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Impersonal Constructions – Quiz 1
Impersonal Constructions Quiz 1 (30 MCQs)
This multiple-choice question set evaluates the understanding of impersonal constructions in English grammar, including their usage in passive voice, future tense, and subjunctive mood. It also assesses skills such as forming perfect tenses and subject-predicate agreement with impersonal subjects.
Quiz Instructions
Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.
1.
People expected that they had gathered a lot of money during a charity concert.
A) They were expected to gather a lot of money during a charity concert.
B) They were expected to have gathered a lot of money during a charity concert.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it uses the perfect tense "had gathered" to indicate an action that was expected to be completed by a certain point in the past (the time of the charity concert). This construction accurately reflects the intended meaning of the original sentence.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. It uses the simple future tense "were expected to gather," which does not convey the sense of an action completed by a specific point in time.
Option B:
Correct. Uses the perfect tense "had gathered" with "were expected to have," indicating an anticipated completion of the action at a past time.
Option C:
Incorrect. It repeats Option A, which is not correct for the same reason.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct option (B).
2.
A filter bubble is said to keep us away from any information that goes against our own ideas.
A) Some people say that a filter bubble keeps us away from any information that goes against our own ideas.
B) It is thought that a filter bubble blocks any content that goes against our own ideas.
C) A filter bubble was to keep us away from any information that went against our own ideas.
D) There is a filter bubble that keeps us locked away from the deep web.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option A is correct because it uses an impersonal construction, which is appropriate for the statement about a general phenomenon (filter bubbles). The phrase "Some people say" avoids making a universal claim and aligns with the concept of impersonality in constructions.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Uses an impersonal construction ("Some people say") which is suitable for describing a general observation about filter bubbles.
Option B:
While close, it uses "It is thought that" which can be seen as slightly more subjective than the impersonal "Some people say."
Option C:
Uses past tense ("was to keep"), making it less suitable for describing a current phenomenon.
Option D:
Introduces irrelevant information about the deep web, which is not related to the concept of filter bubbles.
3.
We can find communities we feel we belong to thanks to social media.
A) It is thanks to social media that we can find communities we feel we belong to.
B) Communities in social media can be found where we belong.
C) Communities we feel we belong to may be found without social media.
D) There is thanks to social media that we can find communities we feel we belong to.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option A correctly uses an impersonal construction by placing the emphasis on social media as the cause of finding communities, which aligns with the given statement's focus on the role of social media in community formation.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses "It is thanks to" structure, an impersonal construction that highlights the role of social media.
Option B:
Incorrect. The sentence structure does not emphasize the cause-effect relationship effectively and lacks clarity in grammar.
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests a possibility without clearly attributing it to social media, thus failing to use an impersonal construction properly.
Option D:
Incorrect. The phrase "There is thanks to" is awkward and not standard in English; the correct form should be "It is thanks to."
4.
He is thought ..... for us now.
A) To be waiting.
B) That to be waiting.
C) To is waiting.
D) That is waiting.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "He is thought to be waiting for us now" uses an impersonal construction, where the subject ("he") is not performing the action but rather is the object of what others think. The phrase "is thought to be waiting" indicates that someone else believes he is in a state of waiting.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses the infinitive form "to be waiting," which fits the impersonal construction.
Option B:
Incorrect. Adds unnecessary "that" and changes the infinitive to a gerund, altering the sentence structure.
Option C:
Incorrect. Changes the infinitive to a verb form with "is," which is grammatically incorrect in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect. Adds unnecessary "that" and changes the infinitive to a gerund, altering the sentence structure.
5.
"It was confirmed that the event will be held outdoors.""The event was confirmed ..... held outdoors."
A) TO BE.
B) TO BEEN.
C) TO BEING.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "It was confirmed that the event will be held outdoors" is a passive construction where "it" is an impersonal subject. In such constructions, the infinitive verb form with 'to' should be used to indicate future actions. Therefore, "TO BE" (Option A) correctly maintains the passive voice and future tense.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses the infinitive form "TO BE" for a passive construction indicating future action.
Option B:
Incorrect. "TO BEEN" is not a standard infinitive form and does not fit grammatically here.
Option C:
Incorrect. "TO BEING" is present continuous, which doesn't match the future tense in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
6.
Twitter has been found to attract a notable majority of writers.
A) Twitter has attracted a notable majority of writers.
B) Twitter attracts a notable majority of writers.
C) It is found that Twitter attracts a notable majority of writers.
