❓ Have you noticed that news reporters speak differently from normal people? Why do they say "A man has been arrested" instead of "Police arrested a man"?
87%
of news headlines use passive voice - making stories sound more objective and formal
📰 The Power of Passive in News
When BBC reporter Sarah Chen covers crime stories, she almost never says "Police caught the thief." Instead, she says "The suspect has been apprehended." Why? Because passive voice:
Sounds more professional and neutral
Focuses on WHAT happened, not WHO did it
Is perfect when we don't know who did something
Makes information sound more authoritative
£2.3 million
was stolen from a London museum in 2024 - notice how this sounds more dramatic than "Someone stole £2.3 million"
🕵️ Real Crime Stories in Passive Voice
The Antwerp Diamond Heist (2003): Over $100 million worth of diamonds were stolen from a vault that was believed to be impenetrable. The crime has never been fully solved, and most of the diamonds have not been recovered.
Your turn: Can you spot all the passive structures in this story?
🤔 Discuss: Why do you think police reports and court documents use so much passive voice?
📚 Advanced Passive Structures
🎯 Three New Passive Patterns
In Lesson 18, you learned basic passive. Today, let's level up with more sophisticated structures used in news and formal English!
Structure
Example
When to Use
Modal + be + past participle
The thief could be arrested tonight.
Possibility, ability, obligation
Present Perfect Passive
Three suspects have been questioned.
Recent events, results
It is + past participle + that
It is believed that he fled the country.
Rumors, reports, opinions
BREAKING NEWS
Bank Robbery Suspect Has Been Identified
A 34-year-old man has been named as the primary suspect in yesterday's robbery. He is believed to be hiding in the northern region. Police say the stolen money could be recovered within days if the public helps.
🗣️ Discuss: Read the news headline above. How would it sound if we used active voice instead? ("Police have identified a suspect" vs "A suspect has been identified")
📝 Modal Passives - The Full Picture
Modal
Passive Form
Example
can
can be + V3
The evidence can be found online.
must
must be + V3
The rules must be followed.
should
should be + V3
Witnesses should be interviewed.
might
might be + V3
The case might be closed soon.
could
could be + V3
More arrests could be made.
🗣️ 5 Essential News & Formal Expressions
👆 Click each card to reveal details and practice!
1. "It is believed that..." / "...is believed to be..."
Formality: Formal (news/reports)
Use this when reporting what people think or suspect, without saying who exactly thinks it. Perfect for rumors, theories, and unconfirmed information.
🔹 "It is believed that the painting was stolen by insiders." 🔹 "The suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous."
NOW YOU TRY: Think of a famous unsolved mystery (Bermuda Triangle, Loch Ness, etc.). Report one theory using "It is believed that..."
2. "...has been confirmed/announced/reported"
Formality: Formal (official statements)
Use these present perfect passive forms for recent official news or developments. Very common in news bulletins.
🔹 "It has been confirmed that the CEO will resign." 🔹 "A new policy has been announced by the government."
NOW YOU TRY: Create a "breaking news" announcement about something at your school/workplace using one of these verbs.
3. "...must/should/can be + past participle"
Formality: Neutral to Formal
Modal passives express rules, advice, and possibilities without saying who should do the action. Common in instructions and formal situations.
🔹 "All evidence must be handled with gloves." 🔹 "Suspects should be considered innocent until proven guilty."
NOW YOU TRY: What rules MUST be followed in your country? Tell your teacher 3 rules using "must be..."
4. "...is said to be..." / "...are thought to be..."
Formality: Formal (journalism)
Another way to report opinions or beliefs without stating who holds them. The structure is: Subject + is/are + said/thought/known/reported + to + verb.
🔹 "The diamond is said to be worth $50 million." 🔹 "The hackers are thought to be based in Eastern Europe."
NOW YOU TRY: Think of a famous person. What are they "said to be" or "known to be"? (e.g., "Elon Musk is said to work 100 hours a week.")
