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ENGLISH 112 (Language Structures and Drills II)

Peter Lambe, Spring 2015

CHAPTER 10

The Passive

(Supplementary Notes)

Three Types of Main Verbs

Transitive Verbs

Intransitive Verbs

Linking Verbs

Active and Passive Sentences

Formation of Passive Sentences

Changing from Active to Passive

Tenses Used in the Passive

Simple Present and Simple Past

Present Perfect and Past Perfect

Present Progressive and Past Progressive

Simple Future (with will and be going to)

Future Perfect

Modal and Phrasal Modal Constructions

Tenses Not Normally Used in the Passive

Additional Notes

Using the Passive in Academic Writing

The Stative Passive

Participial Adjectives

Other Constructions with the Passive

get + past participle (passive)

Forms with used to

used to + infinitive (modal)

be used to + noun phrase/gerund (passive)

get used to + noun phrase/gerund (passive)

be supposed to + infinitive (modal)

OVERVIEW OF ENGLISH VERBS

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(be, have, do)

(Helping Verbs)

(will, would, can, …)

(be able to, have to, …)

Three Types of Main Verbs

In Chapter 7 we saw that a verb phrase always contains a main verb, and that this main verb

occurs at the end of the phrase. It may (or may not) be preceded by one or more helping verbs

such as be, have, will, etc. The main verb gives the phrase its central meaning.

Main verbs may require certain types of information after them in the sentence. We can

divide main verbs into three (3) groups, depending on the type of information that must

follow them:

(1) Transitive Verbs

(2) Intransitive Verbs

(3) Linking Verbs

Main Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs

Verbs

Primary Auxiliary Verbs

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Modals (Fixed Form)

Phrasal Modals

Transitive Verbs

Intransitive Verbs

Linking Verbs

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(1) Transitive Verbs

When the main verb is transitive, it must be followed by an object. Some examples of

transitive verbs followed by a direct object (Od) include:

S V Od

Mohammed has bought a new laptop computer. (buy = transitive verb)

S V Od

Hamad borrowed some money from his brother last week. (borrow = transitive verb)

S V Od

Nadia has been preparing dinner for the last twenty minutes. (prepare = transitive verb)

S V Od

Our neighbors will be planting flowers in their garden soon. (plant = transitive verb)

S V Od

The students wrote the first grammar midterm last week. (write = transitive verb)

S V Od

Abumezyed is going to meet Kayed at the airport. (meet = transitive verb)

In each sentence above, the direct object (Od) is required by the main verb and cannot be

removed. We say that it is part of the sentence skeleton. Notice, however, that it is also possible

to add extra (optional information) outside the skeleton. This information may be kept in the

sentence or removed without damaging the sentence.

A transitive verb sometimes requires another type of object called an indirect object (Oi). An

indirect object is normally a person or thing that “receives” the direct object. Some examples of

transitive verbs requiring both a direct and an indirect object include:

S V Oi Od

Maryam sent us a beautiful postcard last month. (send = transitive verb)

S V Oi Od

Peter had given the students several handouts before the exam. (give = transitive verb)

Notice that the indirect object (Oi) always comes immediately before the direct object (Od).

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(2) Intransitive Verbs

When the main verb is intransitive, no extra information is required in the sentence.

S V

An accident occurred. (occur = intransitive verb)

S V

Nothing happened. (happen = intransitive verb)

S V

The patient was dying. (die = intransitive verb)

S V

The baby had been sleeping. (sleep = intransitive verb)

S V

The hot weather will return. (return = intransitive verb)

S V

Several women were crying. (cry = intransitive verb)

S V

Menahi laughed. (laugh = intransitive verb)

Remember that it is always possible to add extra (optional) information outside of the

sentence skeleton. Since this information is extra, it can easily be removed because it is not

part of the skeleton. For example:

An accident occurred on the highway last night.

Nothing happened after the meeting.

The patient was dying in his hospital bed.

The baby had been sleeping in her crib for several hours.

The hot weather will return to Riyadh next month.

Several women were crying during the movie yesterday.

Menahi laughed at Abumezyed a couple of minutes ago.

