ENGLISH LANGUAGE I

MODULE 4:
PASSIVE VOICE
 Explanations
Basic uses of the Agent and instrument
passive The person who performs an action in a passive sentence is called the agent,
introduced by by. The agent may or may not be mentioned.
My purse was found by one of the cleaners.
A new road has been built.
An object which causes something to happen is called an instrument,
introduced by with.
He was hit on the head with a hammer.
Verbs with two objects
Verbs which have two objects can be made passive in two ways.
/ was handed a note. A note was handed to me.
Other common verbs of this type are:
bring, give, lend, pass, pay, promise, sell, send, show, tell
Verbs with object and complement
Some verbs have a noun or adjective which describes their object.
We elected Jim class representative.
Everyone considered him a failure.
When these are made passive, the complement goes directly after the verb.
Jim was elected class representative.
He was considered a failure.
Verbs which can't be passive
Most verbs with an object (transitive verbs) can be made passive:
e.g. drive is transitive because one can drive something (a car).
However, a few transitive verbs may not be used in the passive. These
include: become, fit (be the right size), get, have, lack, let, like, resemble, suit.
Verbs with no object (intransitive) can not be passive:
e.g. fall is intransitive, you cannot 'fall something'.
Therefore it is not possible to say The tree was fallen'. Instead the sentence
must be active: The tree fell.
Using and not Change of focus
mentioning the The passive can change the emphasis of a sentence.
agent Jack won the prize, (focus on Jack)
The prize was won by Jack, (focus on the prize)

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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE

Unknown agent
The agent is not mentioned if unknown.
My wallet has been taken.
In this case, there is no point in adding an agent: 'by somebody'.
Generalised agent
If the subject is 'people in general' or 'you' the agent is not mentioned.
Bicycles are widely used in the city instead of public transport.
Obvious agent
If the agent is obvious or has already been referred to, it is not mentioned.
Linda has been arrested! (we assume by the police)
The company agreed to our request and a new car park was opened.
Unimportant agent
If the agent is not important to the meaning of the sentence it is not
mentioned.
/ was advised to obtain a visa in advance.
Impersonality
Using the passive is a way of avoiding the naming of a specific person who is
responsible for an action.
It has been decided to reduce all salaries by 10%.
In descriptions of processes, there is emphasis on the actions performed
rather than on the people who perform them.
Then the packets are packed into boxes of twenty-four.

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 GRAMMAR 6 PASSIVE 1

Correct any verb forms which are impossible or inappropriate.

a) A lot of homes in the area have been being broken into by burglars.

b) As I drove south, I could see that the old road was rebuilding.

c) I suppose the letter will have been delivered by now

d) There is nothing more annoying than been interrupted when you are
speaking
e) Jim was been given the sack from his new job
f) Somehow without my noticing my wallet had been disappeared.

g) The new shopping centre was opened by the local MR

h) A lot of meetings have been held, but nothing has being decided yet.

2 Both sentences in each pair have the same meaning. Complete the second
sentence.

a) The crowd was slowly filling the huge stadium.

The huge stadium by the crowd.
b) The inventor of the computer simplified the work of the accountants.
Since the computer the work of accountants
simplified.
c) Someone has suggested that the shop should close.
It that the shop should close.
d) 'I'd take out some travel insurance if I were you, Mr Smith.'
Mr Smith take out some travel insurance.
e) The waitress will bring your drinks in a moment.
Your drinks in a moment.
f) Someone used a knife to open the window.
This window a knife.
g) You will hear from us when we have finished dealing with your complaint.
After your complaint , you will hear from us.
h) An announcement of their engagement appeared in the local paper.
Their engagement in the local paper.
i) Nobody ever heard anything of David again.
Nothing David again.
j) They paid Sheila £1,000 as a special bonus.
£1,000 Sheila as a special bonus.

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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE

3 Rewrite each sentence in the passive, omitting the words underlined.

a) Someone left the phone off the hook all night.

b) The government has announced that petrol prices will rise tomorrow.

c) A burglar broke into our house last week.

d) People asked me the way three times.

e) The fruit-pickers pick the apples early in the morning.

f) It's time the authorities did something about this problem.

g) Lots of people had parked their cars on the pavement.

h) The government agreed with the report and so they changed the law.

i) You have to fill in an application form.

j) They don't know what happened to the ship.

4 Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate passive verb form.

a) The boxes (not/pack) yet.

b) Your food (still/prepare).
c) The new ship (launch) next week.
d) Luckily by the time we got there the painting
(not/sell).
e) We had to go on holiday because our house
(decorate).
f) I'm afraid that next week's meeting (cancel).
g) If we don't hurry, all the tickets (sell) by the
time we get there.
h) All main courses (serve) with vegetables or
salad. At least that is what is written on the menu.
i) The second goal (score) by Hughes in the 41st
minute,
j) The cathedral (build) in the fourteenth century.

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 GRAMMAR 6 PASSIVE 1

5 Underline any uses of the agent which are unnecessary.

a) My jewellery has been stolen by a thief!

b) It has been decided by the authorities that Wednesday will be a school
holiday.
c) Harry was pushed over by someone standing next to him in the queue.
d) The goods are transported by rail to our warehouse in the Midlands.
e) I was told by someone that you have a vacancy for a computer operator.
f) Sue has been picked by the selectors for the national event.
g) The letter was sent by post on the 21st of last month.
h) The larger portrait was painted by a little-known Flemish artist.
i) It has been agreed by everyone that no smoking should be allowed,
j) As I arrived at the conference a note was handed to me by one of the
delegates.

