Let’s take a look at an IELTS writing task 2 example with this grammar:
It is argued that volunteering should be made a part of the school curriculum.
- In the above example, ‘is argued‘ forms the passive part. The active form of this is probably: ‘People argue that…”
- In our example, ‘people’ is not important or maybe we don’t know who is disagreeing. This is a very impersonal way of saying ‘I don’t know who’, or ‘I can’t justify my opinion (yet).’
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 Point 107 in the category of PRONOUNS is defined as:
‘it’ with the passive voice where the subject is unknown or unimportant, often in formal contexts.
*this will clash with lower levels so here we have taken from the EGP examples the following code = an infinitive or ‘that’
This structure will also capture multiple overlapping points across Pearson’s GSE scale:
- 67 B2+ it is/was believed/reported that’ + VP to report beliefs, reports, rumours, etc.
- 61 B2 describe past beliefs and opinions using ‘it was’ + passive forms of verbs of judgement and evaluation.
- 59 B2 describe beliefs and opinions using verbs of judgement and evaluation in the passive.
- Examples: It was expected that women would get married in their 20s.
- It was thought that all the records had been destroyed.
- It’s believed that he died in Iraq.
- It’s expected that students will graduate in three years.
An iWeb search for: It_PPH1 _VB _VVN _TO _VVI
1 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO USE 3548
2 IT IS USED TO TREAT 1290
3 IT IS DESIGNED TO HELP 1241
4 IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE 1102
5 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO TAKE 737
6 IT IS USED TO MAKE 682
7 IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN 633
8 IT IS DESIGNED TO WORK 624
9 IT IS DESIGNED TO GIVE 615
10 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO KEEP 517
11 IT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE 516
12 IT IS INTENDED TO HELP 465
13 IT IS USED TO DESCRIBE 449
14 IT IS USED TO HELP 399
15 IT IS DESIGNED TO FIT 397
16 IT IS DESIGNED TO MAKE 365
17 IT IS USED TO CREATE 357
18 IT IS USED TO DETERMINE 341
19 IT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 337
20 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO SET 334
21 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CHECK 322
22 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO START 322
23 IT IS ADVISED TO USE 308
24 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO AVOID 306
25 IT IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW 287
26 IT IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT 284
27 IT IS DESIGNED TO MEET 276
28 IT IS BUILT TO LAST 275
29 IT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT 273
30 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO GET 268
31 IT WAS DESIGNED TO HELP 256
32 IT IS EXPECTED TO GROW 250
33 IT WAS DECIDED TO USE 236
34 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO MAKE 232
35 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO ADD 230
36 IT IS SUGGESTED TO USE 228
37 IT IS USED TO IDENTIFY 227
38 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO INSTALL 224
39 IT IS USED TO PREVENT 223
40 IT WAS USED TO MAKE 220
41 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CREATE 216
42 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO LEAVE 210
43 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO DRINK 206
44 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CONSUME 197
45 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO APPLY 196
46 IT IS MEANT TO HELP 194
47 IT IS KNOWN TO CAUSE 193
48 IT IS DESIGNED TO PREPARE 192
49 IT IS INTENDED TO SERVE 192
50 IT IS INTENDED TO GIVE 191
51 IT IS EXPECTED TO REACH 189
52 IT IS USED TO PROVIDE 187
53 IT WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE 186
54 IT WAS DESIGNED TO WORK 186
55 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CHANGE 184
56 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO RUN 181
57 IT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP 177
58 IT IS DESIGNED TO TAKE 175
59 IT IS DESIGNED TO HANDLE 171
60 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CONSULT 170
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61 IT IS DESIGNED TO RUN 169
62 IT IS USED TO REFER 164
63 IT WAS DECIDED TO MAKE 163
64 IT IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST 159
65 IT IS EXPECTED TO OPEN 157
66 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO BRING 157
67 IT IS USED TO CONTROL 157
68 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO WEAR 156
69 IT IS SAID TO HELP 154
70 IT WAS DECIDED TO BUILD 154
71 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO REMOVE 151
72 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE 151
73 IT IS DESIGNED TO SERVE 146
74 IT IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT 145
75 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CHOOSE 145
76 IT IS KNOWN TO HELP 143
77 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO GO 142
78 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO EAT 141
79 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO WAIT 141
80 IT WAS DESIGNED TO MAKE 141
81 IT IS MEANT TO PROVIDE 137
82 IT IS MEANT TO GIVE 136
83 IT WAS USED TO TREAT 136
84 IT IS USED TO SUPPORT 135
85 IT IS USED TO REDUCE 134
86 IT IS USED TO CALCULATE 130
87 IT IS DESIGNED TO OPERATE 129
88 IT IS INTENDED TO MAKE 128
89 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO PLACE 128
90 IT IS USED TO PRODUCE 128
91 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO PURCHASE 126
92 IT IS DESIGNED TO ENABLE 125
93 IT IS MEANT TO SERVE 125
94 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO FOLLOW 121
95 IT IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE 120
96 IT WAS DECIDED TO MOVE 120
97 IT IS BELIEVED TO HELP 119
98 IT IS USED TO INDICATE 119
99 IT WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN 119
100 IT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE 118
it is said that grammar
Here are the most common past participle verbs that can replace “said”:
1 IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT 42861
2 IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 24989
3 IT IS SAID THAT 24410
PELIC B1 STUDENT:
It is said that the spicy hot pots can enlarge your pores,
it is good for your skin to sweat and eliminate poison.
