UNIT 5: THE PASSIVE

Week Week 5

Notes Tuesday, October 8th, 2024

Review Notes
Why can’t we create passives from intransitive verbs? Give an example.

Intransitive verbs don’t take an object, so there’s nothing to turn into the
subject of a passive sentence.
e.g. We swam. (NOT ‘We were swum’)

What are the two parts of passive verb? Give an example.

A passive verb consists of a form of be + the past participle + (by sb/

sth).
e.g. The table is cleared by the students.

How do we form a passive verb using modal verbs such as ‘can’, ‘may’,
or ‘will’?

We form modal passives with modal + be + past participle.

e.g. You can be kept in custody.

How do we form a past tense modal passive? Can you give an example?

We form past modal passives with could/ might/ would + be + past

participle.
e.g. They couldn’t be stooped.

How do we form a modal perfect passive? Provide an example?

Modal perfect passives with modal + have been + past participle.

e.g. His answers must have been copied.

What is a modal continuous passive, and why is it rarely used? Give an

example.

Modal continuous passives use modal + be/ being past participle, but
they are rarely used because active or simpler passive forms are

UNIT 5: THE PASSIVE 1

 preferred.
e.g. It may be being repaired.

How do we form phrasal modal passives in the present? Provide an

example

Phrasal modal passives are formed with a phrasal modal + be + past

participle.
e.g. Chris has to be told to stop interrupting.

How do we form phrasal modal passives in the past? Give an example.

In the past, we form phrasal modal passives with:

was/ were + going to + be + past participle

had to + be + past participle.

e.g. They were going to be stolen.

What is a passive infinitive and how is it formed? Give an example.

A passive infinitive is formed with to be + past participle.

e.g. He’s trying to finish the work soon. He expects most of it to be
finished.

How do we form a passive gerund? Give an example.

A passive gerund is formed with being + past participle.

e.g. I didn’t like being asked about my private life.

How do we form a perfect passive gerund? Give an example.

A perfect passive gerund is formed with having been + past participle.

e.g. He didn’t mention having been promoted.

Where do we place ‘notʼ is sentences with negative passive infinitives

and passive gerund? Give an example.

We place ‘notʼ before the passive infinitive or gerund.

e.g. It was strange not to be invited.

Provide an example of a sentence in passive form with an intransitive

verb.

Passives are created from verbs with objects (transitive verbs) → Verbs
without objects (intransitive verbs) canʼt form passives.

UNIT 5: THE PASSIVE 2

 e.g. We arrived early. (NOT ‘We were arrived earlyʼ)

Are passive formed with state verbs?

No, passive are usually formed from verbs that describe actions, not
states.
e.g.
‘My sister has two sons. (NOT ‘Two sons are had by my sister.ʼ)

Can we create passives from transitive phrasal verbs? Give an example.

Yes, passives can be created from transitive phrasal verbs.

e.g.

She locked her house up. They broke into it.

→ Her house was locked up. It was broken into.

Why canʼt we create passives from intransitive phrasal verbs? Give an

example?

Intransitive phrasal verbs have no object, so passives cannot be formed

e.g.
My cold went away. (NOT ‘My cold was gone awayʼ)

How can we form two passive structures with verbs that have two
objects? Provide an
example.

We can form two passive structures when we use those verbs which
can have an indirect object and a direct object.
e.g.

They awarded Maria first prize.

→
Maria was awarded first prize.

In such situations, how do we decide which structure to build? Provide an

example.

The passive we choose depends on which person or thing we want to

talk about.
e.g.

UNIT 5: THE PASSIVE 3

 No one taught us English.
→ English wasn’t taught there. (= We weren’t taught English.)

Example: He handed Cecilia a note. Give 2 passive structures.

The indirect object becomes the subject or follows “toˮ in the passive.

e.g. Cecilia was handed a note. = A note was handed to Cecilia.

When can't we use the indirect object as the subject of the passive in all
cases? Provide an
example.

If the indirect object canʼt follow the verb in the active, it canʼt be the
subject in the passive

e.g.
Then we explained our solutions to him

⇒ Then our solutions were explained to him. (NOT ‘He was explained
solutionsʼ)

Other verbs: demonstrate, describe, mention, present, report, suggest.

‘Many people considered John Nash a genius.’

’They elected Clinton President twice.’
Analyze the grammar of these two sentences and turn them into passive
.

We use the direct object as the subject, but we canʼt use the noun that
classifies it.

e.g.
John Nash was considered a genius. (NOT ‘A genius was considered
John Nash.ʼ)
Clinton was elected President twice. (NOT ‘President was elected
Clinton twiceʼ)

Describe the use of passive.

Focus on what is done and who is affected, not who performed the
actions (we donʼt know or itʼs not important).
e.g. Wine is made from grapes

Several actions that affect the same subject in a single sentence.

