It was agreed that

Hi, Tony,

@Tony C posted:

During our meeting, it was agreed that the debt recovery action would be on hold for 1 year.

Question

1: Why cant we say it was stated that, but we can say it was agreed that.

You can say "it was stated" but "it was agreed" suggests that the decision was made on a joint basis. "It was stated" only means "it was informed."

@Tony C posted:

2. Is the sentence "it was agreed that" a passive voice?

Both "it was agreed" and "it was stated" are matrix clauses in the passive voice, because you don't mention who reached the agreement or who made the statement. They are impersonal.

Hello,

1. What do you mean by they are impersonal?

2. You told me that it's a matrix clause, it was stated that, it was agreed that. What about,

It was eaten, does it mean it is a matrix clause? e.g. The burger was eaten by Donald or you can say, it was eaten [matrix clause], it does not tell you who ate the burger, and what was eaten.

@Tony C posted:

1. What do you mean by they are impersonal?

I mean it is not mentioned who made the statement or the agreement.

@Tony C posted:

2. You told me that it's a matrix clause, it was stated that, it was agreed that. What about,

It was eaten, does it mean it is a matrix clause? e.g. The burger was eaten by Donald or you can say, it was eaten [matrix clause], it does not tell you who ate the burger, and what was eaten.

For there to be a matrix clause, there has to be a subordinate or dependent clause.

In:

- It was agreed / It was stated that ....

"it was agreed / it was stated" is the matrix clause, and the "that"-clause is a subordinate or dependent clause.

In:

- It was eaten.

there are no subordinate or dependent clauses, hence the structure is a simple sentence, not a matrix clause included in a complex sentence.