2 2 1 The passive structure When the

2 2. 1 The passive: structure When the subject is the doer of the action, the verb is said to be active. e. g. John wrote the note. When the subject is the receiver of the action, the verb is said to be passive. e. g. The note was written by John. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 1

Present simple Active: Bf/Vs/Ves They clean the room every day. Passive: am/are/is + p. p. The room is cleaned every day. Past simple Active: Ved/saw He broke the window yesterday. Passive: was/were + p. p. The window was broken yesterday. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 2

Future simple Active: will + Bf He will do the project tomorrow. Passive: shall/will + be + p. p. The project will be done tomorrow. Present continuous Active: am/are/is + ing They are cleaning the room now. Passive: am/are/is + being + p. p. The room is being cleaned now. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 3

Past continuous Active: was/were + ing They were cleaning the room when I came. Passive: was/were + being + p. p. The room was being cleaned when I came. Present perfect Active: have/has + p. p. They have eaten the cake. Passive: 09/02/2002 have/has + been + p. p. The cake has been eaten. The passive: structure 4

Past perfect Active: had + p. p. They had cleaned the room when I came. Passive: had + been + p. p. The room had been cleaned when I came. Future perfect Active: will have + p. p. They will have cleaned the room when you return. Passive: Note: 09/02/2002 will have + been + p. p. The room will have been cleaned when you return. The tenses that are not included in this table do not have the passive voice. The passive: structure 5

2. 3 If there is one of the auxiliary verbs can/could, may/might, must, should, ought to, have/had to, need not, used to, be going to, or be to, the passive is formed by using the same verb + be + the past participle of the main verb that follows. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 6

Active: I 09/02/2002 can/could must may/might should ought to have to need not am going to am to used to The passive: structure do do it this way. 7

Passive: It 09/02/2002 can/could must may/might should ought to has to need not is going to is to used to be done this way. The passive: structure 8

2. 4 In the passive sentence, the doer of the action (by + agent) is not usually mentioned when: v it is a general term Active: Workers use different tools to make different things. Passive: Different tools are used to make different things. Compare: Active: My brother made this bookcase. Passive: This bookcase was made by my brother. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 9

v it is unknown Active: Someone has stolen the money. Passive: The money has been stolen. Compare: Active: One of the clerks has stolen the money. Passive: The money has been stolen (by one of the clerks). v it is a pronoun Active: They are holding a debate. Passive: A debate is being held. Compare: Active: The students of Class A held a debate yesterday. Passive: A debate was held (by the students of Class A) yesterday. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 10

2. 5 Prepositions after certain verbs retain their position after the verb in the passive sentence. Active: I don’t think they will turn down your application. Passive: I don’t think your application will be turned down. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 11

2. 6 Some verbs such as ask, tell, give, offer, show, teach, pay, etc. can take two objects. They offered the right candidate a high salary. In the passive sentence, either of these two objects can be the subject: The right candidate was offered a high salary. A high salary was offered to the right candidate. However, it is more usual for the passive sentence to begin with the person: The right candidate was offered a high salary. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 12

2. 7 Some verbs are followed by an infinitive without to. In the passive voice, the infinitive takes to. I saw him take the dictionary. He was seen to take the dictionary. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 13

2. 8 Sentences beginning with People say, People believe, People know, etc. may be changed into the passive voice in either of these two ways: People say that he is innocent. It is said that he is innocent. He is said to be innocent. They say that she was an actress. It is said that she was an actress. She is said to have been an actress. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 14

Exercise 2 A Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice. Hint: In changing a sentence from active to passive, follow these steps: 1) Find the object of the verb. Then make it the subject of the passive sentence. If the object is a pronoun, change it into the subject form. 2) Change the voice of the verb. In doing so, remember: a) You must not change the tense. b) The verb should agree in person and number with the subject of the passive sentence. 3) Mention the doer of the action (by + agent) only where necessary. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 15

1 Many companies use computers nowadays. Computers are used by / in many companies nowadays. 2 The workers are repairing the road. The road is being repaired. 3 They are going to pull down that old building. That old building is going to be pulled down. 4 They gave me 24 hours to make my decision. I was given 24 hours to make my decision. 5 We can use coal in many ways. Coal can be used in many ways. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 16

