Learn and Practice the Impersonal Passive | Advanced Grammar

Summary

Jennifer from 'English with Jennifer' explores the concept of 'doppelgänger' and its usage in English. She explains the passive voice and impersonal passive constructions, demonstrating how they can be used to report information without attributing it to a specific source. Jennifer provides examples and exercises to help viewers understand and use these grammatical structures effectively, emphasizing their commonality in written English, academic talks, and news reports.

Takeaways

• 😀 A 'doppelgänger' is a term used to describe someone who looks very similar to another person.
• 📚 The video explains the use of the passive voice in English, particularly the impersonal passive.
• 🗣️ The impersonal passive voice is used to report information without emphasizing the source, making statements seem more objective.
• 👥 The structure of the impersonal passive often involves 'it' as the subject, followed by a passive reporting verb and a that-clause.
• 🔍 Examples of impersonal passive include phrases like 'It is said that...', 'It is believed that...', and 'It has been argued that...'.
• 📝 The impersonal passive is common in academic talks, news reports, and documentaries, providing a neutral way to present information.
• 🌐 YouGlish.com is mentioned as a resource to find examples of the impersonal passive used in different contexts.
• 📊 The video provides quizzes to practice forming the impersonal passive, enhancing understanding through active learning.
• 🌐 The impersonal passive can also be formed using a subject, reporting verb, and infinitive, as shown in the example 'Venice is often said to be the most beautiful of all.'
• 📚 The video concludes with a reminder of the importance of grammar as the foundation of language and encourages continued learning.

Q & A

What is a doppelgänger?

A doppelgänger is someone who looks a lot like another person, essentially their double.

How does Jennifer describe the similarities between her and Winona Ryder?

Jennifer mentions having dark hair, dark eyes, and being about the same age as Winona Ryder as the similarities.

What is the passive voice, and how does it differ from the active voice?

The passive voice shifts the focus from the doer to the receiver of the action, using a form of 'be' plus the past participle. It contrasts with the active voice, which emphasizes the doer of the action.

Can you provide an example of the passive voice from the script?

An example from the script is 'I've been told that I look like Winona Ryder.' Here, the focus is on Jennifer receiving the comments rather than who gave them.

What is the impersonal passive, and how is it used?

The impersonal passive is a form of the passive voice where the subject is 'it' and is used to report information without connecting the speaker to the source or claim. It can be used to maintain neutrality or when the source is unknown or uncertain.

How does the impersonal passive serve in academic and formal contexts?

The impersonal passive is often used in academic talks, news reports, and documentaries to report information objectively without attributing it to a specific source.

What are some examples of impersonal passive structures mentioned in the script?

Examples include 'It's been said that Jennifer looks like Winona Ryder,' 'It's believed that doppelgängers are spirits,' and 'It's often said that there's no use in worrying about the future.'

How can you form the impersonal passive using an infinitive?

The impersonal passive using an infinitive is formed with a subject, a reporting verb, and an infinitive verb. For example, 'Turmeric is considered to be helpful for digestion.'

What is the difference between 'It is said that' and 'It is believed that' in the context of the impersonal passive?

Both 'It is said that' and 'It is believed that' are forms of the impersonal passive, but 'It is said that' is used when reporting a claim or statement, while 'It is believed that' is used when reporting a belief or opinion.

How can the impersonal passive be used to report without 100% conviction?

The impersonal passive can be used to report information when there is a lack of evidence or certainty, allowing the speaker to present the information without fully endorsing it.

What is the significance of grammar in language learning according to the script?

Grammar is said to be the foundation of language, and the script emphasizes the importance of mastering it for effective language learning.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Understanding the Impersonal Passive

Jennifer introduces the concept of a 'doppelgänger' and uses her resemblance to Winona Ryder as an example to explain the passive voice in English. She contrasts the active voice with the passive, highlighting how the latter shifts focus from the doer to the receiver of the action. Jennifer further explains the impersonal passive voice, which allows speakers to report information without attributing it to a specific source, thus maintaining neutrality. She provides examples from everyday conversation and academic contexts, and suggests using YouGlish.com to hear the impersonal passive in use. The paragraph concludes with a quiz for viewers to practice forming the impersonal passive.

05:02

📚 Exploring the Impersonal Passive with Infinitives

Jennifer continues the discussion on the impersonal passive by introducing a variation that uses an infinitive phrase instead of a that-clause. She provides examples to illustrate this structure and challenges viewers to identify it in a short text about the beauty of Venice. The video then presents a quiz for viewers to practice forming the impersonal passive with infinitives. Jennifer also touches on the pronunciation of 'turmeric' and briefly mentions historical beliefs and events, such as milk injections and the Phoenix Lights, to demonstrate the use of infinitives in perfect and progressive forms. The paragraph ends with a motivational note, encouraging viewers to master English grammar and engage with Jennifer's channel for further learning opportunities.

