FlexiLang
Your progress is not saved permanently. Log in to track your performance after closing the browser.
Course: French English Spanish Greek
Explanations in: Greek English Spanish French
B2

Advanced passive: have something done, it is said that

Getting someone else to do a job for you, and impersonal reporting structures.

Have / get something done

  • I had my car repaired.
    a mechanic repaired it, not me
  • She's getting her hair cut tomorrow.
    at the hairdresser's
  • He had his wallet stolen.
    something bad that happened to him

Impersonal passive

StructureExampleMeaning
It is said / believed / thought that…It is said that he is rich.people say
Subject + is said / believed + to + baseHe is said to be rich.reported, not confirmed
Subject + is said + to have + p.p.He is believed to have left the country.reported past event

These structures are typical of news reports, where the writer doesn't want to confirm the information personally.

Test yourself

  1. Rewrite: The hairdresser cut my hair.
    Show answer
    I had / got my hair cut.
  2. Rewrite: A builder is building a house for her.
    Show answer
    She's having a house built.
  3. Rewrite: People say he is a genius. (He…)
    Show answer
    He is said to be a genius.
  4. Rewrite: It is reported that the minister has resigned. (The minister…)
    Show answer
    The minister is reported to have resigned.