6 Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate passive verb form.

a) Nothing . (see) of Pauline since her car

(find) abandoned near Newbury last week.
b) As our new furniture (deliver) on Monday
morning I'll have to stay at home to check that it
(not/damage) during transit.
c) The new Alhambra hatchback, which in this country
(sell) under the name 'Challenger',
(fit) with electric windows as standard.
d) For the past few days I (work) in Jack's office, as
my own office (redecorate).
e) It (announce) that the proposed new office
block (now/not/build) because of the current
economic situation.
f) A major new deposit of oil (discover) in the
North Sea. It (think) to be nearly twice the size
of the largest existing field.
g) Pictures of the surface of the planet Venus
(receive) yesterday from the space probe 'Explorer' which
(launch) last year.
h) A large sum (raise) for the Fund by a recent
charity concert but the target of £250,000 (still/
not/reach),
i) No decision (make) about any future
appointment until all suitable candidates
(interview).

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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE

Rewrite each sentence in a more formal style so that it contains a passive form of
the word given in capitals.

a) Sorry, but we've lost your letter. MISLAY

b) The police are grilling Harry down at the station. QUESTION

c) They've found the remains of an old Roman villa nearby. DISCOVER

d) You'll get a rise in salary after six months. RAISE

e) They stopped playing the match after half an hour. ABANDON

f) They stopped traffic from using the centre. BAN

g) They took Chris to court for dangerous driving. PROSECUTE

h) You usually eat this kind of fish with a white sauce. SERVE

i) I don't know your name. INTRODUCE

o Put each verb in brackets into a suitable active or passive verb form.

Dear Mrs Patel,

We are delighted to inform you that you (1)
(select) for a free holiday. According to our information, you
(2) (answer) a telephone survey last month, as a
result of which your name (3) (enter) in the
holiday draw. Now our computer (4) (choose) your
name, so you and your family (5) (invite) to spend
a week in a European destination of your choice. This offer
(6) (make) on the condition that you attend a
special promotions day with other lucky families in your region who
(7) (offer) a similar deal. You
(8) (ask) to attend on any Saturday next month at
the Royal Hotel, Manchester. If you (9) (interest) in
attending and taking up this offer, please (10)
(detach) the slip below and return it to us as soon as possible.

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 GRAMMAR 6 PASSIVE 1

9 Using the notes as a guide, complete the e-mail to all company staff. Put the
verbs in brackets into a suitable passive verb form.

NOTES FROM MANAGEMENT MEETING

Tell staff:
We'll try flexi-time for 3 months.
After 3 months we'll get the opinions of all staff.
We'll look at feedback comments and make a decision.
We may try it for another month.
All workers will have to arrive 8-9.30.
We hope you like the idea!

FROM: The Managing Director

TO: All staff
(decide) to adopt a flexi-time system for a
trial period of three months. After this period (2)
(elapse) all members of staff (3) (consult) through
their line manager, and feedback (4) (seek).
Comments (5) (collect) and analysed before a
decision (6) (make) as to whether the system
(7) (adopt) permanently or not. Alternatively, the
trial period (8) (extend) for a further month. All
employees (9) (require) to arrive between the hours
of 8.00 and 9.30, and to leave after they have fulfilled their contractual
obligations of eight hours. It (10) (hope) that this
arrangement meets with your enthusiastic approval!

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 Explanations
Have and get • Have/get something done
something done, This typically describes a service performed for us by someone else.
need doing I've just had/got my car serviced. I have/get it done every winter.
It can also describe something unfortunate that happens to someone.
We had/got our car broken into last month.
Get is more likely to be used than have when:
i) there is a feeling that something must be done.
/ really must get (have) my hair cut.
ii) there is a feeling of eventually managing to do something.
/ eventually got (had) the car fixed at the Fast Service garage.
iii) in orders and imperatives.
Get your hair cut!
Note that get should not be used in the present perfect passive, where it
would be confused with have got.
• The need to have a service done can be described with need doing.
Your hair needs cutting.
Passive get Get can be used instead of be to form the passive in spoken language.
Martin got arrested at a football match.
Reporting verbs • Present reference
With verbs such as believe, know, say, think, which report people's opinions, a
passive construction is often used to avoid a weak subject, and to give a
generalised opinion.
With present reference, the passive is followed by the present infinitive.
The criminal is thought to be in hiding in the London area.
Vitamin C is known to be good for treating colds.
• Past reference
With past reference, the passive is followed by the past infinitive.
Smith is believed to have left England last week.
• Past reporting verb
If the reporting verb is in the past, the past infinitive tends to follow, though
not always if the verb be is used.
People thought Sue had paid too much.
Sue was thought to have paid too much.
The police thought that the thief was still in the house.
The thief was thought to still be in the house.

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 GRAMMAR 7 PASSIVE 2

• Past reference with two objects

In this case there are two ways of making a passive sentence.
Everyone knows the portrait was painted by an Italian.
The portrait is known to have been painted by an Italian.
• Continuous infinitive
Past and present continuous infinitives are also used.
Mary is thought to be living in Scotland.
The driver is thought to have been doing a U-turn.
Verbs with • Ending a sentence with a preposition
prepositions It is possible to end a sentence with a preposition in a sentence where a
prepositional verb is made passive.
Somebody broke into our house.
Our house was broken into.
• By and with
With is used after participles such as filled, packed, crowded, crammed.
The train was packed with commuters.
The difference between by and with may involve the presence of a person:
Dave was hit by a branch, (an accident)
Dave was hit with a branch, (a person hit him with one)
• Make is followed by to when used in the passive.
My boss made me work hard.
I was made to work hard by my boss.
• Cover and verbs which involve similar ideas, such as surround, decorate, can
use with or by. Cover can also be followed by in.
The furniture was covered in dust.
The living room had been decorated with flowery wallpaper.
Common contexts • Formality
for the passive The passive is probably more common in written English, where there tends
to be less use of personal reference in some contexts, since the audience may
be unknown.
• Points mentioned in Grammar 6
The passive is used to change the focus of the sentence, to avoid generalised
subjects, and to make an action impersonal. It is common in descriptions of
processes, and in scientific and technical language in general.