Keywords

💡doppelgänger

A doppelgänger is a term used to describe someone who looks very similar to another person, often to the point of being mistaken for them. In the video, Jennifer uses the term to describe the resemblance she shares with actress Winona Ryder, as noted by some viewers. The concept is central to the video's theme of discussing the impersonal passive voice in English, as it sets up the context for discussing how one might report such similarities without taking a personal stance.

💡passive voice

The passive voice is a grammatical structure where the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb, rather than performing the action. Jennifer explains this concept by transitioning from an active sentence 'I've been told that I look like Winona Ryder' to a passive one 'It has been said that Jennifer looks like Winona Ryder'. The passive voice is a key theme in the video, as it demonstrates how to report information without revealing the source or taking personal responsibility for the statement.

💡impersonal passive

The impersonal passive is a form of the passive voice where the subject is impersonal, often using 'it' or a similar pronoun, and the focus is on the action rather than the doer. In the script, Jennifer illustrates this with the sentence 'It's been said that Jennifer looks like Winona Ryder'. The impersonal passive is highlighted as a way to maintain objectivity and distance from the information being reported, which is a significant aspect of the video's educational content.

💡clause

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb, which can function as a part of a sentence or as a whole sentence. Jennifer mentions clauses when explaining the structure 'It's been said that Jennifer looks like Winona Ryder', where 'that Jennifer looks like Winona Ryder' is a dependent clause. Understanding clauses is crucial for grasping the construction of complex sentences in English, which is a key point in the video.

💡reporting verbs

Reporting verbs are used to introduce a statement or idea in a way that attributes the information to a source without specifying who that source is. Jennifer provides examples such as 'It's said that', 'It's believed that', and 'It's been argued that'. These verbs are integral to the impersonal passive and are showcased in the video as a means to report beliefs, opinions, or facts without direct attribution.

💡infinitive

An infinitive is the basic form of a verb, typically preceded by the word 'to'. Jennifer discusses the use of infinitives in the impersonal passive, as in 'Venice is often said to be the most beautiful of all'. The infinitive form is used to express actions or states without committing to a specific subject performing the action, which aligns with the video's focus on objectivity in language.

💡perfect and progressive forms

These are verb forms that indicate the completion of an action (perfect) or the ongoing nature of an action (progressive). Jennifer notes that infinitives can also take these forms, as in 'The jewel is said to have been lost forever in the sea'. The discussion of these forms adds depth to the understanding of verb tenses in English and their usage in the impersonal passive, which is a part of the video's educational message.

💡objectivity

Objectivity in language refers to the ability to report information without personal bias or emotional influence. Jennifer emphasizes objectivity when explaining the use of the impersonal passive, as it allows for the reporting of information in a neutral and unbiased manner. This concept is central to the video's theme of discussing how language can be used to convey information accurately and without personal involvement.

💡academic language

Academic language is a formal and precise way of communicating ideas, often used in scholarly writing and speeches. The video touches on the use of the impersonal passive in academic contexts, such as in research papers and lectures, where objectivity and precision are valued. Understanding academic language is important for anyone engaging with scholarly materials, which is a takeaway from the video.

💡grammatical structure

Grammatical structure refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language. The video focuses on the passive voice and impersonal passive as specific grammatical structures, which are essential for understanding how English conveys meaning. Jennifer's discussion of these structures helps viewers grasp the mechanics of English grammar, which is a core aspect of the video's educational content.

Highlights

Definition of 'doppelgänger': someone who looks a lot like you or another person.

Jennifer's resemblance to Winona Ryder discussed as an example of a doppelgänger.

Explanation of the passive voice using 'have been told' to shift focus from the doer to the receiver.

Use of 'It's been said that' as an impersonal passive structure to report without attributing a source.

The impersonal passive allows for neutral reporting and can be used to keep a distance from the belief.

Impersonal passive is more common in written English and academic contexts.

YouGlish.com recommended for hearing examples of the impersonal passive in different contexts.

The impersonal passive can be used when the source is unknown or when there's a lack of evidence.

Examples of impersonal passive with different reporting verbs like 'said', 'believed', 'argued'.

Variation of the impersonal passive using infinitives instead of 'that' clauses.

Quiz for forming the impersonal passive with infinitives.

Pronunciation variations for the word 'turmeric' discussed.

Bonus challenge to identify full infinitive phrases in complex sentences.

Infinites have perfect and progressive forms, which are reviewed in the lesson.

Encouragement to master English grammar as it is the foundation of language.

Invitation to like, share, and support the channel for more educational content.

Transcripts

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,  

and Patreon. And don't forget to subscribe  here on YouTube. Turn on those notifications.