PASSIVE PASSIVE SENTENCESSENTENCES

1.1. Basic PassiveBasic Passive

2.2. Passive with TWO ObjectsPassive with TWO Objects

3.3. Causative HAVE/GETCausative HAVE/GET

4.4. Passive with Reporting VerbsPassive with Reporting Verbs

We use passive voice…We use passive voice…

When we are more interested in When we are more interested in the the

action itselfaction itself and it is and it is not so not so

important who or whatimportant who or what did the did the

actionaction

It’s often used in It’s often used in written Englishwritten English, ,

specially specially in scientific texts and in scientific texts and

newspapers.newspapers.

1. BASIC FORM (Changes)1. BASIC FORM (Changes)

SubjectSubject + + VerbVerb + + ObjectObject

SubjectSubject + + Passive VerbPassive Verb + + by …. by …. (agent)(agent)

(be + past participle)(be + past participle)

FORM (Changes)FORM (Changes)

HeHe wrote wrote the booksthe books

The booksThe books were writtenwere written by himby him

wrotewrote: past simple of the verb “write”: past simple of the verb “write”

so the passive verb: so the passive verb: be in the past simple (was/were) + p.participle of “write”be in the past simple (was/were) + p.participle of “write”

the books, plural were + writtenthe books, plural were + written

STEP BY STEPSTEP BY STEP ActiveActive: : Liz wrote an email an hour ago.Liz wrote an email an hour ago.

1.1. Identify the object: Identify the object: an emailan email

2.2. Start the sentence with it: Start the sentence with it: An email…An email…

3.3. Identify the tense: Identify the tense: wrote wrote → → past simplepast simple

4.4. Put the verb “be” in the same tense: Put the verb “be” in the same tense: was/werewas/were

5.5. Add the past participle of the main verb: Add the past participle of the main verb: writtenwritten

6.6. Decide if you need to add “by + agent”: Decide if you need to add “by + agent”: by Lizby Liz..

7.7. Add the rest of the elements: Add the rest of the elements: an hour agoan hour ago..

PassivePassive: : An email was written by Liz an hour ago.An email was written by Liz an hour ago.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

1/1/TheyThey builtbuilt this housethis house in 1466 in 14662/ 2/ This house This house was built was built in 1466in 1466

1/ 1/ Channel islanders Channel islanders speakspeak French & EnglishFrench & English2/ 2/ French & English French & English are spoken are spoken by Channel islandersby Channel islanders

1/ 1/ This book This book will change will change your lifeyour life2/ 2/ Your life Your life will be changed will be changed byby this bookthis book

1/ 1/ TheyThey have written have written the lettersthe letters2/ 2/ The letters The letters have been writtenhave been written

ExamplesExamples

1/ 1/ TheyThey can’t answer can’t answer your questionyour question2/ 2/ Your question Your question can’t be answeredcan’t be answered

1/ 1/ Someone Someone had to take had to take her her to hospital after thisto hospital after this2/ 2/ SheShe had to be takenhad to be taken to hospital after the crash to hospital after the crash

1/ 1/ They They shouldn’t allowshouldn’t allow the children the children to do these things to do these things 2/ 2/ The children The children shouldn’t be allowed shouldn’t be allowed to do these thingsto do these things

1/ 1/ SomeoneSomeone must tell must tell him him if we want him to knowif we want him to know2/ 2/ He He must be told must be told if we want him to knowif we want him to know

Examples Examples 1/ 1/ The policeThe police haven’t arrestedhaven’t arrested the robbersthe robbers yetyet..2/ 2/ The robbersThe robbers haven’t been arrestedhaven’t been arrested yetyet. .

1/ 1/ The judgeThe judge didn’t convictdidn’t convict the defendantthe defendant. . 2/ 2/ The defendantThe defendant wasn’t convictedwasn’t convicted by the judgeby the judge. .

1/ 1/ TheyThey hadn’t thrownhadn’t thrown the gunthe gun to the riverto the river. . 2/ 2/ The gunThe gun hadn’t been thrownhadn’t been thrown to the riverto the river..

1/ 1/ The policeThe police aren’t questioningaren’t questioning the witnessthe witness. . 2/ 2/ The witnessThe witness isn’t being questionedisn’t being questioned by the policeby the police..

ExamplesExamples1/ 1/ DidDid anybodyanybody hackhack the company’s computerthe company’s computer? ?

2/ 2/ WasWas the company’s computerthe company’s computer hackedhacked? ?

1/ 1/ DoDo burglarsburglars oftenoften break intobreak into houseshouses in this areain this area? ?

2/ 2/ AreAre houseshouses oftenoften broken intobroken into in this areain this area? ?

1/ 1/ WhatWhat mustmust wewe dodo about thisabout this? ?

2/ 2/ WhatWhat must be donemust be done about thisabout this? ?

1/ 1/ WhereWhere diddid theythey parkpark the carthe car? ?

