Page 69 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

p a s s i v e s
U s i n g passives
Using

The choice between an active and passive sentence allows us to present the same information inin
between
active
an
same
the
present
allows
sentence
choice
passive
to
and
us
The
information
two different orders. Compare:
Compare:
two
different
orders.
• The storm damaged the roof. passive • The roof was damaged by the storm.
activeactive * The storm damaged the roof. passive * The roof was damaged by the storm.
This sentence is aboutabout the storm, and This sentence is about the roof, and says whatwhat
storm,
about
is
sentence
This
sentence
says
and
is
the
roof,
This
the
and
it [The storm is the happened to it.
says
goes
says whatwhat it did. storm is the happened to it. (The 'agent' goes in aina
‘agent’
(The
did. /The
'agent'.) prepositional phrase with byby afterafter the verb.)
verb.)
prepositional
phrase with
‘agent'.)
the
D Here are some situations where we typically choose aa passive rather thanthan an active.
some
situations
are
we
typically
where
rather
passive
active.
Here
an
choose
¢
When the agent is not known, is 'people in general', is unimportant, or is obvious, we preferprefer
• When the agent is not known, is ‘people in general’, is unimportant, or is obvious, we
passives. In an active sentence we need to include the agent as subject; using a passive allows us
a
to
passives.
using
an
us
active
need
In
agent
passive
we
allows
the
sentence
subject;
include
as
to omit the agent by leaving out the prepositional phrase with by:
the
phrase
out
prepositional
the
with
by
agent
leaving
by:
omit
to
О • MyMy office was broken into when I was on holiday, (unknown agent)
holiday.
was
office
when
9
on
*
I
(unknown
was
broken
agent)
into
• . • An order form can be found on page 2. (agent = people in general)
An order form
page
on
found
can
be
=
(agent
people
general)
in
2.
*
• * These boxes should be handled with care, (unimportant agent)
agent)
be
These
withcare.
should
boxes
handled
(unimportant
• * She is being treated in hospital, (obvious agent; presumably 'doctors')
‘doctors')
agent;
(obvious
inhospital.
presumably
treated
being
is
She
• ¢ In factual writing, particularly in describing procedures or processes, we often wish to omit the
in
or
processes,
to
In
writing,
factual
procedures
wish
omit
particularly
describing
the
we
often
agent, and use passives:
passives:
use
agent,
and
• * Nuclear waste will still be radioactive even after 20,000 years, so it must be disposeddisposed ofof
after
radioactive
years,
even
must
be
be
20,000
so
still
Nuclear waste will
it
veryvery carefully. ItIt can be storedstored as a a liquid in stainless-steel containers which are encased inin
are
liquid
which
can
as
encased
stainless-steel
be
carefully.
containers
in
concrete. The most dangerous nuclear waste can be turned into glass. It is planned to store
store
nuclear
into
is
It
glass.
turned
can
waste
be
planned
concrete.
The
dangerous
most
to
this glass in deep underground mines.
deep
in
glass
underground
this
mines.
you
• * In spokenspoken EnglishEnglish we often use aa subjectsubject such as people, somebody, they, we, oror you eveneven when
as
somebody,
often
they,
when
people,
such
use
we,
we
In
we do not know who the agent is. In formal English, particularly writing, we often prefer to
who
we
prefer
In
often
writing,
agent
do
not
English,
formal
to
we
the
particularly
know
is.
use a passive. Compare:
use
passive.
a
Compare:
• * They're installing the new computercomputer system next month.
the
month.
new
They're
installing
system
next
• * The new system is being installed next month, (more formal)
(more
is
installed
system
formal)
being
The
nextmonth.
new computercomputer
Notice also that some verbs have corresponding nouns. These nouns can be used as the subject
as
These
Notice
corresponding
subject
some
used
be
nouns
verbs
that
also
the
can
nouns.
have
of passive sentences, withwith a new passive verb introduced:
new
sentences,
introduced:
of
verb
passive
passive
a
• * The installation of the new system will be completed by next month.
month.
new computercomputer
the
system
be
completed by
of
will
next
The
installation
(or clause)
sentence
• ¢ In English we usually prefer to put old information at the beginning of a a sentence (or clause)
In English we usually prefer to put old information at the beginning of
Choosing the passive often allows us to do this. Compare
and new information at the end. Choosing the passive often allows us to do this. Compare
and new information at the end.
(in bold)
(in italics) and new information
these two texts and notice where the old information (in italics) and new information (in bold)
these two texts and notice where the old information
is placed in the second sentence of each. The second text uses a passive:
is placed in the second sentence of each. The second text uses a passive:
The
Boron
of safety valve.
different types
machines
tested
for the report contained
• * The three machines tested for the report contained different types of safety valve. The Boron
The three
Group in Germany manufactured the machines. The
Group in Germany manufactured the machines.
Forming passve sentences by Don's decision to give up up So, for example: to to SydneySydney surprised me.'
The three machines tested for the report contained different types of safety valve. The
• ¢
The three machines tested for the report contained different types of safety valve.
machines were manufactured by the Boron Group in Germany.
machines were manufactured by the Boron Group in Germany.
often more natural to put agents (subjects) which consist of long expressions at the end of
• e
It
It is is often more natural to put agents (subjects) which consist of long expressions at the end of
a sentence. Using the passive allows us to do this.
a sentence. Using the passive allows us to do this. So, for example:
surprised
his job and move
Sydney.
• e
I was surprised by Don's decision to give up his job and move to Sydney.
Iwas
than
give
decision
is
his job
natural
move
more
'Don's‘Don’sdecision
me.’
natural
more
than
is
his
surprised
up
job
to
move
andand
to give
to
Forming passive sentences:
Passive verb forms =
vero
Passive
=>
foams