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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE

1 Decide whether the sentences in each pair have the same meaning.

a) I've just been to the hairdresser's. What do you think?

I've just cut my hair at the hairdresser's. What do you think?
b) Someone is painting our house at the moment.
We are painting our house at the moment.
c) The dentist is going to take out two of my teeth tomorrow.
I'm having two teeth taken out tomorrow.
d) The teacher made us all tidy up.
We were made to tidy up by the teacher.
e) The car is thought to have been stolen by joy-riders.
Joy-riders are thought to have stolen the car.
f) Just a minute. I'll ask someone to wrap this for you.
Just a minute. I'll have to wrap this up for you.
g) The car hasn't been serviced for a long time.
We haven't had the car serviced for a long time.
h) They're coming to put in a new water-heater next week.
We're putting in a new water-heater next week.
i) Would you consider having plastic surgery to alter your nose?
Would you consider having your nose altered by plastic surgery?
j) A qualified electrician checked the wiring.
We had checked the wiring with a qualified electrician.

2 Underline the correct word in each sentence.

a) The busy shopping street was thronged by/with people.

b) The emergency exit was concealed by/from a red curtain.
c) The price of excursions is included in/with the cost of the holiday.
d) All through January, the fields were covered by/from snow.
e) The room was crammed by/with furniture of all descriptions.
f) Two of the climbers were injured by/with falling rocks.
g) The island is inhabited by/from people of mainly Chinese origin,
h) The bank was quickly surrounded from/with armed police.
i) The window had been smashed from/with a hammer taken from the shed,
j) The stadium was packed from/with cheering fans.

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3 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.

a) The treasure is thought to date from the thirteenth century.

date
It . from the thirteenth century.
b) Your hair needs cutting.
get
You cut.
c) Jill's parents are making her study hard.
made
Jill her parents.
d) Apparently the ship did not sustain any damage.
appears
The ship any damage.
e) It is thought that the two injured men were repairing overhead cables.
have
The two injured men overhead cables.
f) There is a rumour that the escaped prisoner is living in Spain.
be
The escaped prisoner living in Spain.
g) We have agreed to meet again in a fortnight.
will
It has meet again in a fortnight.
h) We decided to try again later.
would
It was try again later.
i) There is confirmation of Mr Jackson's intended resignation.
that
It is to resign.
j) Most of the committee thought it was not a viable solution.
not
It was thought by most of the committee.

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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE

4 Rewrite each sentence so that it ends with the word underlined.

a) Another company has taken over our company.

b) We are dealing with your complaint.

c) We have not accounted for all the missing passengers.

d) Someone had tampered with the lock of the front door.

e) We don't know how they disposed of the body.

f) I must insist that you keep to the rules.

g) We are looking into this allegation.

h) We will frown upon any attempts to cheat in the exam.

i) The youngest student complained that people were picking on him.

j) Ann was well provided for in her husband's will.

S Complete each sentence with a suitable preposition.

a) The tree had been decorated coloured balls.

b) The answers have been included the book.
c) After the rugby match, Jim's shorts were covered mud.
d) The victim was struck from behind a heavy object.
e) The house was built money that David borrowed from the
bank.
f) The cat narrowly escaped being run over a car.
g) When the accident happened, Sue was struck flying glass.
h) The turkey was stuffed chestnuts, and was very tasty.
i) No one knew that Peter had been involved the investigation.
j) When I left the casino, my pockets were crammed money.

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 GRAMMAR 7 PASSIVE 2

6 Complete the text using the phrases from the box.

A plane carrying 15 members of the government to a conference in Brussels

(1) a small-scale fire earlier this morning. The
plane (2) about 20 minutes into its journey
when the fire occurred in the luggage area. It
(3) how the plane caught fire, but initial eye-
witness accounts confirm that a trail of smoke
(4) coming from the under-carriage. The fire
(5) rapidly under control, but the pilot
(6) make an emergency landing. Five people
(7) treated for shock. The plane
(8) with business people flying to Belgium.
All 209 passengers (9) stay behind for
questioning after landing at a military airport in northern France. Police
(10) treating the incident as suspicious.

7 Rewrite the text using the passive where possible. Make sure the words
underlined do not appear.

Nobody knows exactly when someone invented gunpowder. People know for a
fact that the Chinese made rockets and fireworks long before people used
gunpowder in Europe, which occurred at about the beginning of the thirteenth
century. We generally believe that gunpowder brought to an end the 'Age of
Chivalry', since anyone with a firearm could bring down a mounted knight. In
fact, people did not develop efficient firearms until the sixteenth century. They
used gunpowder mainly in siege cannon when people first introduced it. Later
they used it in engineering work and in mining, but they found that it was
extremely dangerous. Modern explosives have now replaced gunpowder, but we
still use it for making fireworks, just as the Chinese did.