2/ 2/ WhereWhere waswas the carthe car parkedparked? ?

1/ 1/ WillWill anyoneanyone telltell himhim about the accidentabout the accident? ?

2/ 2/ WillWill hehe be toldbe told about the accidentabout the accident? ?

Changes with Changes with byby

II →→ by meby me You You → → by youby you HeHe → → by himby him SheShe → → by herby her ItIt → → by itby it WeWe → → by usby us TheyThey → → by themby them

2. PASSIVE WITH TWO OBJECT2. PASSIVE WITH TWO OBJECT

They didn’t give They didn’t give AnnAnn the booksthe books..

1.1. AnnAnn wasn’t given wasn’t given the booksthe books (by them)(by them)

2.2. The booksThe books weren’t given weren’t given toto Ann Ann (by (by

them)them)

It is more common to begin the passive sentences with the It is more common to begin the passive sentences with the indirect object of the active sentence, that is, the 1st optionindirect object of the active sentence, that is, the 1st option

Indirect Object.

Direct Object

PASSIVE WITH TWO OBJECTSPASSIVE WITH TWO OBJECTS

Common verbs:Common verbs:

Ask, Give, Offer, Pay, Show, Award, Ask, Give, Offer, Pay, Show, Award, Lend, Promise, Send, Tell.Lend, Promise, Send, Tell.

ExamplesExamples1/ 1/ TheyThey have givenhave given MaryMary a prizea prize. . 2/ 2/ MaryMary has been givenhas been given a prizea prize. . 3/ 3/ A prizeA prize has been givenhas been given to Maryto Mary. .

1/ 1/ TheyThey offeredoffered HarryHarry a good joba good job..2/ 2/ HarryHarry was offeredwas offered a good joba good job. . 3/ 3/ A good jobA good job was offeredwas offered to Harryto Harry..

1/ 1/ MaryMary might have sentmight have sent the letterthe letter to Marcusto Marcus. . 2/ 2/ MarcusMarcus might have been sentmight have been sent the letterthe letter by Maryby Mary. . 3/ 3/ The letterThe letter might have been sentmight have been sent to Marcusto Marcus by Maryby Mary..

By + agentBy + agentBecause we most often use passive verbs to describe situations when Because we most often use passive verbs to describe situations when

the agent is not the primary focus, the agent is not the primary focus, we usually do not include the we usually do not include the

agentagent (by noun phrase) in passive sentences. (by noun phrase) in passive sentences.

HoweverHowever, , sometimessometimes it is it is necessarynecessary to include the agent: to include the agent:

When the agent gives us additional new informationWhen the agent gives us additional new information

Many important scientific discoveries have been made by women. Many important scientific discoveries have been made by women.

When information about the agent is too important to be When information about the agent is too important to be

omitted omitted

Radioactivity was discovered by Marie Curie in 1903.Radioactivity was discovered by Marie Curie in 1903.

When the agent is surprising or unexpected When the agent is surprising or unexpected

This picture was painted by a monkey.This picture was painted by a monkey.

3. CAUSATIVE HAVE/GET3. CAUSATIVE HAVE/GET

HAVE/GETHAVE/GET + + ObjectObject + + Past ParticiplePast Participle

HAVE/ GETHAVE/ GET something something donedone

Arranging for or paying for Arranging for or paying for somebodysomebody to do to do somethingsomething for youfor you. (Get is more informal).. (Get is more informal).

The subject of a sentence The subject of a sentence isn'tisn't who does the action of who does the action of the sentence.the sentence.

3. CAUSATIVE HAVE/GET3. CAUSATIVE HAVE/GET

Jim wants to paint his house, so he Jim wants to paint his house, so he buys tins of paint and brushes, goes buys tins of paint and brushes, goes up his ladder and starts painting it. up his ladder and starts painting it. Jim is painting his house. Jim is painting his house.

≠≠ Tom wants to change the colour of Tom wants to change the colour of

his house, so he hires painters to do his house, so he hires painters to do that job.that job. Tom is having his house painted. Tom is having his house painted.

STEP BY STEPSTEP BY STEP

1.1. The person who employs: The person who employs: TomTom 2.2. The verb “have” in the suitable The verb “have” in the suitable

tense: tense: is havingis having

3.3. The object of the action:The object of the action: his househis house

4.4. The action verb in past participle The action verb in past participle form:form: paintedpainted

TomTom is havingis having his househis house paintedpainted..

