It is said that.../he is said to...

Exercise 1. Change the following sentences using the passive construction with the pronoun it as the subject. Translate the sentences into Russian.

Model: 1) They report that the delegation has left Moscow.

- It is reported that the delegation has left Moscow.

Сообщают, что делегация выехала из Моск вы.

2) They expected that he would return soon.

- It was expected that he would return soon.

Ожидали, что он скоро вернется.

1. We understand that the matter will be kept secret. 2.They said the shop would be opened on Tuesday. 3. They agree the per -formance was very good. 4. We expect the book will be praised by the press. 5. They announced that the train was an hour late. 6. People say that Mr Ross is a millionaire. 7. We know he is a good specialist. 8. People say that the Prince owns three Rolls- Royces. 9. People think that she is the fastest swimmer in Europe. 10. We understand they are going to get married. 11. People think that Queen Elizabeth is the richest woman in the world. 12. People expect that taxes will be reduced soon. 13. We consider that this is a bad time to hold talks. 14. People expect that a cure for cancer will be discovered. 15. People say that the new film is very violent. 16. People know that certain people have more bad luck than others.

Exercise 2. Rewrite the sentences in an alternative passive form, beginning your sentence with the words in italics. Translate the sentences into Russian.

Model: 1) - It is reported that the President is seriously ill.

- The President is reported to be seriously ill.

Сообщают, что президент серьезно болен.

2) - It is believed that the man drove through the town at 90 miles an hour.

- The man is believed to have driven through the town at 90 miles an hour.

Считают, что мужчина ехал по городу со скоростью 90 миль в час.

3) - It is expected that the company will lose money this year.

- The company is expected to lose money this year.

Ожидается, что в этом году компания поте- ряет деньги.

1. It is expected that a new law will be introduced next year. 2. It is said that Kate works 16 hours a day. 3. It is expected that the strike will end soon. 4. It is said that there is a secret tunnel between the two houses. 5. It is believed that the thieves got in through the kitchen window. 6. It is reported that many people are homeless after the floods. 7. It is thought that the prisoner escaped by climbing over the wall. 8. It is reported that the building has been badly damaged by fire. 9. It is said that the company is losing a lot of money. 10. It is expected that the President will resign. 11. It is thought that the fire started at about 8 o’clock. 12. It is said that he is an honest, hard-working man. 13. It is reported that several Japanese manufacturers are planning to set up plants overseas. 14. It was believed that the explosion had been caused by a mine. 15. It is believed that the missing boy is wearing a white pullover and blue jeans. 16. It is reported that those cars are rather unreliable.

Exercise 3. Read the following article about the richest man in Britain. Fill in the blanks with a verb in the passive and a suitable form of the infinitive.

THE RICHEST MAN IN BRITAIN

The publisher Paul Raymond (say/be) the richest man in Britain, and he (believe/have) a personal fortune of over 1,650,000,000 pounds. His magazine publishing company (think/make) annual profits of around 14 million pounds, and he (believe/own) a number of other companies. He (know/have) houses in London and the Caribbean, but at the age of 68 he (say/live) a very quite life.

However, most of his wealth does not come from the magazines; it comes from the property he owns in central London. He (know/start) buying up properties over forty years ago, when prices were about 10,000 pounds. He (say /buy) another fifty properties in 1974, and he (believe/purchase) another hundred in 1977 just before the property market recovered. Each of these investments (believe/rise) in value many times over, so he is much richer than the Queen.

He is now nearing retirement, but he (think/make) major new property investments at the moment. He (say/try) to buy a number of properties in Rupert Street, London, and (believe/buy) additional houses in Chelsea. However, he (not think/plan) to expand his publishing empire any further.