Grammar Note 1: The Passive With Preparatory "there"

Level: B2-C1 (upper intermediate to advanced)

·   We can use there + a passive structure (form of be + past participle) to report information without specifying the source.

·   Preparatory there + passive is followed by to be +noun phrase. This structure is often used with verbs of saying and, thinking and knowing such as: believe, consider, estimate, expect, feel, know, presume, report, say, suppose, think, understand.

There is believed to be a tunnel that leads from the house to the sea. (=people believe that there is a tunnel....)

·   The passive verb form agrees in number with the noun phrase.

-  There is said to be a cask of gold buried somewhere in that forest.

-  There are thought to be thousand of undiscovered of fish living in the oceans.

·   Time expressions are often used to make it clear whether we are referring to the present or past.

-  There is thought to be a very low number of people living poverty in the UK today.

-  Last year, there were estimated to be ten per cent fewer application for university.

·   We tend not to use the present perfect passive form, even with time expression such as so far or up to now. Instead, we use the present passive or make the noun phrase subject of a clause.

-  So far this year, there are reported to be no violent crimes in the area.

-  So far this year, no violent crimes have been reported in the area.

·   Preparatory there + passive cannot be used with a that-clause. To report information beginning with a that-clause, we use the passive with preparatory it. Preparatory it is followed by a singular passive structure + that + clause.

-   It is thought that there are thousands of undiscovered species of sea life in the oceans.

-   NOT There is thought that there are thousands of undiscovered species of sea life in the oceans.

Pribadi Bilingual Boarding School Bandung, 14 Maret 2016

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Ditulis oleh sss pada tanggal 14/03/16