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(3) Linking Verbs

When the main verb is a linking verb, it acts like an “equal sign” in the sentence. What comes

after the linking verb must describe (equal) the subject of the sentence. Several types of

information can follow a linking verb:

Linking verbs can be followed by a subject complement (Cs). A subject complement can be

either a noun phrase or an adjective phrase:

S V Cs

The young man is a medical doctor. (be = linking verb)

S V Cs

That room had become my new office. (become = linking verb)

S V Cs

This soup tastes very salty. (taste = linking verb)

S V Cs

Everyone remained silent during the lecture. (remain = linking verb)

S V Cs

Those vegetables look quite fresh. (look = linking verb)

Linking verbs can also be followed by an adverbial (A). Usually this adverbial is an adverbial

of place (Ap) or an adverbial of time (At).

S V Ap

Mohammed has been in the medical library. (be = linking verb)

S V Ap

We were at the railway station this morning. (be = linking verb)

S V At

Our meeting will be at three o’clock. (be = linking verb)

S V At

The grammar lectures were in the morning. (be = linking verb)

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ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SENTENCES

Active Sentences

A sentence is active when the subject performs the action of the verb. All of the sentences we

have examined so far have been active sentences.

Mohammed has bought a new laptop computer. (buy = transitive verb)

An accident occurred on the highway last night. (occur = intransitive verb)

The young man is a medical doctor. (be = linking verb)

The students wrote the first grammar midterm last week. (write = transitive verb)

The baby had been sleeping. (sleep = intransitive verb)

Everyone remained silent during the lecture. (remain = linking verb)

Passive Sentences

When a sentence contains a transitive verb with a direct object, it is usually possible to

rewrite the sentence so that the object becomes the focus of the sentence. This alternative

form is called a passive sentence. For example, we can rewrite the two active sentences above

(that contain direct objects) as follows:

Od

Mohammed has bought a new laptop computer. (active sentence)

S

= A new laptop computer has been bought by Mohammed. (passive sentence)

Od

The students wrote the first grammar midterm last week. (active sentence)

S

= The first grammar midterm was written by the students last week. (passive sentence)

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FORMATION OF PASSIVE SENTENCES

Changing from Active to Passive

When a passive sentence is formed, the original object (Od) becomes the new passive subject. The

original active verb phrase (V) is then changed to a passive verb phrase (Vpass). The original

subject from the active sentence may be converted to a by-phrase or omitted. If the by-phrase is

included, it is normally placed after the skeleton of the passive sentence.

S V Od

Dr. Khan is giving a lecture right now. (active sentence)

S Vpass

= A lecture is being given (by Dr. Khan) right now. (passive sentence)

In order to change an active verb (V) to a passive verb (Vpass), use the following procedure:

1) Take the original active verb (V) and replace the main verb with the equivalent form of the

verb be.

is giving → is being

2) Then add the past participial form of the original main verb to the end of the phrase

is being + given = is being given

3) Check for subject-verb agreement between the passive subject and the passive verb (Vpass).

S Vpass

A lecture is being given …

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It is also possible to make the indirect object (Oi) the focus of a passive sentence. The same procedure is

followed. For example:

S V Oi Od

Maryam sent us a beautiful postcard last month.

S Vpass

= We were sent a beautiful postcard (by Maryam) last month.

S V Oi Od

Peter had given the students several handouts before the exam.

= The students had been given several handouts (by Peter) before the exam.

*Remember: An active sentence can only be changed to the passive if it contains an object. Both the

direct object (Od) and the indirect object (Oi) can be used to form a passive sentence. It is not

possible to make a passive sentence from an intransitive verb or a linking verb (because they are not

followed by objects). The following sentences, therefore, cannot be passivized:

Ap At

An accident occurred on the highway last night. (Ap = adverbial of place) where?

(no passive) (At = adverbial of time) when?

At

Nothing happened after the meeting.

(no passive)

Ap

The patient was dying in his hospital bed.

(no passive)

Cs

The young man is a medical doctor. (Cs = subject complement)

(no passive)

Cs

That room had become my new office.

(no passive)

Cs At

Everyone remained silent during the lecture.

(no passive)

Ap

Mohammed has been in the medical library.

(no passive)

Ap At

We were at the railway station this morning.

(no passive)

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Tenses Used in the Passive

By using the procedure outlined on page 6, we can form passive sentences from active

sentences in the following tenses:

Simple Present and Simple Past

My brother drives me to work every morning. (active)

I am driven to work by my brother every morning. (passive)

Peter teaches our grammar class.

Our grammar class is taught by Peter.

Those brown spiders spin beautiful webs.

Beautiful webs are spun by those brown spiders.

Charles Dickens wrote that novel.

That novel was written by Charles Dickens.