4 IT IS BELIEVED THAT 21610
5 IT IS EXPECTED THAT 17068
6 IT WAS FOUND THAT 12567
7 IT IS THOUGHT THAT 10743
8 IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT 9284
9 IT WAS REPORTED THAT 8752
10 IT IS KNOWN THAT 8649
11 IT IS ASSUMED THAT 8495
12 IT IS SUGGESTED THAT 8023
13 IT WAS REVEALED THAT 8001
14 IT IS HOPED THAT 7984
15 IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT 7398
16 IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT 7393
17 IT WAS DECIDED THAT 7023
18 IT WAS DETERMINED THAT 5930
19 IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT 5803
20 IT WAS SAID THAT 5578
21 IT WAS THOUGHT THAT 4423
22 IT WAS BELIEVED THAT 4292
23 IT IS DETERMINED THAT 4102
24 IT IS REPORTED THAT 4023
25 IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT 3430
26 IT WAS NOTED THAT 3253
27 IT WAS AGREED THAT 3196
28 IT IS ADVISED THAT 3152
29 IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT 2838
30 IT IS PROPOSED THAT 2669
31 IT IS ALLEGED THAT 2573
32 IT IS CLAIMED THAT 2548
33 IT BE KNOWN THAT 2359
34 IT IS FOUND THAT 2172
35 IT IS REQUIRED THAT 2159
36 IT WAS ASSUMED THAT 2110
37 IT WAS SHOWN THAT 2110
38 IT IS STATED THAT 2068
39 IT WAS FELT THAT 2003
40 IT IS ARGUED THAT 1994
41 IT IS NOTED THAT 1948
42 IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT 1894
43 IT WAS EXPECTED THAT 1781
44 IT IS REVEALED THAT 1755
45 IT IS INTENDED THAT 1742
46 IT IS CONSIDERED THAT 1738
47 IT WAS STATED THAT 1692
48 IT IS SHOWN THAT 1574
49 IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT 1574
50 IT WAS HELD THAT 1482
51 IT BE SAID THAT 1427
52 IT IS CONCLUDED THAT 1426
53 IT WAS OBSERVED THAT 1401
54 IT WAS KNOWN THAT 1357
55 IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT 1346
56 IT WAS HOPED THAT 1328
57 IT IS SPECULATED THAT 1195
58 IT IS SUSPECTED THAT 1177
59 IT WAS MENTIONED THAT 1175
60 IT IS PREDICTED THAT 1149
61 IT IS RUMORED THAT 1109
62 IT WAS CLAIMED THAT 1106
63 IT IS AGREED THAT 1076
64 IT WAS ALLEGED THAT 1044
65 IT IS PRESUMED THAT 1015
66 IT WAS ARGUED THAT 1014
67 IT IS RECOGNISED THAT 919
68 IT WAS LEARNED THAT 904
69 IT IS SEEN THAT 898
70 IT IS ENVISAGED THAT 895
71 IT IS IMPLIED THAT 881
72 IT IS ACCEPTED THAT 865
73 IT IS FELT THAT 860
74 IT IS WRITTEN THAT 854
75 IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT 811
76 IT WAS RUMORED THAT 810
77 IT IS PREFERRED THAT 766
78 IT IS ESTABLISHED THAT 752
79 IT IS RECORDED THAT 724
80 IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT 714
81 IT IS DISCOVERED THAT 700
82 IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT 683
83 IT IS PROVEN THAT 647
84 IT WAS PROPOSED THAT 621
85 IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT 619
86 IT IS SUPPOSED THAT 607
87 IT WAS REALIZED THAT 588
88 IT IS DECIDED THAT 582
89 IT IS CONFIRMED THAT 550
90 IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT 541
91 IT IS MENTIONED THAT 533
92 IT WAS NOTICED THAT 531
93 IT IS RUMOURED THAT 501
94 IT IS OBSERVED THAT 490
95 IT IS PROJECTED THAT 471
96 IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT 463
97 IT IS GUARANTEED THAT 461
98 IT WAS FEARED THAT 448
99 IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT 439
100 IT WAS ACCEPTED THAT 419
B2:
assist, bound, calculate, cause, consume, enable, generate, identify, indicate, purchase, treat
C1
consult, determine