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 Grammar: Passive Uoice

We form the passive voice by putting the verb to be into the same tense as the active verb and adding the past participle
of the active verb. The object of the active verb becomes the subject of the passive verb. The subject of the active verb
becomes the "agent" of the passive verb and is preceded by "by". The agent is omitted when it is a) a pronoun, bl
words like one, someone, people, etc, c) easily understood. (Someone destroyed the evidence. ---+ The evidence was
destroyed.) Most transitive verbs can be used in the passive.

e.i~:!::~
Simple Past
The assistant o/PeS reports.
The assistant typed reports.
Reports are typed {by the assistant}.
Reports were typed {by the assistant}.

Present Continuous The assistant is typing reports. Reports are being typed {by the assistant}.
Past Continuous The assistant was typing reports. Reports were being typed {by the assistant}.

Present Perfect The assistant has typed reports. Reports have been typed {by the assistant}.
Past Perfect The assistant had typed reports. Reports had been typed {by the assistant}.

Simple Future The assistant will type reports. Reports will be typed {by the assistant}.
Future Perfect The assistant will have typed reports. Reports will have been typed {by the assistant}.

Conditional The assistant would type reports. Reports would be typed {by the assistant}.
Conditional Perfect The assistant would have typed reports. Reports would have been typed {by the assistant

Present Infinitive The assistant ought to type reports. Reports ought to be typed {by the assistant}.
Perfect Infinitive The assistant ought to have typed reports. Reports ought to have been typed {by the assistant

Gerund The assistant hates people asking her to type The assistant hates being asked to type reports.
reports.
Perfect Gerund The assistant remembers her boss having The assistant remembers having been asked
asked her to type reports. type reports. {by her boss}

Notes

• Conversational and informal English often replaces the passive form with an active form with get. The get - passhe
is normally used in constructions without an agent.
Mary got hit.
He got cut.
• Have + object + past participle can be used colloquially to replace a passive verb when we want to talk about an
accident or misfortune.
She had her leg broken. {Her leg was broken.}

Use
The passive voice is used:
• when the person who performs the action ("agent") can easily be understood, or is unknown.
He has been arrested. {=The police have arrested him.}
A new government has been elected {= easily understood: by the citizens}.
• when it is necessary to express sth more formally.
Some people think the Minister was involved in the conspiracy to overthrow the government. ---+ It is thought that lite
Minister was involved in the conspiracy to overthrow the government./The Minister is thought to have been involve
in the conspiracy to overthrow the government.
• when we are interested in the action itself rather than the person who performs it.
The new hospital will be opened tomorrow {by the Minister of Health}.
• when we mean to be tactful by not naming the agent.
All my shampoo has been used. {instead of: You've used all my shampoo!}
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 4a Grammar: Passive
...........,............ .
1 FURTHER POINTS ON THE PAS SlUE UOICE
......... '!' ......................................... .

• Make, hear, see, help are followed by to + infinitive in the passive voice.
He made her leave. -+ She was made to leave.
• Let becomes was/were allowed to in the passive. When the subject of let and the object of the infinitive that follows
let are the same, then let, when used in the passive voice, is followed by a reflexive pronoun + bare passive
infinitive.
O/Tv Ivt {TJv gu uut. r I YrUJ ulloYrari 10 gu uur.
Don't let him tease you. -+ Don't let yourself be teased.
• The passive voice with verbs of reporting such as assume, believe, consider, feel, know, report, say, think,
understand, etc is formed in two ways. a} It + passive verb + that - clause b} subject + passive verb + to - infinitive.
They believe she is a spy. -+ It is believed that she is a spy.
They believe she is a spy. -+ She is believed to be a spy.
• Verbs which take two objects such as allow, ask, give, lend, send, etc have two passive forms.
He showed me the way to the door. -+ I was shown the way to the door. The way to the door was shown to me.
• Passive voice can take by + agent or with + instrument (a person is involved), material, past participles (such as
filled, packed etc).
It was cut with a knife. (by someone)
Ice cream is made with milk.
The stadium was filled with thousands of spectators.
• Verbs followed by a certain preposition take the preposition immediately after them when put into the passive voice.
She accused me of lying. -+ I was accused of lying.
• Prepositional verbs of movement when turned into the passive voice change to other synonymous verbs which take
no preposition.
Columbus reached/arrived in America in 1492. -+ America was reached (NOT arrived in) by Columbus in 1492. The
royal couple entered/went into the room arm in arm. -+ The room was entered (NOT gone into) by the royal couple
arm in arm.
• Modals do not change in the passive voice. We change the active infinitive into passive infinitive.
They can't repair the building. -+ The building can't be repaired.

Turn the following sentences from active into passive, or vice versa.

Susan will have redecorated her flat by the end of 5 Lucy is known to have applied for the manager's
the month. position.

2 Which car did the family eventually choose? 6 Don't let them take advantage of you.

3 The bus timetable is going to change during the 7 Will all the new students be made to learn a second
summer period. language?

4 You must return all books to the library within a 8 He wasn't allowed to leave the premises.
week.

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 4a'tGrammar: Passive Uoice

9 The government department should have sent all the 5 The ATM withheld my card last night, so now 1'1
necessary forms. probably get it back on Monday. I just hope the
machine doesn't discharge my card over the
weekend.
10 The toddler dislikes being forced to eat breakfast.

11 Peter believes he has left his wallet in his jacket

pocket. 6 Most people believe that the government should do
more to protect the local environment. I don't thin~
they are doing enough to encourage people to
12 Don't let the gloomy weather depress you. recycle.