Our neighbor’s son drew those pictures.

Those pictures were drawn by our neighbor’s son.

Present Perfect and Past Perfect

Laila has written a long composition.

A long composition has been written by Laila.

They have shown several interesting documentary films on TV lately.

Several interesting documentary films have been shown on TV lately.

(no by-phrase necessary)

The airline had cancelled Mohanned’s flight because of volcanic ash in the air.

Mohanned’s flight had been cancelled because of volcanic ash in the air.

(no by-phrase necessary)

Present Progressive and Past Progressive

Yasser is driving me to the airport this morning.

I am being driven to the airport this morning by Yasser.

Dr. Khan is taking the patient’s blood pressure.

The patient’s blood pressure is being taken by Dr. Khan.

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The janitor is washing the floors right now.

The floors are being washed by the janitor right now.

The secretary was typing the report yesterday.

The report was being typed by the secretary yesterday.

The teacher was recording our voices yesterday.

Our voices were being recorded by our teacher yesterday.

The simple future with will and be going to

Fahad will wear a white labcoat tomorrow.

A white labcoat will be worn by Fahad tomorrow.

They are going to hold a medical conference next Monday.

A medical conference is going to be held next Monday.

They are going to send me an invitation to the conference.

I am going to be sent an invitation to the conference.

The airline is going to provide two meals on that flight.

Two meals are going to be provided on that flight.

The future perfect (covered in ENGL 211)

Abumezyed will have sold many Seiko watches by next weekend.

Many Seiko watches will have been sold by Abumezyed by next weekend.

The students will have completed this textbook by summer.

This textbook will have been completed by the students by summer.

Omar will have received this letter by the end of April.

This letter will have been received by Omar by the end of April.

Nora will have washed the dishes by the time you arrive.

The dishes will have been washed by Nora by the time you arrive.

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Modal and Phrasal Modal Constructions

We saw in the previous section that transitive verbs in the simple future and the future

perfect can be converted to the passive:

Simple Future with will

Fahad will wear a white labcoat tomorrow. (active)

A white labcoat will be worn by Fahad tomorrow. (passive)

Since will is a modal auxiliary verb, it is possible to replace it with any of the other modals or

phrasal modals. The resulting verb phrase normally has a non-past (i.e. present or future) meaning.

Examples (active voice):

Fahad can wear a white labcoat in the hospital.

Fahad could wear a white labcoat to protect his clothes.

Fahad should wear a white labcoat while he is working.

Fahad would wear a white labcoat if necessary.

Fahad may wear a white labcoat tomorrow.

Fahad might wear a white labcoat tomorrow.

Fahad must wear a white labcoat tomorrow.

Fahad ought to wear a white labcoat.

Fahad had better wear a white labcoat.

Fahad is supposed to wear a white labcoat.

Fahad has to wear a white labcoat.

Equivalent passive forms: The Passive Form: modal + be + past participle

A white labcoat can be worn by Fahad in the hospital.

A white labcoat could be worn by Fahad to protect his clothes.

A white labcoat should be worn by Fahad while he is working.

A white labcoat would be worn by Fahad if necessary.

A white labcoat may be worn by Fahad tomorrow.

A white labcoat might be worn by Fahad tomorrow.

A white labcoat must be worn by Fahad tomorrow.

A white labcoat ought to be worn by Fahad.

A white labcoat had better be worn by Fahad.

A white labcoat is supposed to be worn by Fahad.

A white labcoat has to be worn by Fahad.

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Future Perfect (covered in ENGL 211/213)

(See Betty Azar’s Understanding and Using English Grammar (4th Ed), Section 11-4)

Omar will have received this letter by the end of April. (active)

This letter will have been received by Omar by the end of April. (passive)

Since will is a modal auxiliary verb, it is possible to replace it with any of the other modals or

phrasal modals. The resulting verb phrase normally has a past meaning.

Examples (active voice)

Fahad could have worn a white labcoat yesterday.

Fahad should have worn a white labcoat while he was working.

Fahad would have worn a white labcoat yesterday if it had been necessary.

Fahad may have worn a white labcoat yesterday.

Fahad might have worn a white labcoat yesterday.

Fahad must have worn a white labcoat yesterday.

Fahad ought to have worn a white labcoat yesterday.

Fahad was supposed to have worn a white labcoat yesterday.

Equivalent passive forms: The Past-Passive Form: modal + have been + past participle

A white labcoat could have been worn by Fahad yesterday.

