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

\ A Passive verb forms have one of the tenses of the verb to be and a past participle. Passive verb
forms are summarised in Appendix 1.
Verbs which take an object (transitive verbs) can have a passive form. So we can make
corresponding passive sentences for:
• They destroyed the building. «—• The building was destroyed.
• The news surprised me. «—• I was surprised by the news.
Verbs which do not take an object (intransitive verbs) do not have passive forms. For example,
there are no passive forms for the following sentences:
• I slept for nearly ten hours last night.
• The ship slowly disappeared from view.
A good dictionary will tell you whether verbs are transitive or intransitive.
However, many verbs can be used at different times with and without objects - that is, they can
be both transitive and intransitive. Compare:
• Are they meeting him at the station? (transitive) Is he being met at the airport? (passive)
• When shall we meet? (intransitive; no passive possible)

В Verbs that can be followed by either object + object or object + prepositional object in active
clauses (see Unit 42) can have two corresponding passive forms. The passive form you choose
depends on which is more appropriate in a particular context. Compare:

active passive

• She handed me the plate. / • I was handed the plate. /
• She handed the plate to me. / • The plate was handed to me. /

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

He described me the situation. • I was described the situation.
He described the situation to me. • The situation was described to me.

»Other verbs like this include demonstrate, explain, introduce, mention, report, suggest.
We can make a passive form of transitive two- and three-word verbs (see Unit 114). Compare:
• Martha talked me into buying a motorbike. (= V + object + preposition) and
• I was talked into buying a motorbike by Martha.
• They gave over the whole programme to a report from Bosnia. (= V + adverb + object +
preposition) and
• The whole programme was given over to a report from Bosnia.
Some transitive two- and three-word verbs are rarely used in the passive:
• We got the money back for her, but it took ages, (rather than The money was got back...)
• I had to put out a hand to steady myself, (rather than A hand was put out...)
Other verbs like this include get down (= write what somebody says), let in (= when something
has a hole in it that allows water, light, etc. to get into it), let out (e.g. a scream), show off (=
encourage people to see something because you are proud of it), take after (= resemble).

Verbs with and without objects = Two- and three-word verbs => I Passive verb forms =