D) It has been found that Twitter attracts a notable majority of writers.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D is correct because it uses an impersonal construction with "It has been found" to introduce the main clause, which is appropriate for reporting findings without specifying who made the discovery. This structure maintains a formal tone suitable for academic or journalistic writing.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Lacks the impersonal construction and directly attributes the finding to Twitter, making it less formal.
Option B:
Same issue as Option A; lacks the impersonal construction needed for reporting findings.
Option C:
Uses "It is found," which is less common than "It has been found" in formal writing and adds an unnecessary verb form.
Option D:
Correct use of impersonal construction, maintaining a formal tone suitable for reporting findings.
7.
It is believed ..... over a million pounds
A) That the company to steal.
B) To the company stole.
C) To the company to steal.
D) That the company stole.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) That the company stole.
This construction uses an impersonal "it" to introduce a clause that explains what is believed, making it grammatically and logically sound in this context. The phrase "It is believed" requires a clause that provides the content of the belief.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as "to steal" should be a verb form indicating an action rather than a noun.
Option B:
Incorrect as it does not properly introduce the clause explaining what is believed.
Option C:
Incorrect for similar reasons as Option B; it does not correctly structure the impersonal construction.
Option D:
Correctly uses "that" to introduce a clause stating the belief, making it grammatically and logically appropriate.
8.
"It was revealed that the company ..... experienced significant losses last year.""The company was revealed to have experienced significant losses last year."
A) HAD.
B) HAVE.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence uses an impersonal construction, where the subject is not explicitly stated but implied by "it" at the beginning of the clause. In such constructions, the verb tense should reflect a completed action in the past, which is indicated by the phrase "last year." The correct form to use with "it was revealed that" and a past event is "had," making Option A (HAD) the correct answer.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses "had" for the past perfect tense, appropriate for an action completed before another in the past.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Have" is used for present tense and does not fit here.
Option C:
Incorrect. "All the above" is not applicable since only one option fits correctly.
Option D:
Incorrect. "None of the above" is incorrect as Option A is correct.
9.
What is the structure of a personal passive construction?
A) It + passive + that-clause.
B) Subject + passive + to-infinitive.
C) Passive + subject + infinitive.
D) It + subject + passive.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The structure of a personal passive construction is
Subject + passive + to-infinitive
. This means that the subject of the sentence undergoes an action, and the infinitive verb (usually "to be" followed by the past participle) indicates this passivity. For example: "The book was read by Sarah."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it suggests a that-clause which is not part of personal passive constructions.
Option B:
Correct, aligning with the structure described above.
Option C:
Incorrect as it places the passive form before the subject and infinitive.
Option D:
Incorrect as it omits the subject and incorrectly places "It" at the beginning.
10.
They think she has written a book.
A) She is thought to have written a book.
B) She is thought to have writen a book.
C) She is thought to write a book.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "They think she has written a book" is an impersonal construction, where the subject ("they") does not perform the action but rather conveys information about someone else's actions.
Option A) "She is thought to have written a book." correctly uses passive voice and maintains the impersonal nature of the original statement. The use of "to have written" in the past perfect form accurately reflects the original sentence.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses passive voice with "is thought to have written," maintaining the impersonal construction.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Written" should be in the past perfect form ("have written") for consistency with the original sentence.
Option C:
Incorrect. The simple present tense "write" does not match the meaning of the original sentence, which implies a completed action.
Option D:
Incorrect. At least one option is correct (A).
11.
''It was reported that the storm caused extensive damage." ''The storm was reported to ..... extensive damage."
A) HAD CAUSED.
B) HAD CAUSE.
C) TO HAVE CAUSED.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
C) TO HAVE CAUSED.
This construction uses the infinitive form "to have caused" to indicate that the damage was reported as a result of the storm, emphasizing the completion of the action. The phrase "had caused" in Option A is incorrect because it implies an unreal or hypothetical situation, which does not fit the context. Option B is grammatically incorrect. Option D is incorrect since there is a valid choice.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it suggests an unreal or hypothetical situation.
Option B:
Grammatically incorrect.
Option C:
Correct, uses the infinitive form "to have caused" to indicate reported completion of the action.
Option D:
Incorrect as there is a valid choice among A, B, and C.
12.
"It is reported that the new policy improves productivity.""The new policy is reported to ..... productivity."
A) IMPROVED.
B) IMPROVE.
C) TIMPROVES.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "It is reported that the new policy improves productivity" uses an impersonal construction, where "it" is used as a dummy subject to introduce the reported information. The correct form should be in base infinitive (improve) after "is reported to," maintaining consistency with the passive voice structure.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
IMPROVED - Incorrect, past tense does not fit.