13 I just don't like people staring at me.

7 From the manner in which the committee spoke of

Madeline Adams, you would have thought they
2 Turn the following from active into passive where were going to promote her, but instead of thai
necessary. they've just dismissed her.
When Hilary joined the production team, her
manager introduced her to important contacts in the
industry, and before long she was promoted to
head of department.
8 It appears they have diagnosed her symptoms as
influenza, but they are testing her for suspected
pneumonia as well.

2 The shops have lowered their prices for the sales. The
difficulty is that the credit card company has
cancelled my credit card, so I can't buy anything.
9 My car's battery went flat and they had to tow it to a
mechanic. I will have to pay for the tow truck charges,
but if they have to replace the battery I won't have to
pay because the guarantee still covers it.
3 Sally says that Harvard University has offered her a
place on their Bachelor of A~ts course, but she's
decided to reject it as Radcliff has admitted her too.

10 When they appointed Therese as head chef of the

restaurant, they gave her permission to add any
4 Lucy gave me a novel in which someone stole new dishes, so she may replace their existing menu.
Monet's Water Lilies from the National Gallery.

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 4a Grammar: Passive

(COItUERSAnoHAL GRAMMAR)

3 Choose the correct item.

She was anxious ......... for the post of the Personal 4. "How did his speech go?"
Assistant to the Director in the recently affiliated "With all the noise outside, he couldn't ......... himself
Jacobs Sussard Company. heard."
A tn c;plprt C tn he c;:elerterl A rY'It"1ko
B t6 have seleded U to be seledlng B be making D have made

2 "Why are the Newtons asking for loan repayment 5 "Did you hear anything about last month's Bardays'
modifications?" robbery?"
"Because their house ......... in the flood." "Yes eventually the robbers ......... given a ten-year
A was damaged C had damaged sentence."
B damaged D was being damaged A were not being C were not to be
B were D were not have been
3 "How's the new town planning project going?"
"Oh, there's still a lot .......... "
A having done C to be done
B has been done D have done

. STR UCTU RRLeO NUE RSION • - - - -- - - -- - -- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -- - - - -- - - -- - - -- -- - - --- - -- -- --- -- ----

It is said that this poem was written by Elytis. 7 Your contract says that you are to be present by 8 am
This poem was written by Elytis, so it is said. every day.
E!ytis is said to have written this poem. You are expected to be present by 8 am every day,
This poem is said to have been written by Elytis. according to your contract.
They say (that) this poem was written by Elytis. 8 Her story didn't deceive me.
They say that Elytis wrote this poem. I wasn't taken in by her story.
2 Nothing more can be done about this matter. 9 He wore a hat so that no one would recognise him.
There's nothing more to be done about this matter. He wore a hat to avoid being recognised.
With regard to this matter, there's nothing more to be 10 I love people asking for my autograph.
done. I love being asked for my autograph.
3 Someone fitted her new costume. I love it when I'm asked for my autograph.
Her new costume was fitted. 11 They couldn't hear him.
She was fitted for her new costume. He couldn't make himself heard.
She had her new costume fitted. 12 They saw him enter the building.
4 They don't allow speeding in the city. He was seen to enter/entering the building.
Speeding isn't aI/owed in the city. 13 Who made this dress?
Speeding is forbidden in the city. Who was this dress made by?
5 I'd love you to take me out. 14 No actor can be expected to remember 01/ the names
I'd love to be taken out (by you). of the plays he has acted in.
6 He lets people laugh at him. No one can expect an actor to remember all the plays
He lets himself be laughed at. he has acted in.
~.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do
not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given.

She allows her colleagues to take her attention from 2 She locked the door so that nobody would disturb
her work. her.
distracted avoid
She ................................................................ . She ................................................................ .
............................................ by her colleagues. . ....................................................... disturbed .
73
34
 ,4a Grammar: Passive Uoice

3 We can't do much for him now. ( CONUERSATIONAL GRAMMAR)

little
There ............................................................. . 5 Choose the correct item.
............................................................... now.
"How was your dinner?"
4 I believe parking is prohibited in this area.
"A great success! Our guests ate the appetizers, the
permit
two main courses and the dessert. There W05
I don't think .................................................... .
literally nothing .......... "
..................................................... in this area.
5 No student can be expected to know every word in
A to be left C have left
B left D has been left
the book.
students 2 "Is there any news about the ex-President?"
Nobody ......................................................... . "Well, he's reported ......... the country last night:
..................................................... in the book. A to be leavi ng C to have left
6 The agreement states that you are to pay the B that he left D to leave
installment once a month. 3 "What do you think of Uberto Eco's novel The name
according of the rose?"
You ................................................................ . "Well, it ......... widely regarded as his best, but to
............................................. to the agreement. tell you the truth I'm not crazy about it."
7 I don't like it when people I don't know very well A has been C is being
ask me personal questions. B was D is
being
4 "Did you enjoy your graduation ceremony?"
I .................................................................... .
"Oh yes; I didn't like ......... photographed all the
........................... people I don't know very well.
ti me, though."
8 His claim that he didn't know anything didn't
A being C to have been
deceive me.
B having been D it to be
taken
I .................................................................... . 5 "How was your first day in your new job?"
................................... he didn't know anything. "Extremely embarrassing! We were " .... '" present
ourselves and talk about our previous wor~
9 Using notes is forbidden in this examination.
experience. "
allowed
A been asked to C being asked
Notes ............................................................. .
Basked D asked to
........... '" ............................ in this examination.
10 I'd hate them to forget about me. 6 Underline the correct item.
left o He hates being asked/asking to sign autographs.
I'd ................................................................. .
1 The new wing of the museum will be open/opened
................................................................. out.
tomorrow by the Minister of Culture.
11 Allegedly, this book was written by two people. 2 It is said that the new cinema complex will have
said been/to be completed by the summer.
This ................................................................ .
3 He recalled having/having been severely bitten by
..................................................... two people.
insects the last time he was in the area.
4 The walls of our classroom were filled With/by
colourful pictures.
5 This machinery has been wore/worn out by
constant use.
6 This old house hasn't been lived/lived in for years.
7 The author is said that he spent/to have spent a
fortune on his new villa.
74
35
 Grammar: Causative form

Have + object + past participle is used to suggest that we are instructing someone to do something for us.
I'll ask the mechanic to repair my car.
I'll have my car repaired. (not I myself but the mechanic will do the work.)