CAUSATIVE HAVE/GETCAUSATIVE HAVE/GET

He He hadhad his hairhis hair cutcut

She She gotgot her carpether carpet cleanedcleaned

We We have hadhave had our carour car mendedmended

They They gotgot their booktheir book translatedtranslated

I reallyI really must getmust get my eyes my eyes testedtested

Situation: Situation:

The mechanic has fixed my mother's car The mechanic has fixed my mother's car Causative form: Causative form:

My mother My mother has hadhas had her carher car fixedfixed (my mother hasn't fixed the (my mother hasn't fixed the car herself) car herself)

Situation: Situation:

The mechanic will fix my mother's car next week The mechanic will fix my mother's car next week Causative: Causative:

My mother My mother will havewill have her carher car fixedfixed next week next week

Situation: Situation:

The mechanic is going to fix my mother's car The mechanic is going to fix my mother's car Causative: Causative:

My mother My mother is going to haveis going to have her carher car fixedfixed

ExercisesExercises Rewrite these sentences using have or get.

1. The mechanic changed the oil in my car.

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2. The hairdresser cut my hair in a completely different style.

________________________________________________

3. A decorator has repainted our house.________________________________________________

4. A friend of mine, who’s an electrician, is going to repair my DVD player next week.________________________________________________

5. My jacket is being cleaned at a specialist cleaner’s.

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6. The town hall has just been rebuilt for the council.

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Exercises (Exercises (AnswersAnswers)) Rewrite these sentences using have or get.

1. The mechanic changed the oil in my car.

I had the oil in my car changed.

2. The hairdresser cut my hair in a completely different style.

I had my hair cut in a completely different style.

3. A decorator has repainted our house.

We have had our house repainted (by a decorator).

4. A friend of mine, who’s an electrician, is going to repair my DVD player

next week.

I am going to have my DVD player repaired next week by a friend of mine,

who’s an electrician.

5. Sally’s jacket is being cleaned at a specialist cleaner’s.

Sally is having her jacket cleaned at a specialist cleaner’s.

6. The town hall has just been rebuilt for the council.

The council has/have just had the town hall rebuilt.

4. Passive with Reporting Verbs4. Passive with Reporting Verbs

Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say, Report, Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say, Report, Know, Expect, Feel, Understand, Hope, AcceptKnow, Expect, Feel, Understand, Hope, Accept

There are There are two waystwo ways of transforming these sentences of transforming these sentences from active to passive:from active to passive:

People say that Mary is 108 years old.People say that Mary is 108 years old.

1/ It is said that Mary is 108 years old1/ It is said that Mary is 108 years old

2/ Mary is said to be 108 years old2/ Mary is said to be 108 years old

Reporting VerbsReporting Verbs

1st Option: 1st Option: IT +passive verb + complete subordinate sentence without

changes

1.1. People People saysay that Mary is 108 years old. that Mary is 108 years old.

It is said that Mary is 108 years old

2.2. People People saidsaid that Mary was 108 years old. that Mary was 108 years old.

It was said that Mary was 108 years old

Reporting VerbsReporting Verbs

2nd Option2nd OptionSubordinate subject + verb passive + subordinate

active verb in INFINITIVE

1.1. People People say say ((presentpresent)) that that MaryMary is is ((presentpresent)) 108 years 108 years old.old.

Mary is said to be 108 years old

2.2. People People said said ((pastpast)) that that MaryMary was was ((pastpast)) 108 years old. 108 years old.Mary was said to have been 108 years old

3.3. People People saysay ((presentpresent)) that that MaryMary was was ((pastpast)) 108 years 108 years old.old.

Mary is said to have been 108 years old

ExamplesExamples1.1. People People believebelieve that that PaulPaul is livingis living in Paris in Paris It It is believed is believed that that PaulPaul is livingis living in Paris in Paris PaulPaul is belived is belived to be livingto be living in Paris in Paris

2.2. They They expectexpect that that the strikesthe strikes will beginwill begin tomorrowtomorrow It It is expected is expected that that the strikesthe strikes will beginwill begin tomorrowtomorrow The strikesThe strikes are expected are expected to beginto begin tomorrow tomorrow

3.3. They They allegeallege that that hehe stolestole $100 $100 It It is alleged is alleged that that hehe stolestole $100 $100 HeHe is alleged is alleged to have stolento have stolen $100 $100

ExamplesExamples4.4. They They knowknow that that the picturethe picture was paintedwas painted by Caspar by Caspar

David Friedrich. David Friedrich. It It is knownis known that that the picturethe picture was paintedwas painted by Caspar by Caspar

David Friedrich. David Friedrich. The pictureThe picture is knownis known to have been paintedto have been painted by Caspar by Caspar

David Friedrich. David Friedrich.

5.5. They They assumedassumed that that LucyLucy had lefthad left the day before. the day before. It It was assumedwas assumed that that LucyLucy had lefthad left the day before. the day before. LucyLucy was assumedwas assumed to have leftto have left the day before. the day before.

6.6. Everybody Everybody thoughtthought that that the organisersthe organisers had been had been preparingpreparing for days. for days.

It It was thoughtwas thought that that the organisersthe organisers had been had been preparingpreparing for days. for days.

The organisersThe organisers were thoughtwere thought to have been preparingto have been preparing for days. for days.