IMPERSONAL PASSIVE VOICE Advanced English Grammar

Summary

This video tutorial teaches how to use the impersonal passive voice in English, an advanced grammar structure. It focuses on how to form impersonal passive sentences by using the verb 'to be' and the past participle. Key uses of this voice include emphasizing the action over the doer, expressing general truths, avoiding blame, giving instructions, and making official announcements. The video provides numerous examples, such as changing active voice sentences into impersonal passive voice, and explains how to use it in different contexts to make sentences more neutral or formal.

Takeaways

• 😀 The impersonal passive voice is a form of passive voice where the doer of the action is not mentioned, and the focus is on the action itself.
• 😀 The impersonal passive voice is used to focus on the action, express general truths, avoid assigning blame, give instructions, and announce things officially.
• 😀 An example of the impersonal passive voice is: 'The rules were broken' where the focus is on the rules and not who broke them.
• 😀 The structure for the impersonal passive voice requires the verb 'to be' and the past participle (PP) of the main verb.
• 😀 When focusing on the action, such as 'The teacher provided feedback,' the impersonal passive voice would be 'Feedback was provided.'
• 😀 The impersonal passive voice is commonly used to express general truths, for example, 'Laughter is believed to be contagious.'
• 😀 Using impersonal passive voice can help avoid assigning blame, such as in the sentence 'Mistakes were made during the experiment.'
• 😀 The impersonal passive voice is often used in giving instructions, for example, 'Safety procedures must be followed at all times.'
• 😀 To announce something officially, the impersonal passive voice simplifies statements, like 'It is expected that temperatures will drop overnight.'
• 😀 Common expressions used with impersonal passive voice include 'It is known that,' 'It is believed that,' 'It is said that,' and 'It is rumored that.'

Q & A

What is the main focus of the impersonal passive voice?

The impersonal passive voice focuses on the action being performed, not on the doer of the action.

How is the impersonal passive voice different from the regular passive voice?

In the regular passive voice, the doer of the action is mentioned (e.g., 'The company launched a new product'). In the impersonal passive voice, the doer is omitted, and the focus is only on the action or the object (e.g., 'A new product was launched').

What structure is used to form an impersonal passive voice sentence?

An impersonal passive voice sentence uses any form of the verb 'to be' plus the past participle of the main verb (e.g., 'Mistakes were made').

Can you give an example of the impersonal passive voice used to focus on the action rather than the doer?

Sure! 'Feedback was provided to each student' focuses on the feedback being given, not on the teacher who provided it.

Why is the impersonal passive voice used to express general truths?

The impersonal passive voice is used for general truths because it avoids focusing on who believes or knows something, making the statement sound more objective and universally applicable.

Give an example of the impersonal passive voice used to avoid assigning blame.

'Mistakes were made during the experiment' avoids mentioning who made the mistakes, focusing instead on the fact that mistakes occurred.

How can the impersonal passive voice be used to give instructions?

The impersonal passive voice can make instructions sound more formal and neutral. For example, 'Safety procedures must be followed at all times' gives a clear instruction without specifying who must follow them.

What are some common expressions used in the impersonal passive voice?

Common expressions include 'It is believed that...', 'It is known that...', 'It is said that...', 'It is understood that...', and 'It is rumored that...'.

What is the impersonal passive voice equivalent of 'People believe that laughter is contagious'?

'Laughter is believed to be contagious' is the impersonal passive voice form, focusing on the belief rather than the people who believe it.

Why is it important to practice the impersonal passive voice?

Practicing the impersonal passive voice helps in mastering advanced English grammar, making speech and writing sound more formal, neutral, and objective, which is often required in academic and professional contexts.