Positive form

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 490.

Passive Voice

Grammar

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Passive Voice

Verbs with two objects in the passive

Verbs with prepositions in the passive

It is said that she ... /She is said to ... (Complex Subject)

Have/get something done

Space Travel

Expressing Preference and Reluctance

The passive is used:

a) to describe an action when we don't know or do not know exactly who does, did or will do the action

My bicycle was stolenlast night. (I don't know who stole it.)

b) to describe an action when it is not important toknow who does, did or will do the action

These computers aremade in the USA. (It isn't important who makes them.)

c) to describe what happens to people or things, often as a result of action of other people or things

Several people were hurtin an accident last night.

d) when we are more interested in the action than the person who does it

The house next door has been bought.

NOTE:

Verbs that do not take an object (intransitive verbs)cannot go into the passive e.g.: die, arrive, come, sit down, snow, ring, faint, etc.

to be + Participle II

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	am/is/are + kept	The books are delivered here.
Present Continuous	am/is/are + being kept	The bridge is being repaired.
Past Simple	was/were + kept	The window was broken.
Past Continuous	was/were + being kept	The football player was being carried off the field.
Present Perfect	have/has + been kept	This letter has been opened.
Past Perfect	had been + kept	I came too late: all my papers hadbeen removed.
Future Simple	will be + kept	They will be met at the station.
to be going to	am/is/are was/were	going + to be kept	A new president is going to be elected next year. The tournament was going to be held at 2 p.m., it was rescheduled to 5 p.m.
have to	have/has/ had will have	to be kept	These books have to be returned to the library by Friday.
Modal Verbs	must can could may etc.	be kept	Identity badges must be worn by all visitors. A beautiful lake can/ could be seen from his bedroom window. The art exhibition may be arranged next month.

NOTE:

Present/Past Perfect Continuous, Future Continuous/Perfect are very uncommon in the passive.