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Impersonal & Academic Passive

Impersonal and Academic Passive is a way of making sentences more formal and objective by using the passive voice without mentioning who performs the action.

B2Passive Voice

What is Impersonal and Academic Passive

Impersonal and Academic Passive is a way of making sentences more formal and objective by using the passive voice without mentioning who performs the action.

Formation Pattern

The formation pattern of Impersonal and Academic Passive is as follows:

  • is/was + past participle is used to describe general or universal truths.
  • are/were + past participle is used to describe specific or particular situations.
  • has/have + been + past participle is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present.

When to Use Impersonal and Academic Passive

We use Impersonal and Academic Passive in the following situations:

  • to convey formal and objective tone in writing or speaking.
  • to avoid blame or responsibility for an action.
  • to emphasize the action rather than the person performing it.

Examples of Impersonal and Academic Passive

  • It is believed that the company will go bankrupt next year.
  • The new policy was introduced by the government last year.
  • The research has been conducted by a team of experts.
  • The company is being investigated by the authorities.
  • The data has been collected and analyzed by the researchers.
  • The product is being manufactured in China.

Common Mistakes

  • Wrong: The company is investigted by the authorities.. Correct: The company is being investigated by the authorities..
  • Wrong: The research has conduct by a team of experts.. Correct: The research has been conducted by a team of experts..
  • Wrong: The product is manufacture in China.. Correct: The product is being manufactured in China..
Quick check
The new policy _____ by the government has raised many eyebrows.

Where this matters in your exam

Impersonal and Academic Passive is crucial in IELTS Writing and Reading to convey formal tone and objective information. It is assessed in IELTS Writing Task 2 and IELTS Academic Reading.

  • Writing Task 2

    Impersonal passive is often used in IELTS Writing Task 2 to convey formal and objective tone.

  • Academic Reading

    Impersonal passive is commonly used in IELTS Academic Reading to convey complex and formal information.