Option B:
IMPROVE - Correct, base infinitive fits the sentence structure.
Option C:
TIMPROVES - Incorrect, this is not a valid word in English.
Option D:
None of the above - Incorrect, Option B is correct.
13.
What is the correct impersonal passive construction for 'People believe that the thieves have left the country'?
A) It is believed that the thieves have left the country.
B) The thieves are thought to have left the country.
C) It is thought that the thieves have left the country.
D) The thieves are believed to have left the country.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct impersonal passive construction is Option A: "It is believed that the thieves have left the country." This sentence uses an impersonal construction with "it" as the dummy subject, followed by the verb phrase "is believed," which conveys the idea without specifying who believes it. The main clause remains in the active voice to maintain clarity.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses impersonal passive construction with "it" as dummy subject.
Option B:
Incorrect. Uses active voice and focuses on the thieves' belief, not a general belief.
Option C:
Correct but less common than Option A in formal writing. Still uses impersonal passive construction with "it" as dummy subject.
Option D:
Incorrect. Uses active voice and focuses on the thieves' belief, not a general belief.
14.
Experts say that mobile phones caused addictions among young people.
A) Mobile phones are said to cause addictions among young people.
B) Mobile phones are said to have caused addictions among young people.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it uses the present perfect tense ("have caused"), which indicates an action that started in the past and continues to have effects in the present. This aligns with the statement suggesting a current issue of mobile phone addiction among young people.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Uses simple present tense, implying a general truth without indicating the ongoing nature of the effect.
Option B:
Correct use of present perfect to indicate past action with present relevance.
Option C:
Includes "All the above," which is incorrect since A and B are distinct in their grammatical construction.
Option D:
Indicates none are correct, but B is indeed correct.
15.
"They said the president had made the decision."impersonal passive: .....
A) It was said that the decision had been made by the president.
B) It was say the decision had been made by the president.
C) The president make the decision.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is A) It was said that the decision had been made by the president. This option accurately transforms the original sentence into an impersonal passive construction, where the subject "they" is replaced with a neutral pronoun "it," and the focus shifts to the action (the decision being made) rather than the agent (the president).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. It uses an impersonal passive construction, shifting the focus from who made the decision to the fact that a decision was made.
Option B:
Incorrect. The verb "say" is misspelled as "say" instead of "said," and it does not maintain the passive voice required by the question.
Option C:
Incorrect. This option uses an active construction, which does not align with the requirement for a passive sentence.
Option D:
Incorrect. At least one of the options provided is correct (Option A).
16.
People believe that they robbed that bank.
A) They are believed to have robbed that bank.
B) They are believed to rob that bank.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is A) They are believed to have robbed that bank. This sentence uses an impersonal construction, where the subject "they" is not explicitly stated but implied by context. The use of "have robbed" in the past perfect continuous tense indicates a completed action, making it suitable for this construction.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses an impersonal construction with a past perfect continuous tense.
Option B:
Incorrect. Uses present infinitive "to rob," which does not fit the context of a completed action implied by "have robbed."
Option C:
Incorrect. Includes both A and B, but B is incorrect due to tense mismatch.
Option D:
Incorrect. None are correct based on analysis above.
17.
People say that he will move to Spain soon.
A) He is said to move to Spain soon.
B) He is said to have moved to Spain soon.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option A is correct because it uses the present continuous passive voice ("is said to move"), which indicates a future action that has not yet occurred and is reported by others. This aligns with the statement "People say that he will move to Spain soon."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses present continuous passive voice, indicating a future action reported by others.
Option B:
Incorrect. Uses past perfect passive voice ("have moved"), which implies the action has already occurred and is not about a future event.
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests all options are correct, but only A fits the context of reported speech for a future event.
Option D:
Incorrect. None of the options fit the context correctly; Option A is the best choice.
18.
Many people believe that travelling on Mars will be possible soon.
A) Travelling on Mars is believed to be possible soon.
B) Travelling on Mars is believed to have been possible soon.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option A is correct because it uses the present tense "is believed to be possible soon," which accurately reflects the current belief that traveling on Mars will be feasible in the near future. The sentence structure correctly employs an impersonal construction, where the subject (traveling on Mars) does not have a specific doer.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correctly uses present tense and impersonal construction.
Option B:
Incorrect use of past perfect tense ("have been possible"), which doesn't fit the context of current belief.
Option C:
Includes both Option A and B, making it incorrect as only one option can be correct.
Option D:
Incorrect because there is a correct answer (A).
19.
What is the correct personal passive construction for 'People expect that a new law will be introduced next year'?
A) It is thought that a new law will be introduced next year.