Notes
• The verb to have forms its question and negative with do/does in the Simple Present and did in the Simple Past.
Don't print the files, please!
Don't have the files printed, please!
• Have/get + object + past participle can also be used to replace a passive verb usually describing an accident or
misfortune.
He had/got his car stolen. (= his car was stolen)
• Get + object + past participle can be used to mean finish doing something or to replace have in the structure have
something done.
I must get my Homework done over the weekend.
You should get your trousers taken in now that you've lost weight.
• Get + object + to infinitive means make or persuade ~omebody to do something.
The coach got the players to train hard for five hours every day.
See if you can get Paul and MolY to join us at the concert.
• Get + object + present participle (-ing) is used informally to mean make somebody/something start doing
something.
Once you get her talking about her travels, she never stops.
Also: get moving; get going (without an object)
• Have + object + bare infinitive, though not common in British English, is used for giving instructions or orders.
The teacher had the pupils do the exercises in class.
• Want and need are also used with an object and a past participle, to indicate that you would like or need sth to
be done.
I want the room cleaned.
I need thf3 reports checked.

1 Rewrite the following sentences without changing'the meaning of the sentences printed before them.

o The repairman is servicing her television. 5 The dentist has whitened her teeth.
She is having her TV serviced (by the repairman). She ............................................................... .

Someone was setting up Jim's computer when there 6 The insurance company is inspecting Lyn's car.
was an electricity black-out. Lyn ................................................................ .
Jim ................................................................ .
7 The shoe repairer dyed Anna's white shoes.
2 The tailor hemmed my new trousers. Anna ............................................................. .
I ................................................................... .
8 The workman will tar the restaurant's roof for us.
3 Someone washed all the windows in Ruth's home. We ............................................................... .
Ruth .............................................................. .
9 The store will deliver my aunt's new refrigerator to
4 Someone is editing his thesis. her flat.
He ................................................................ . My aunt ......................................................... .

230 36
 12a Grammar: Causativ

(COtlUERSATIOtiAL GRAMMAR)

2 Choose the correct item.

"How did the bride wear her hair?" 7 "We were thinking about doing our place up."
"She ......... into a bun." "Oh, ......... the house completely renovated; just
A had it styled C has styled it revamp it with some new furnishings."
B had been styled it D has had it styled A don't have C not to have
2 "Why doesn't Constance buy a dishwasher?" B haven't D not having
"She can't ......... because there isn't enough space 8 "When do you want this report by?"
in her kitchen." "I'd like ......... finished by 4 o'clock."
A have one installed C have one install A to have the work C have the work been
B have installed one D have install one B the work to have D having the work
3 "Has Paul moved back to his house?" 9 "Why is Ron so upset?"
"Yes. He ......... all the earthquake damage "He ......... broken into."
repaired." A gets a house C didn't get his house
A has had Chad B hasn't got a house D has had his house
B has D had been havi ng 10 "Where've you been Mary?"
.4 "Why are there so many workers in Zoe's garden?" "Well, my tutor ......... some research into post
"She ......... it landscaped." graduate studies."
A had C will have had A made me to do C got me to do
B had had D is having B had me to do D put me do
5 "Your shoes look new." 11 "Did the kids enjoy the circus?"
"I ......... by the hotel porter." "Absolutely! The clown got them ......... all the
A had polished them C have them polished time."
B had them polished D have polished them A laugh C to laugh
6 "What are you going to wear to dinner?" B to be laughing D laughing
"I don't know. I wish I ......... my lace dress cleaned 12 Shall we get ......... ? It's getting late.
yesterday. " A to go C going
A have had C was having B go D gone
B would have D had had

r--STR UCTU RALe 0 tI UERSION ~ --------------------------------------------------------------

Somebody is going to water the flowers for her. 5 The dentist filled her tooth.
She's going to have the flowers watered. She had her tooth filled.
2 Your hair needs cutting. She got her tooth filled.
You'll have to have your hair cut. Her tooth was filled.
You should have your hair cut. 6 I hate her asking someone else to do her homework.
3 I'm having my house decorated. I hate her having her homework done by someone
My house is being decorated. else.
Someone is decorating my house. 7 I'd love it if someone cut the grass for me.
4 Is anyone checking your answers? I'd love to have the grass cut.
Are you having your answers checked? 8 The hairdresser permed my hair.
I got my hair permed at the hairdresser's.
~-------------------~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

37 231
 12a Grammar: Causative form
~

3 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given.
Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given.

