Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer from English with Jennifer. Do you know what a doppelgänger
is? Some words are fun to learn and use and this is one of them. I taught the meaning of
doppelgänger in another video on foreign words used in English. A doppelgänger is
your double. It's someone who looks a lot like you or a lot like another person. Some viewers
have told me I look a lot like Winona Ryder. I don't exactly think I'm her doppelgänger,
but I guess there are some similarities. You know, dark hair, dark eyes, about the same age. Another
way to state that idea is like this: I've been told that I look like Winona Ryder. What changed?
I went from active to passive. The passive uses a form of BE + the past participle. Have been told.
The focus isn't on who told me but on the fact that I received these comments. The passive is
a way to shift the focus from the doer to the receiver of the action. But now consider this
variation: It's been said that Jennifer looks like Winona Ryder. This is also passive, and again,
it's not important who said this, but there's a change. Here the subject is "it." The structure is
IT + a passive reporting verb like "be said" and then a that -clause. A clause has a subject and
a verb. It's been said that Jennifer looks like Winona Ryder. This sentence sounds objective. Some
call this the impersonal passive. Whoever says this or writes this is being neutral. Think how
this passive structure can serve you when you don't want to connect yourself to the source.
It's believed that doppelgängers are spirits, like ghosts. I'm not saying I believe this.
I'm just reporting what some people believe. The impersonal passive is a way to keep my distance
and separate myself from those who hold that belief. In everyday conversation, you might say,
"Some people think that.. Some people say that..." The impersonal passive is similar in meaning but
different in form. It is thought that... It is said that... Since this structure is passive,
it's probably more typical of written English, but you'll hear plenty of examples in academic talks,
news reports, and maybe in some documentaries. You can go to YouGlish.com and do a search,
and you'll hear examples of the impersonal passive used in different contexts.
The impersonal passive lets us report information without including ourselves
in the group that made that claim. Or we can report the information without naming
the source because we aren't sure. Also, we may lack evidence, so we can't report the idea with
100% conviction. We don't have proof. Consider these examples. Note the different reporting
verbs. It's often said that there's no use in worrying about the future. It's believed that
opening an umbrella indoors is bad luck. It's been argued that Japan has the healthiest diet.
Note we can use other verb tenses and verb forms. We don't have to stick to the simple
present. At one point in history, it was thought that the Sun revolved around the
Earth. It's been estimated that the Titanic might be completely gone by 2030. One day,
it might be said that YouTube was the greatest teaching tool of our time.
Time for a quiz. Form the impersonal passive.
One.
It's said that vinegar and baking soda can remove any stain.
Two.
It's been suggested that taking a cold shower for 1 to 3 minutes has health benefits.
Three.
At one point, it was commonly believed that the world was
flat.
Now let me read a short text. Can you spot a new form of the impersonal passive? There are many
beautiful cities around the world including Kyoto, Prague, and Sydney. But Venice is often said to be
the most beautiful of all. Do you see it? Venice is often said... Said to be what? Our subject is
Venice. Then the reporting verb is followed by an infinitive, not a that-clause. This is
also a form of the impersonal passive. I'm not agreeing with the claim. Maybe personally I feel
that Kyoto is more beautiful, but I'm objectively stating the belief. I'm reporting it. It's time for
another quiz. Form the impersonal passive. Use subject + reporting verb + infinitive.
One.
Turmeric is considered to be helpful for digestion and other bodily functions. A little note on
pronunciation. I've heard different pronunciations of this spice: "too me rik"..."ter me rik."
Two.
Briefly in the 1800s, there were milk injections! Milk was thought to be a substitute for blood.
Three.
The Phoenix Lights in 1997 were believed to be extraterrestrial
aircraft.
How did you do? Here's a bonus challenge. Read these next examples. Identify the full infinitive
phrase. Ready? The legend has been told a thousand times, and the jewel is said to have been lost
forever in the sea. The art thieves are believed to be looking for buyers on the black market.
What do these examples tell us? They remind us that infinitives have perfect and progressive
forms. See my full lesson on infinitives to review the different forms and uses.
Little by little, lesson by lesson, you can master English grammar. After all,
grammar is said to be the foundation of language, so build it well. That's all
for now. Please like and share the video if you found the lesson useful. And please
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