B) A new law is believed to be introduced next year.
C) It is expected that a new law will be introduced next year.
D) A new law is expected to be introduced next year.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D is correct because it uses the impersonal construction "is expected" followed by a to-infinitive "to be introduced," which accurately conveys that people have an expectation about a future event without specifying who expects it. This structure maintains the passive voice and impersonal nature of the original sentence.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Uses "It is thought," which shifts the focus to what people think, rather than their expectation.
Option B:
Incorrectly uses "is believed" and lacks the passive construction needed for a personal passive sentence.
Option C:
While correct in structure, it uses "It is expected," which shifts to an impersonal construction that does not require the to-infinitive form after "expected." Option D is more precise as it maintains the active voice of expectation within the passive construction.
Option D:
Correctly uses "is expected" and a to-infinitive, making it the best choice for an impersonal passive construction.
20.
Many smartphones are said ..... every day.
A) That stole.
B) To be stole.
C) To be stolen.
D) That to be stolen.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
C) To be stolen.
This construction uses the passive voice, which is appropriate for impersonal constructions where the subject (many smartphones) does not perform the action (stealing). The phrase "are said to be stolen" indicates that it is commonly reported or believed that many smartphones are stolen daily.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. Using "that stole" implies a direct subject performing an active verb, which does not fit the impersonal construction.
Option B:
Incorrect. The infinitive form "to be stole" is grammatically incorrect; it should be "to be stolen."
Option C:
Correct. This uses the passive voice correctly in an impersonal construction, indicating that many smartphones are reported to be stolen daily.
Option D:
Incorrect. The phrase "that to be stolen" is redundant and grammatically incorrect.
21.
What is the correct impersonal passive construction for 'They are reported to have financial problems'?
A) They are expected to have financial problems.
B) They are believed to have financial problems.
C) It is thought that they have financial problems.
D) It is reported that they have financial problems.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct impersonal passive construction for 'They are reported to have financial problems' is
Option D: It is reported that they have financial problems.
This option uses the impersonal passive voice, where the subject ('It') does not perform the action but rather introduces the reported information. The other options use active constructions or different tenses, which do not match the original sentence's structure and meaning.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Uses 'expected,' an active construction that doesn't fit the impersonal passive voice.
Option B:
Uses 'believed,' also an active construction not matching the required impersonal passive form.
Option C:
While close, uses 'thought' in a different structure and is less formal than 'reported.'
Option D:
Correctly uses 'reported' to maintain the impersonal passive voice.
22.
We believed that Bell was a great inventor.
A) Bell was believed to be a great inventor.
B) Bell was believed to have been a great inventor.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "We believed that Bell was a great inventor" is in the active voice and uses a simple past tense, indicating a direct statement about what people believed. Option A, "Bell was believed to be a great inventor," transforms this into an impersonal construction using the passive voice. This maintains the original meaning but shifts the focus from the action of believing (by we) to Bell being believed.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses passive voice, making it an impersonal construction.
Option B:
Incorrect. Maintains active voice and direct subject.
Option C:
Incorrect. Option A is correct; no need for both options.
Option D:
Incorrect. Option A is correct.
23.
"It was suggested that the meeting ..... postponed until next week.""The meeting was suggested to be postponed until next week."
A) BEEN.
B) BE.
C) BEING.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) BE.
In the suggested construction, "It was suggested that" requires the subjunctive mood, which uses "be" regardless of the subject's form. Thus, "the meeting was suggested to be postponed until next week." maintains proper grammar and follows the rules for impersonal constructions.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"BEEN" is incorrect because it does not match the subjunctive mood required by the sentence structure.
Option B:
"BE" is correct as it follows the rules for the subjunctive mood in impersonal constructions.
Option C:
"BEING" is incorrect because it does not fit the grammatical requirement of the sentence, which calls for a bare infinitive form ("be").
Option D:
"None of the above" is incorrect since option B is correct.
24.
They assume that she won the first price.
A) She is assumed to win the first price.
B) She is assumed to have won the first price.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it uses the perfect tense "have won," which indicates a completed action that has relevance to the present, aligning with the assumption made in the sentence. The use of "to have" before the past participle "won" is necessary for forming the perfect tense.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it uses the simple present tense "win," which does not convey a completed action.
Option B:
Correct as explained above.
Option C:
Incorrect as it includes Option A, which is wrong.
Option D:
Incorrect as there is a correct option (B).
25.
"It was announced that the new policy will take effect next month.""The new policy was announced to ..... effect next month."
A) TAKE.
B) TOOK.
C) TAKEN.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
A) TAKE.
