to test your knowledge. (Scroll down for the answer key). Part A: Rewrite into Impersonal Passive (It...) People think that the company is losing money. Scientists believe that the climate is changing rapidly. They claim that the painting is a forgery. Part B: Rewrite into Personal Passive (Subject...) It is expected that the strike will end tomorrow. It is known that he spent time in prison. It is thought that the hackers are using a proxy server. Part C: Mixed Transformation (Active to Personal) People say that she owns three houses.
Experts believe that the manuscript was written in the 15th century. 5. Answer Key Part A: It is thought that the company is losing money. It is believed that the climate is changing rapidly. It is claimed that the painting is a forgery. Part B: The strike is expected to end tomorrow. He is known to have spent time in prison. The hackers are thought to be using a proxy server. Part C: She is said to own three houses.
The manuscript is believed to have been written in the 15th century. Download the "Personal Impersonal Passive Exercises PDF"
Practicing these structures is the only way to make them feel natural. If you are a teacher looking for classroom materials or a student studying for the Cambridge FCE/CAE or IELTS, you can find comprehensive personal impersonal passive exercises PDFs on educational sites like ISLCollective, EnglishGrammar.at, or Perfect English Grammar.
Pro Tip: When searching for PDFs, look for "Passive Reporting Verbs" or "Causative Passive" worksheets, as these topics are often grouped together in advanced grammar books!