A white labcoat should have been worn by Fahad while he was working.

A white labcoat would have been worn by Fahad if it had been necessary.

A white labcoat may have been worn by Fahad yesterday.

A white labcoat might have been worn by Fahad yesterday.

A white labcoat must have been worn by Fahad yesterday.

A white labcoat ought to have been worn by Fahad yesterday.

A white labcoat was supposed to have been worn by Fahad yesterday.

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Tenses Not Normally Used in the Passive

The following four verb tenses were not included in the previous section because they are

rarely used in the passive:

Future progressive Ali will be eating lunch at 12:00.

Present perfect progressive Ali has been eating lunch for ten minutes.

Past perfect progressive Ali had been eating lunch before you arrived.

Future perfect progressive Ali will have been eating lunch for ten minutes.

These tenses are normally used only in the active voice. Although it is possible to convert

them into passive structures using our procedure on page 6, we normally avoid doing this

because the passive forms become very awkward and confusing. You get structures such as

the following (which are grammatically correct but unnecessary):

*Lunch will be being eaten by Ali at 12:00.

*Lunch has been being eaten by Ali for ten minutes.

*Lunch had been being eaten by Ali before you arrived.

*Lunch will have been being eaten by Ali for ten minutes.

English speakers normally never use these passive forms (with be being or been being), so it

is unnecessary to learn them. Usually the idea conveyed by these passives can be expressed

through an alternative (and easier) structure. For example:

By next summer they will have been constructing that bridge for a year. (active)

*By next summer that bridge will have been being constructed for a year. (passive)

= By next summer that bridge will have been under construction for a year.

(easier alternative form)

In this last example, we can see that either the active sentence or the alternative structure is

much easier to form and understand. Therefore, the passive can be completely avoided!

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Additional Notes

1. Passives are formed at the clause level. If a sentence contains more than one clause,

each clause must be examined separately. Only clauses which contain transitive verbs

(with objects) can be converted into the passive.

A month after we planted our garden, some vegetables appeared.

= A month after our garden was planted, some vegetables appeared.

(Only the dependent clause can be passivized.)

By the time the storm finished, the wind had damaged a tree.

= By the time the storm finished, a tree had been damaged by the wind.

(Only the main clause can be passivized.)

As soon as the teacher marks the exam, he will return it to the students.

As soon as the exam is marked, it will be returned to the students.

(Both clauses can be passivized.)

2. Sometimes a prepositional phrase (i.e. adverbial) occurs directly after the object. If this

prepositional phrase has a very close connection to the object, it must often be moved

together with the object to form the passive subject.

Od A

Chinese emperors built the Great Wall of China over 2500 years ago.

= The Great Wall of China was built by Chinese emperors over 2500 years ago.

If the prepositional phrase is not closely connected to the object it is not moved.

Od A

People find many rare and valuable plants in the Brazilian forests.

= Many rare and valuable plants are found in the Brazilian forests.

3. There are a few transitive verbs which cannot take the passive. Some examples include:

Abumezyed has an old jeep. (no passive form)

These shoes fit me. (no passive form)

Menahi resembles Nejer. (no passive form)

This classroom holds 20 students. (no passive form) holds = “seats”

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USING THE PASSIVE IN ACADEMIC WRITING

The subject of a passive sentence focuses on the person or thing which receives the action of the

verb (i.e. the original object of the active sentence). The performer of the action (i.e. the original

active subject) can be added to a passive sentence in the form of a by-phrase, or omitted if this

information is unimportant. Passive sentences are very useful when:

1. the performer of the action is unknown. Here the by-phrase is normally omitted.

Someone gave Omar a ride home last night. (someone = unknown person)

=Omar was given a ride home last night.

Someone left this note on my door. (someone = unknown person)

=This note was left on my door.

Something has damaged my car engine. (something = unknown thing)

= My car engine has been damaged.

2. the identity of the performer is uncertain or must be withheld for legal reasons.

Here the by-phrase is normally omitted.

Someone stole a diamond ring from the jewelry shop.

= A diamond ring was stolen from the jewelry shop.

(someone = a criminal whose identity is unknown or being withheld)

3. the performer of the action is completely irrelevant (unimportant). Examples include

scientific work in a laboratory, products being produced in factories, exports etc.

The chemist heated the solution to 100 degrees Celcius.

= The solution was heated to 100 degrees Celcius.