All the arrangements were made by his secretary. 11 An ophthalmic optician carried out a second
everything operation on his eye.
He ................................................................. . perform
.. ............ ...... ...... ..................... by his secretary. He ..................................................................
2 She burnt her hands during the fire. . ...................................................... on his eye.
got 12 It would be a good idea for your teeth to be
She ................................................................ . capped, you know.
........................................................... the fire. ought
3 Are you going to have the roof fixed before winter? You .................................................................
repair ....................................................... , you know.
Are ................................................................ . 13 A party will be thrown for the twins when they
. ................ ............ ....... .... .......... before winter? return.
4 Our broken immersion heater must be repaired them
urgently. The twins
seen '" .......................................... when they return.
We must ......................................................... . 14 We used to read fairytales to our children at
.......................................................... urgently. bedtime.
5 The windows need draught-proofing. them
have Our children
You'll .............................................................. . . ..................................................... at bedtime .
...... ........ ....... ......... ............ ..... draught-proofed.
6 A famous architect designed their new home.
had
They ............................................................... . 4 Underline the correct item.
............................................... their new home.
7 It would be a good idea for an accountant to sort
out your tax problems.
o Could you please have the parcel deliver/delivered
by midday?
should
No matter what Jo said, she couldn't get him to
You ................................................................ .
see/see her point.
................................................. an accountant.
2 Sam had his ankle broken/had broken his ankle in
8 Her wedding dress is going to be made by a
the rugby match last night.
famous designer.
3 Jane had her favourite vase smashing/smashed by
have
the removal men.
She ................................................................ .
4 Get to move/moving, will you? We'll miss the train .
....................................... by a famous designer.
5 You should have seen to this/have this seen to as
9 Joe's brother treated him to a meal.
soon as possible.
paid
6 Our teacher had us working/to work in pairs for
Joe ................................................................. .
this project .
....................................... for him by his brother.
7 Cassie had her telephone reconnected/has
10 Henry is going to ask for professional help to
reconnected her telephone after she'd paid the bill.
upgrade his PC.
get
Henry ............................................................. .
............................................................ his PC.

232 38
269 30 The passive voice

30 The passive voice

302 Form
A The passive of an active tense is formed by putting the verb to be into the same tense as the active verb and
adding the past participle of the active verb. The subject of the active verb becomes the ‘agent’ of the passive
verb. The agent is very often not mentioned. When it is mentioned it is preceded by by and placed at the end of
the clause:
This tree was planted by my grandfather.

В Examples of present, past and perfect passive tenses:

Active We keep the butter here.
Passive The butter is kept here.
Active They broke the window.
Passive The window was broken.
Active People have seen wolves in the streets.
Passive Wolves have been seen in the streets.

С The passive of continuous tenses requires the present continuous forms of to be, which are not otherwise
much used:
Active They are repairing the bridge.
Passive The bridge is being repaired.
Active They were carrying the injured player off the field.
Passive The injured player was being carried off the field.

Other continuous tenses are exceedingly rarely used in the passive, so that sentences such as:
They have/had been repairing the road and
They will/would be repairing the road

are not normally put into the passive.

D Auxiliary + infinitive combinations are made passive by using a passive infinitive:
Active You must/should shut these doors.
Passive These doors must/should be shut.
Active They should/ought to have told him.
(perfect infinitive active)
Passive He should/ought to have been told.

(perfect infinitive passive)

E Other infinitive combinations

39
270 30 The passive voice

Verbs of liking/loving/wanting/wishing etc. + object + infinitive form their passive with the passive infinitive:
Active He wants someone to take photographs.
Passive He wants photographs to be taken.

With verbs of command/request/advice/invitation + indirect object + infinitive we form the passive by using the
passive form of the main verb:
Active He invited me to go.
Passive I was invited to go.

But with advise/beg/order/recommend/urge + indirect object + infinitive + object we can form the passive in
two ways: by making the main verb passive, as above, or by advise etc. + that ... should + passive infinitive:
Active He urged the Council to reduce the rates.
Passive The Council was/were urged to reduce the rates or He urged that the rates should be reduced.

agree/be anxious/arrange/be determined/determine/decide/ demand + infinitive + object are usually

expressed in the passive by that. . . should, as above:
Active He decided to sell the house.
Passive He decided that the house should be sold. (See also 235.)

F Gerund combinations
advise/insist/propose/recommend/suggest + gerund + object are usually expressed in the passive by that. . .
should, as above:
Active He recommended using bullet-proof glass.
Passive He recommended that bullet-proof glass should be used.

(See 235.)
it/they + need + gerund can also be expressed by it/they + need + passive infinitive. Both forms are passive in
meaning.
Other gerund combinations are expressed in the passive by the passive gerund:
Active I remember them taking me to the Zoo.
Passive I remember being taken to the Zoo.

3ОЗ Active tenses and their passive equivalents

A Tense/Verb form Active voice Passive voice

Simple present keeps is kept

Present continuous is keeping is being kept

Simple past kept was kept

Past continuous was keeping was being kept

40
271 30 The passive voice

Present perfect has kept has been kept

Past perfect had kept had been kept

Future will keep will be kept

Conditional would keep would be kept

Perfect conditional would have kept would have been kept

Present infinitive to keep to be kept

Perfect infinitive to have kept to have been kept

Present participle/gerund keeping being kept

Perfect participle having kept having been kept

В In colloquial speech get is sometimes used instead of be:

The eggs got (= were) broken.
You’II get (= be) sacked if you take any more time off.

С Note that in theory a sentence containing a direct and an indirect object, such as Someone gave her a
bulldog, could have two passive forms:
She was given a bulldog. A bulldog was given to her.
The first of these is much the more usual, i.e. the indirect object usually becomes the subject of the passive verb.
(See also 302 E, F.)
D Questions about the identity of the subject of an active verb are usually expressed by an affirmative (see
55):
What delayed you? Which team won?

Questions about the subject of a passive verb are also expressed by an affirmative:
Something was done. ~ What was done?
One of them was sold. ~ Which of them was sold?

