Page 67 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

F o r m i n g p a s s i v e s e n t e n c e s
passive
sentences
Forming
verb
of the
and
be
to
have
forms
verb
tenses
of the
one
participle.
\ A Passive verb forms have one of the tenses of the verb to be and a past participle. Passive verb
a
past
Passive
verb
Passive
are summarised in Appendix 1.
forms are summarised in Appendix 1.
forms
which take an object (transitive verbs) can have a passive form. So we can make
Verbs which take an object (transitive verbs) can have a passive form. So we can make
Verbs
passive sentences for:
corresponding
corresponding passive sentences for:
«—• The building was destroyed.
They destroyed the building. —
• * They destroyed the building. The building was destroyed.
news surprised me. «—• I was surprised by the news.
• * The news surprised me. o I was surprised by the news.
The
which do not take an object (intransitive verbs) do not have passive forms. For example,
Verbs which do not take an object (intransitive verbs) do not have passive forms. For example,
Verbs
are no passive forms for the following sentences:
there are no passive forms for the following sentences:
there
slept for nearly ten hours last night.
2 • ¢ I TI slept for nearly ten hours last night.
slowly disappeared from view.
• « The ship
The ship slowly disappeared from view.
good dictionary will tell you whether verbs are transitive or intransitive.
A A good dictionary will tell you whether verbs are transitive or intransitive.
many verbs can be used at different times with and without objects - that is, they can
However, many verbs can be used at different times with and without objects - that is, they can
However,
and intransitive. Compare:
be both transitive and intransitive. Compare:
be both transitive
(transitive) Is he being met at the airport? (passive)
• * Are they meeting him at the station? (transitive) Is he being met at the airport? (passive)
Are they meeting him at the station?
shall we meet? (intransitive; no passive possible)
When
• * When shall we meet? (intransitive; no passive possible)
be followed by either object + object or object + prepositional object in active
Verbs that can
, В B Verbs that can be followed by either object + object or object + prepositional object in active
(see Unit 42) can have two corresponding passive forms. The passive form you choose
clauses
clauses (see Unit 42) can have two corresponding passive forms. The passive form you choose
Compare:
depends on which is more appropriate in a particular context.
depends on which is more appropriate in a particular context. Compare:

active passive
active
passive
I was handed the plate.
She handed me the plate.

• * She handed me the plate. / V • * Iwas handed the plate. / /
/ • * The plate was handed to me. / /
The plate was handed to me.
She handed the plate to me. /
• ¢
She handed the plate to me.

offer, promise, sell, teach, tell, throw. However,
Other verbs like this include give, lend,
Other verbs like this include give, lend, offer, promise, sell, teach, tell, throw. However,
that can't be followed by object + object in the active have only one of these
verbs
verbs that can't be followed by object + object in the active have only one of these
forms:
passive forms:
passive

He described me the situation.
{was described the situation.
e He-desertbed-me-the-situation. x • * I was described the situation. x
He described the situation to me. The situation was described to me.
e He described the situationtome. “ • * The situation was described tome. “

demonstrate, explain, introduce, mention, report, suggest.
8 other verbs like this include
»Other verbs like this include demonstrate, explain, introduce, mention, report, suggest.
can make a passive form of transitive two- and three-word verbs (see Unit 114). Compare:
We
We can make a passive form of transitive two- and three-word verbs (see Unit 114). Compare:
(= V + object + preposition) and
• * Martha talked me into buying a motorbike. (= V + object + preposition) and
Martha talked me into buying a motorbike.
talked into buying a motorbike by Martha.
• * preposition) over the whole programme to a report from Bosnia. (= V + adverb + object +
I was talked into buying a motorbike by Martha.
Jwas
Verbs wih and without cbecs => hand to steady myself, get into used in the says), after in (= resemble). back...) a
gave
They gave over the whole programme to a report from Bosnia. (= V + adverb + object +
• *
They
and
preposition) and
given over to
a report from Bosnia.
The whole programme was given over to a report from Bosnia.
The whole programme was
• *
passive:
three-word
verbs
are
rarely
transitive
two-
and
Some transitive two- and three-word verbs are rarely used in the passive:
Some
got
ages,
but
the
money back for her,
than The money was
got
(rather
it took
We
We got the money back for her, but it tookages. (rather than The money was got back...)
• *
(rather
A hand was put out...)
than
put out a
• *
I had to put out a hand to steadymyself. (rather than A hand was put out...)
Thad to
let
(=
verbs
when
(=
like
include
get
down
this
something
write what somebody
Other verbs like this include get down (= write what somebody says), let in (= when something
Other
a
(e.g.
hole
out
off (=
let
scream),
etc.
in
to
it that allows water,
it),
light,
a
show
has
has a hole in it that allows water, light, etc. to get into it), let out (e.g. a scream), show off (=
because
people
you
something
see
to
are
of it),
take
proud
encourage
encourage people to see something because you are proud of it), take after (= resemble).
Passive verb forms =
Two- and three-word verbs => I
Verbs with and without objects = PITRE] Two- and theewodvebs—=> FREE] «= Passievabfoms=> EER