Japanese factory workers assembled those cars in Japan.

= Those cars were assembled in Japan.

Canadian farmers grow wheat in Canada.

= Wheat is grown in Canada.

4. When the performer of the action is known and significant, but the focus of the sentence

is on the object.

Betty Azar wrote our grammar textbook. She’s an excellent writer. (emphasis on author)

= Our grammar textbook was written by Betty Azar. It’s an excellent book.

(emphasis on the textbook.)

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THE STATIVE PASSIVE

(The Non-Progressive Passive)

We saw on page 4 that linking verbs (such as be, become, get, seem, look, etc.) act like

equal signs and can be followed by adjectives (or adjective phrases).

S V Cs

Faisal is busy right now.

S V Cs

The streets are full of people this morning.

S V Cs

The students were quite nervous yesterday.

S V Cs

The door is large.

S V Cs

My father became angry with me.

S V Cs

Mona seems very sad today.

S V Cs

Those vegetables look old.

Sometimes it is possible to replace these adjectives with past participles. When past participles are

used this way, they function the same way as regular adjectives.

Faisal is tired right now.

The streets are crowded with people this morning.

The students were quite worried yesterday.

The door is locked.

My father became irritated with me.

Mona seems depressed today.

Those vegetables look spoiled.

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Notice that the first four sentences above contain the structure [be + past participle].

Although these sentences look like normal passive sentences, they are not. They describe

fixed states, not actions. They cannot be changed back to active sentences, and they cannot be

used with by-phrases. They are called stative passives (or non-progressive passives).

The difference between a normal passive and a stative passive can be illustrated by the phrase

is locked. This phrase can be used in a normal passive sentence or in a stative passive

sentence. Notice the difference in meaning:

Normal Passive

(active) The janitor locks the door every day. (simple present: describes a habit)

(passive) The door is locked every day by the janitor.

Stative Passive

(active) * * * (no active form) * * *

(passive) The door is locked now. (i.e. You can’t enter.) (unchanging state) (no by-phrase)

(result of an earlier action)

Stative passives are very easy to form and are frequently used in spoken and written English. Just think

of the past participle as a normal adjective following the linking verb be.

The door is locked now. past participle

The door is dirty now. adj

The door is new now. adj

Note:

Stative passives can often be followed by prepositions (other than by). These prepositions

must be learned together with the past participles. There is no clear system or logic behind

which preposition must be used; the prepositions simply have to be memorized. On the next

page is a summary of common prepositions used with the stative passive. These are taken

from Chart 10-7 of Azar’s Fundamentals of English Grammar.

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Common Stative Passives Followed by Prepositions

(Chart 10-7 Fundamentals of English Grammar)

to with in

be devoted to be acquainted with be disappointed in/with

be engaged to be bored with/by be interested in

be married to be crowded with be involved in/with

be opposed to be done with be located in

be related to be finished with

be pleased with

be satisfied with

about

of be excited about

be worried about be composed of

be frightened of/by

be made of

be scared of/by

be terrified of /by

be tired of (= be sick of)

from for

be divorced from be prepared for

be exhausted from be qualified for

be gone from

be tired from

(= be exhausted from)

Note: More than one preposition may be possible with a few of these stative passives. Forms

such as bored with, frightened of, scared of, and terrified of can all use the preposition by. The

forms disappointed in and involved in can both use the preposition with. For a more complete list

see Chart 11-6 from Azar’s Understanding and Using English Grammar.

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PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVES

Both past participles and present participles (-ing forms of verbs) can be used as adjectives. When they

are used as adjectives they are referred to as participial adjectives.

Present Participles Used as Adjectives

When a present participle is used as an adjective, the noun it modifies performs the action

expressed by the participle. The phrase has an active meaning.

I am reading an interesting article.

The article interests me. (active meaning)

This is a boring lecture.

This lecture bores us. (active meaning)

We are watching breaking news.

The news is breaking (i.e. just coming out). (active meaning)

An annoying passenger was sitting beside me.

The passenger was annoying me. (active meaning)

Past Participles Used as Adjectives

When a past participle is used as an adjective, the noun it modifies receives the action expressed

by the participle. The phrase has a passive meaning. Quite often these past participles express

feelings (e.g. bored, frustrated, excited, amused, shocked, frightened, thrilled, surprised,

embarrassed, etc).

The frightened woman screamed loudly.

The woman was frightened by something. (passive meaning)

The excited fans waved flags when the Nasser team won.

