The Passive with "It" for Reporting Verbs The English language is wonderfully complex and offers numerous ways to convey messages with subtlety and variety. One such nuance is the use of the passive voice with reporting verbs, especially involving the pronoun “it.” This lesson will delve into how to effectively use this structure to improve clarity, formality, and detachment in your written and spoken English. Let’s break this down into simple, digestible parts to master this useful grammar tool. Understanding the Basics Before diving into the passive with "it," let’s clarify what we mean by reporting verbs and passive constructions. Reporting Verbs Reporting verbs are used when speaking about or reporting on someone's words, thoughts, or actions. Common examples include: say, report, claim, and believe. Passive Voice Passive voice is a sentence construction where the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. It’s often used to prioritize the action o...
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