In this sentence, "take effect" is an impersonal construction where the subject is implied but not explicitly stated. The infinitive form "to take" fits grammatically and maintains the passive voice structure typical of such constructions.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses the infinitive form "to take," fitting for an impersonal construction.
Option B:
Incorrect. Past tense does not fit the context of future action.
Option C:
Incorrect. Past participle does not fit the grammatical structure here.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
26.
"It was discovered that the package ..... delivered to the wrong address.""The package was discovered to have been delivered to the wrong address."
A) HAD BEEN.
B) HAVE BEEN.
C) HAVE BEING.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "It was discovered that the package had been delivered to the wrong address" uses the past perfect tense ("had been") which is appropriate for an action completed before another past action. This construction emphasizes that the discovery of the mistake happened after the event itself.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Had been" indicates a past action completed before another past action, fitting the context.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Have been" is in present perfect and does not fit the context of a past event.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Have being" is grammatically incorrect; it should be "have been."
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
27.
People expect that Tim will arrive soon.
A) Tim is expected to have arrived soon.
B) Tim is expected to arrive soon.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it uses the future tense "is expected to arrive," which aligns with the original sentence's meaning that Tim will arrive soon. Option A incorrectly uses "have arrived" in the present perfect tense, which does not match the future time frame implied by "soon." Options C and D are therefore also incorrect.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; uses present perfect tense.
Option B:
Correct; uses future tense to match the original sentence's meaning.
Option C:
Incorrect; includes both A and B, making it incorrect.
Option D:
Incorrect; none of the options are correct.
28.
Which of the following is an example of an impersonal passive construction?
A) They expect him to arrive soon.
B) Mr Brown is believed to own a lot of land.
C) It is believed that he lied in court.
D) He is believed to have lied in court.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option C is correct because it uses an impersonal passive construction with "It" as the dummy subject, followed by a passive verb phrase ("is believed that he lied in court"). This structure emphasizes the action rather than the doer of the action.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Active voice; focuses on the subject's expectation.
Option B:
Passive, but not impersonal as "Mr Brown" is the focus.
Option C:
Impersonal passive construction with emphasis on the action.
Option D:
Active voice; focuses on the belief and the action of lying.
29.
People hoped that time travel was possible.
A) Time travel was hoped to be possible.
B) Time travel was hoped to have been possible.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option A is correct because it uses the passive voice construction "was hoped to be possible," which aligns with impersonal constructions where the subject (time travel) does not have a specific doer. This structure emphasizes the possibility rather than attributing it to any particular person.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Passive voice emphasizing the possibility without specifying a doer.
Option B:
Incorrect. The use of "have been" implies an action that has already occurred, which is not indicated in the original sentence.
Option C:
Incorrect. Option A alone covers both options correctly stated.
Option D:
Incorrect. At least one option (A) is correct.
30.
People know that my sister was a fussy eater.
A) My sister is known to be a fussy eater.
B) My sister is known to have been a fussy eater.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because it uses the present perfect tense ("is known to have been"), which indicates an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present. This accurately reflects the statement that people know about your sister's fussy eating habits, implying they are still relevant.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Uses simple present tense ("is known"), which does not convey the ongoing nature of the knowledge or the past action.
Option B:
Correct use of present perfect tense to indicate past actions with present relevance.
Option C:
Includes "All the above," but A and C are incorrect, making this option wrong.
Option D:
States "None of the above," which is incorrect since B is correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are impersonal constructions in English grammar?
Impersonal constructions in English grammar refer to sentences that do not have a specific subject, often using expressions like "it" or "one." These constructions can be used in various tenses and moods to make general statements or describe actions without specifying who performs them.
Can impersonal constructions be used in the future tense?
Yes, impersonal constructions can be used in the future tense. For example, "It will be necessary to complete the task by tomorrow" is an impersonal construction using the future tense.
How do impersonal constructions differ from personal passive constructions?
Impersonal constructions typically use "it" or "one" as a dummy subject, while personal passive constructions have a specific subject that is passivized. For instance, "It will be done by the team" uses an impersonal construction, whereas "The report will be written by Sarah" uses a personal passive construction.
Are there specific tenses where impersonal constructions are commonly used?
Impersonal constructions can be used in various tenses, including the present perfect ("It has been decided"), past perfect ("It had been completed"), and future tense ("It will be necessary"). These constructions often appear in formal or general contexts.
In what situations might one use impersonal constructions?
Impersonal constructions are useful for making objective statements, giving instructions, or discussing general truths. They can also be employed in formal writing and speech to avoid personal bias or to maintain a neutral tone.