The fans were excited by the game. (passive meaning)

I hate sitting on a crowded bus.

The bus is crowded with people. (passive meaning)

The bored student fell asleep.

The student was bored. (passive meaning)

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OTHER CONSTRUCTIONS WITH THE PASSIVE

get + adjective (active)

The verb get is a linking verb, so it can be followed by an adjective (or adjective phrase). It has

the same meaning as the linking verb become. It can be used in any tense.

S V Cs

The weather gets hot in Riyadh in the summer. adj

That man is getting bald.

Nasser was getting thirsty, so he bought a bottle of water.

It had gotten cold outside, so I put on my jacket.

get + past participle (passive)

In informal spoken English, get can also be followed by a past participle (which functions just

like an adjective).

Sara got depressed when she received the sad news. past participle

Hussein will get married next summer.

I got dressed as soon as I got up.

Khalid didn’t get finished his homework until midnight.

We got paid one week ago.

You will get invited to the next meeting.

I am getting worried about my cat because she refuses to eat anything.

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Forms with used to

used to + infinitive (modal construction)

Used to is a modal construction and is always followed by the simple form of the main verb. It

can be used to indicate a past habit. Here it is equivalent to the modal would (with the meaning of

past habit).

I used to swim every day when I was a teenager, but now I don’t.

= I would swim every day when I was a teenager, but now I don’t.

Mohammed used to spend his weekends in Thumamah when he was younger.

= Mohammed would spend his weekends in Thumamah when he was younger.

Used to can also describe a situation that existed in the past, but no longer exists.

Bandar used to live in Dammam before he moved to Riyadh.

Fahad used to be very thin in the past. Now he has gained weight.

be used to + noun phrase/gerund (passive construction)

Be used to is a passive construction. It is always followed by a noun (or noun phrase) or a

gerund (an –ing verb which functions like a noun). It has the meaning of “being familiar with

something through experience”.

Ibrahim is used to hot weather because he grew up in Saudi Arabia. noun phrase

We are used to the heavy morning traffic in Riyadh. noun phrase

I am used to snow because I grew up in Canada. noun

Our instructor is used to the new schedule now. noun phrase

Ibrahim is used to speaking Arabic because he grew up in Saudi Arabia. gerund phrase

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We are used to drinking coffee every morning. gerund phrase

Our instructor is used to using the Smart Board in the classroom now. gerund phrase

Note: The verb be can change form (am, is, are, was, were, will be).

Hassan was used to Cairo because he had lived there for ten years.

Hassan was used to using the Cairo subway.

The students were used to the textbook because they had used it before.

The students were used to studying grammar.

You will be used to London after you’ve lived there for a year.

You will be used to driving on the left.

Note: Be used to can be replaced by be accustomed to. These two expressions have exactly the

same meaning.

Ibrahim is accustomed to hot weather because he grew up in Saudi Arabia.

We are accustomed to the heavy morning traffic in Riyadh.

I am accustomed to seeing snow because I grew up in Canada.

Hassan was accustomed to Cairo because he had lived there for ten years.

Hassan was accustomed to using the Cairo subway.

The students were accustomed to the textbook because they had used it before.

The students were accustomed to studying grammar.

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get used to + noun phrase/gerund (passive construction)

Get used to has the same meaning as “become used to”. It is followed by a noun (or noun

phrase) or a gerund. The verb get can be used in any tense.

I am getting used to my new apartment. (I am still adjusting to it.) noun phrase

I am getting used to living alone. gerund phrase

Abumezyed has gotten used to the new traffic laws. noun phrase

Abumezyed has gotten used to wearing a seatbelt. gerund phrase

Note: Get used to can be replaced by get accustomed to. These two expressions have exactly the

same meaning.

I am getting accustomed to my new apartment. (I am still adjusting to it.) noun phrase

I am getting accustomed to living alone. gerund phrase

Abumezyed has gotten accustomed to the new traffic laws. noun phrase

Abumezyed has gotten accustomed to wearing a seatbelt. gerund phrase

be supposed to + infinitive (modal construction)

Be supposed to is a modal structure. It expresses the idea that “something is expected to happen

or should happen”. It is always followed by a verb in the simple form.

I am supposed to report to work at 8:00 every morning.

= I am expected to report to work at 8:00 every morning.

= I should/must report to work at 8:00 every morning. ______________________ Peter Lambe Spring 2015