6 7 8 9 9 10 09/02/2002 The teacher made him do the exercise again. He was made to do the exercise again. The singer will release her new album next week. (Begin with the given words. ) The singer’s new album will be released next week. They will have finished the report by the end of this month. The report will have been finished by the end of this month. I’m sure she has sent her application. (Begin with the given words. ) I’m sure her application has been sent. Every driver ought to obey traffic rules. Traffic rules ought to be obeyed by every driver. The passive: structure 17

11 I doubt if we should tell her the truth now. I doubt if she should be told the truth now. 12 She heard him say that. He was heard to say that. 13 They used to broadcast all programmes live. All programmes used to be broadcast live. 14 You have left out his name. His name has been left out. They were giving out the names of the prize-winners when a fight broke out. 15 16 The names of the prize-winners were being given out when a fight broke out. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 18

B Change the following sentences into the passive voice. The first one has been done for you. 1 The suspect may be hiding in Macau. 2 It is said that the suspect may be hiding in Macau. The newspaper says that the suspect has been caught. 3 It is reported that the suspect has been caught. There is a great possibility that Mr Wong will resign next month. 4 Mr Wong is believed to be resigning next month. According to the newspaper it is likely that they will call a strike for tomorrow. The strike is expected to be called for tomorrow. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 19

5 6 7 There is a rumour that the officer has taken bribes. The officer is alleged to have taken bribes. The police think that the thieves got in through the rear window. The thieves are thought to have got in through the rear window. People say that Mr Chan was involved in the case. Mr Chan is said to have been involved in the case. 8 09/02/2002 Miss Wong is getting married soon. Miss Wong is known to be getting married soon. The passive: structure 20

C Change the following sentences into the passive voice. The first one has been done for you. 1 We do not often see carriages these days. Carriages are not often seen these days. 2 They will not hold the meeting tomorrow morning. The meeting will not be held tomorrow morning. 3 The secretary has not typed the letter yet. The letter has not been typed by the secretary yet. 4 She did not clean the carpet this morning. The carpet was not cleaned this morning. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 21

5 They are not discussing the matter now. The matter is not being discussed now. 6 She does not keep her jewellery at home. Her jewellery is not kept at home. 7 They will not allow any reporters into the conference room during the negotiation. No reporters will be allowed into the conference room during the negotiation. 8 She did not say anything to explain her absence. Nothing was said to explain her absence. 09/02/2002 The passive: structure 22

D the Read the first sentence. Then ask a question with given words. The first one has been done for you. 1 paint / your brother This picture is beautiful. Was it painted by your brother? 2 make / gold This watch is expensive. Is it made of gold? it / can / deal with This letter doesn’t seem to be important. Can it be dealt with later? 3 4 09/02/2002 it / be going to / demolish This old building looks dangerous. When is it going to be demolished? The passive: structure 23

5 6 7 8 09/02/2002 anybody / injure I hear that there was an accident this morning. Was anybody injured? she / find They told me the missing girl has returned home. Where was she found? steal I heard from Melinda that someone broke into your house last night. What has been stolen? What was stolen? choose The debate will take place tomorrow. Who will be chosen to represent our school? The passive: structure 24

E this Use the correct form of the given verbs to complete dialogue. The first one has been done for you. I’m afraid it (1) is still being typed (still /type) by the secretary. Is the letter ready, Miss Lee? Why it (2) is taking (take) her so long? She is supposed (3) to have finished (finish) it hours ago. Miss Lee 09/02/2002 She (4) was not told (not / was not told tell) to type it until about 10 minutes ago. The passive: structure Mr Wong 25

But I (5) gave (give) the draft gave to Jason this morning. He must have forgotten. He is said (6) to be too occupied (too / occupy) with the new project. Can’t anybody help him? Miss Lee 09/02/2002 He was heard (7) to say (say) that nobody could (8) be trusted (trust) with the job. The passive: structure Mr Wong 26

Then he (9) deserves (deserve) it. Well, there’s nothing I can (10) do (do) about it but wait, I’m afraid. Please tell the secretary to give the letter to me as soon as it (11) has been finished / is finished (finish). Miss Lee 09/02/2002 Sure. Mr Wong The passive: structure 27