UNIT 5: THE PASSIVE 4

 After registration, courses cannot be added, dropped or changed
without permission.

Can the same subject be used with different tenses in passive

constructions? Provide an
example.

The same subject can be used in various tenses in passive forms.

e.g. It was built in 1928 and is being renovated now.

In informal situations, which is used more often, passives or active verbs

with indefinite
pronouns (someone, they, one, etc.)? Provide an example.

In informal situations, we use indefinite pronouns such as ‘someone’

and generic pronouns such as ‘they’ or ‘you’ plus active verbs more
than passives.
e.g.
Someone stole my bag.

Why are passives often used in rules, warning notices, and descriptions
of procedures?
Provide an example.

Passives are used to present general information impersonally.

e.g. Parking is prohibited.

Why do we use passives for commands? Provide an example.

Passives avoid direct commands and focus on the action.

We want to focus on what is being done rather than who is doing it.
e.g. Shoes must be removed before entering.

Provide an example using reporting verbs in the passive when we don't

know the speaker of
statements.

We use passive reporting verbs when the speakers is unknown or

unimportant.
e.g. We were instructed to wait here.

How can we use reporting verbs in the passive after the empty subject
'it'? Provide an example.

UNIT 5: THE PASSIVE 5

 We use ‘itʼ passive reporting verb + that clause to distance ourselves
from the information.

e.g. It was claimed that Sandy had stolen something.

Why do we use passive reporting verbs followed by a that-clause?

Provide an example.

Passive reporting verbs are followed by a -that clause to avoid

mentioning the speaker.

e.g. It was said that children learn languages easily.

Why do we use passive reporting verbs with an infinitive to distance

ourselves from the truth of a report? Provide an example.

We use present passive + infinitive to report current information, and

past passive + perfect infinitive for past events as a way for distancing
ourselves from the truth of a current report.

e.g.
The rebels are reported to be near the capital.
She was rumored to have inherited a lot of money.

Why don't we use the verb 'tell' in passive reporting structures? Provide
an example.

“Tellʼ cannot be used in this way, as ‘tellʼ is a transitive verb.

e.g. There were told to be thousands of refugees.

When do we use a by-phrase in passive constructions? Provide an

example.

A by-phrase provides information about the cause or method of an

action.

e.g. Flu is caused by a virus.

So if the agent is so important, why don’t we use active voice in such

cases?

Emphasize the action or recipient rather than the doer.

e.g. The painting was created by Picasso. (NOT ‘Picasso created the
painting.’)

Shift focus to the result or outcome while still acknowledging the agent.

UNIT 5: THE PASSIVE 6

 e.g. The Nobel Prize was awarded to Malala by the committee.

Maintain an objective, detached or neutral tone in writing.

e.g. The experiment was conducted by the research team.

Create contrast or comparison with other agents.

e.g. The decision was made by the board, not by the CEO. (= The board
made the decision, not the CEO.)

Focus on the importance of the object or subject being acted upon, with
the agent playing a supporting role.
e.g. The Mona Lisa was restored by a team of experts.

How do we use 'there' and 'to be' with a passive reporting verb between?
Provide an example.

We can report existence with ‘thereʼ+passive reporting verb + to be to

report the existence of something

e.g.
There are said to be lots of problems.
There were reported to be thousands of refugees in camps all along the
border.

When do we use a with-phrase instead of a by-phrase in passives?

Provide an example.

A with-phrase is used to describe the thing used to perform the action.

e.g. The tree was decorated with lights.

Other verbs: decorate, cover, align, associate, crowd, fill.

What are ergatives? Give an example in which we use ergatives instead

of passives.

Ergatives are transitive verbs that are used without an object. (1)

We use ergatives to say that an action simply happen, without an agent.

(2)

Describe natural processes and change, or actions but not mention a

cause.
e.g.
The park closes at six. (1)

UNIT 5: THE PASSIVE 7

 The park is closed at six. (2)

Other verbs: burst, crack, crash, grow, increase, shake, start

What kind of pronouns don’t we use with ergatives?

We don’t use reflexive pronouns with ergatives.

e.g.
NOT The string broke itself.

How do we form passive construction using ‘getʼ instead of ‘beʼ? Give an

example?

We use ‘getʼ instead of ‘beʼ in informal passive sentences.

e.g. My books got damaged.

When do we use passives with 'get'? Provide an example.

‘Getʼ is often used for unexpected or difficult situations.

e.g. Some people got hurt.

Why do we use passives with 'get'? Provide an example.

We often use passives with ‘get’ for unexpected events and difficult and
bad experiences.
e.g.
Professor Brown got stuck in traffic so her lecture got moved till later in
the afternoon.

How do we form questions or negatives in passives with 'get'? Provide an

example.
We use ‘doʼ in questions or negatives with ‘getʼ in passives.

e.g. Why does Susan get asked to all the parties?.

UNIT 5: THE PASSIVE 8