Passive

Passives

• When we don't know who did something

  My bike was stolen last Tuesday while I was at school.

• When the person who did something is obvious

  Written centuries ago, Shakespeare's plays are still studied in schools around the world

• To emphasise certain information

  The Hunger Games was written by Suzanne Collins in 2008.

• Formality reasons

  Any items left onboard will be handed over to the lost and found department.

IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
Impersonal passives are used when the subject of the action isn't a specific individual or when the focus is on the action or the statement itself, rather than on who performs it.

• NOUN + TO BE + PARTICIPLE + INFINITIVE

  LeBron James is believed to be among the greatest basketball players of all time

• THERE + TO BE + PARTICIPLE + INFINITIVE

  There is rumored to be a secret post-credit scene in the latest Marvel movie.

• IT + TO BE + PARTICIPLE + INFINITIVE

  It is thought to be impossible to beat the world record Usain Bolt set in the 100-meter dash

Multiple Choice

The Harry Potter series is thought ____________ by various myths and folklore.

• to be inspired

• is inspired

Multiple Choice

The Oscars are expected ___________ outstanding achievements in filmmaking every year.

• to honor

• to have honored

Multiple Choice

It is said (to be inspired/is inspired) by real-life events in many episodes of Black Mirror.

• to be inspired

• is inspired

Multiple Choice

There is known ________ a secret menu at Starbucks for loyal customers.

• to exist

• existed

Multiple Choice

There is rumored _________ a surprise guest appearance in Dua Lipa's upcoming tour.

• to be

• to have been

DOUBLE OBJECTS IN ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SENTENCES
Sometimes, active sentences have 2 objects:

• An indirect object (usually a person)

• A direct object (usually a thing)

  Example (active): Michael gave the plane tickets to Jill.

  Indirect object: JILL

  Direct object: THE PLANE TICKETS

  When forming the passive, either the INDIRECT OBJECT or the DIRECT OBJECT can become the subject of the sentence.

• INDIRECT OBJECT + TO BE + PARTICIPLE + DIRECT OBJECT

  Jill was given the plane tickets by Michael.

• DIRECT OBJECT + TO BE + PARTICIPLE + TO/FOR + INDIRECT OBJECT

  The plane tickets were given to Jill by Michael.

MORE EXAMPLES

The teacher showed the map to the students

• INDIRECT OBJECT + TO BE + PARTICIPLE + DIRECT OBJECT

  The students were shown the map by the teacher

• DIRECT OBJECT + TO BE + PARTICIPLE + TO/FOR + INDIRECT OBJECT

The map was shown to the students by the teacher

They offered the job to Alice

• INDIRECT OBJECT + TO BE + PARTICIPLE + DIRECT OBJECT

  Alice was offered the job

• DIRECT OBJECT + TO BE + PARTICIPLE + TO/FOR + INDIRECT OBJECT

  The job was offered to Alice

AVOIDING THE PASSIVE FOR CONTINUOUS TENSES

The passive is not normally used with verbs in continuous tenses, so we use some PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES to avoid the passive.

• IN PROGRESS

  The movie is being filmed at the moment.

  The filming of the movie is in progress.

• IN TRAINING

  The rookie athletes are being trained for the Olympics.

  The rookie athletes are in training for the Olympics.

• ON DISPLAY

  Rare artifacts from Egypt are being exhibited at the museum.

  Rare artifacts from Egypt are on display at the museum.

AVOIDING THE PASSIVE FOR CONTINUOUS TENSES

The passive is not normally used with verbs in continuous tenses, so we use some PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES to avoid the passive.

• UNDER CONSIDERATION

  New environmental policies are being evaluated by the government.

  New environmental policies are under consideration by the government.

• UNDER CONSTRUCTION

  A new stadium is being built downtown.

  A new stadium is currently under construction downtown.

CAUSATIVE

We use the causative when we arrange for other people to do something for us, when something happens to us, when we make somebody do something for us.

• Get/have something done

  I am getting my hair cut tomorrow.

  Peter had his car broken into last Tuesday.

• Get someone to do sth / have someone do sth

  I got my brother to do my French homework for me.

  Did you have Lucy fix that sink?

• Get/have someone doing something

  I will have this machine working in no time.

Multiple Choice

If you don't understand, _______________ (your teacher/explain) it to you again after the lesson.

• get your teacher explain

• your teacher will explain

• have your teacher explain

Multiple Choice

__________________________ (our car/steal) was so annoying because it meant I had to take the tube to work.

• get your teacher explain

• your teacher will explain

• have your teacher explain