Hi The passive + infinitive is quite common with some verbs of perception and cognition ... - Every shop was heard to play Christmas music - But the dog wasn't heard to bark that night - He's thought to lead a very virtuous life - He is said to be involved in foreign politics - She's expected to get a first in Philosophy - He was seen to take the purse from the woman's bag It works with some verbs but not others And, as you say, if we change the first verb to active, then the clause following can have object-noun + gerund ... - I seemed to hear every shop playing Christmas music - She didn't hear the dog barking that night - I think of him leading a very virtuous life - They speak of him being involved in foreign politics - I see her getting a first in philosophy - They saw him taking the purse from the woman's bag Hope this may help, Dave
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