5. "...have/has not been found/recovered/solved"
Formality: Neutral to Formal
Perfect passive negative - used when something hasn't happened yet, often for ongoing investigations or missing items.
🔹 "The stolen artwork has not been recovered." 🔹 "The murder has never been solved."
NOW YOU TRY: Think of something famous that "has never been found" or "has not been explained" (Amelia Earhart, Malaysia Airlines MH370, etc.)
🎯 News Reporter Practice
🎤 Activity 1: Be the News Reporter
Click the button to get a crime scenario. Report it using passive voice like a professional journalist!
Click the button to get your crime story!
✅ Checklist for Your Report
Use "It is believed that..." for theories
Use "has been..." for recent developments
Use "could be..." for possibilities
Sound professional and neutral!
🕵️ Activity 2: Solve the Mystery
A valuable painting has been stolen from the National Museum. Here are the clues. Discuss with your teacher: Who do you think did it?
🔍 The alarm system was deactivated from inside the building.
🔍 Security guard Tom was seen leaving early that night.
🔍 A white van has been identified on CCTV footage.
🔍 It is believed that the thief knew the museum layout.
🔍 The painting is thought to be worth €3 million.
💬 Discuss: Using passive voice, explain your theory about who stole the painting and why!
📰 Activity 3: Headline Transformation
Transform these active headlines into passive headlines (more formal, more professional):
Active: "Police arrest three men in connection with robbery"
💡 Your passive version:
Active: "Scientists discover new species in Amazon"
💡 Your passive version:
Active: "Hackers steal personal data from 2 million users"
💡 Your passive version:
🎭 Role-Play: News Team
🎬 Choose Your Scenario
Select a role-play situation and act it out with your teacher. Use as much passive voice as possible!
📺
Breaking News Report
You're a TV reporter. A major art theft has just happened. Report live from the scene!
🚔
Police Press Conference
You're the police chief. Answer questions about a recent cybercrime case.
⚖️
Court Reporter
Report on a trial. What has been said? What verdict is expected?
🏢
Company Scandal
You're a spokesperson. A data breach has occurred. Make an official statement.
🔬
Scientific Discovery
Announce a major scientific breakthrough. What has been discovered? What could be possible now?
🎭
Mystery Podcast Host
You host a true crime podcast. Discuss an unsolved mystery with your co-host (teacher).
Select a role-play scenario above
👤 Your Role
News Reporter / Official
👤 Teacher's Role
Interview Subject / Audience
🎯 Passive Phrases to Use
Try to include at least 5 of these in your role-play:
"It has been reported that..."
"The suspect is believed to be..."
"Evidence has been collected..."
"The investigation could be completed..."
"Witnesses have been interviewed..."
"The public is being asked to..."
"More information will be released..."
⏱️ Timed Speaking Challenge
🏆 Choose Your Challenge
Select a challenge below, set the timer, and speak continuously! Use passive voice throughout!
🕵️ The Unsolved Case
Choose a famous unsolved mystery (D.B. Cooper, Jack the Ripper, Bermuda Triangle). Present what is known, what is believed, and what has never been explained.
📰 Create Your Own Breaking News
Invent a dramatic breaking news story and report it like a professional journalist. Include what has happened, what is being done, and what could happen next.
⚖️ Rules That Should Be Changed
Talk about rules or laws that should be changed in your country/school/workplace. Use: "should be allowed," "must be changed," "could be improved."
🔮 The Future
Make predictions about the next 50 years. What will be invented? What problems will be solved? What might be discovered?
3:00
💪 Goal: Speak for the full time using passive voice naturally. Don't stop - keep talking!
✨ Lesson Review
🎉
You've mastered advanced passive voice!
📝 What You Learned Today
✓
Modal Passives: can be found, must be followed, should be done
✓
Present Perfect Passive: has been arrested, have been questioned
✓
Reporting Structures: It is believed that..., is said to be...