Interrogative verbs in active questions about the object become affirmative verbs in passive questions:
Active What did they steal? (interrogative)
Passive What was stolen? (affirmative)

Conversely, affirmative verbs in active questions become interrogative verbs in

passive questions:
Active Who painted it? (affirmative)
Passive Who was it painted by? (interrogative)

Other types of question require interrogative verbs in both active and passive:

41
272 30 The passive voice

Active When/ Where/Why did he paint it?

Passive When/ Where/Why was it painted?

304 Uses of the passive

The passive is used:
A When it is not necessary to mention the doer of the action as it is obvious who he is/was/will be:
The rubbish hasn’t been collected. The streets are swept every day.
Your hand will be X-rayed.

В When we don’t know, or don’t know exactly, or have forgotten who did the action:
The minister was murdered. My car has been moved!
You’ll be met at the station. I’ve been told that. . .

С When the subject of the active verb would be ‘people’:

He is suspected of receiving stolen goods. (People suspect him of ...)
They are supposed to be living in New York. (People suppose that they are living ...)

(See 245, 306 for infinitive constructions with passive verbs.)

D When the subject of the active sentence would be the indefinite pronoun one: One sees this sort of
advertisement everywhere would usually be expressed:
This sort of advertisement is seen everywhere.
In colloquial speech we can use the indefinite pronoun you (see 68) and an active verb:
You see this sort of advertisement everywhere.

But more formal English requires one + active verb or the more usual passive form.
E When we are more interested in the action than the person who does it:
The house next door has been bought (by a Mr Jones).
If, however, we know Mr Jones, we would use the active:
Your father’s friend, Mr Jones, has bought the house next door.

Similarly:
A new public library is being built (by our local council)

though in more informal English we could use the indefinite pronoun they (see 68) and an active verb:
They are building a new public library

while a member of the Council will of course say:

We are/The council is building etc.

F The passive may be used to avoid an awkward or ungrammatical sentence. This is usually done by avoiding a
change of subject:
When he arrived home a detective arrested him.
would be better expressed:

42
273 30 The passive voice

When he arrived home he was arrested (by a detective ).

When their mother was ill neighbours looked after the children would be better expressed:
When their mother was ill the children were looked after by neighbours.

G The passive is sometimes preferred for psychological reasons. A speaker may use it to disclaim responsibility
for disagreeable announcements:
EMPLOYER: Overtime rates are being reduced/will have to be reduced.
The active will, of course, be used for agreeable announcements:
I am/We are going to increase overtime rates.

The speaker may know who performed the action but wish to avoid giving the name. Tom, who suspects Bill of
opening his letters, may say tactfully:
This letter has been opened! instead of You’ve opened this letter!
H For the have + object + past participle construction, I had the car resprayed, see 119.

305 Prepositions with passive verbs

A As already noted, the agent, when mentioned, is preceded by by:
Active Dufy painted this picture.
Passive This picture was painted by Dufy.
Active What makes these holes?
Passive What are these holes made by?

Note, however, that the passive form of such sentences as:

Smoke filled the room. Paint covered the lock.
will be:
The room was filled with smoke. The lock was covered with paint.

We are dealing here with materials used, not with the agents.
В When a verb + preposition + object combination is put into the passive, the preposition will remain
immediately after the verb:
Active We must write to him.
Passive He must be written to.
Active You can play with these cubs quite safely.
Passive These cubs can be played with quite safely.
Similarly with verb + preposition/adverb combinations:
Active They threw away the old newspapers.
Passive The old newspapers were thrown away.
Active He looked after the children well.
Passive The children were well looked after.

43
274 30 The passive voice

306 Infinitive constructions after passive verbs

A After acknowledge, assume, believe, claim, consider, estimate, feel, find, know, presume, report, say,
think, understand etc. (see also 245)
Sentences of the type People consider/know/think etc. that he is ...have two possible passive forms:
It is considered/known/thought etc. that he is ...
He is considered/known/thought etc. to be ...

Similarly:
People said that he was jealous of her =
It was said that he was or He was said to be jealous of her.

The infinitive construction is the neater of the two. It is chiefly used with to be though other infinitives can
sometimes be used:
He is thought to have information which will be useful to the police.

When the thought concerns a previous action we use the perfect infinitive so that:
People believed that he was = It was believed that he was or He was believed to be ...
People know that he was = It is known that he was or He is known to have been ...

This construction can be used with the perfect infinitive of any verb.
В After suppose
1 suppose in the passive can be followed by the present infinitive of any verb but this construction usually
conveys an idea of duty and is not therefore the normal equivalent of suppose in the active:
You are supposed to know how to drive = It is your duty to know/You should know how to drive

though He is supposed to be in Paris could mean either ‘He ought to be there’ or ‘People suppose he is there’.
2 suppose in the passive can similarly be followed by the perfect infinitive of any verb. This construction may
convey an idea of duty but very often does not:
You are supposed to have finished = You should have finished but
He is supposed to have escaped disguised as a woman = People suppose that he escaped etc.

С Infinitives placed after passive verbs are normally full infinitives:

Active We saw them go out. He made us work.
Passive They were seen to go out. We were made to work.

let, however, is used without to:

Active They let us go.
Passive We were let go.

D The continuous infinitive can be used after the passive of believe, know, report, say, suppose, think,
understand:
He is believed/known/said/supposed/thought to be living abroad = People believe/know/say/suppose/think
that he is living abroad.
You are supposed to be working = You should be working.

44
275 30 The passive voice

The perfect form of the continuous infinitive is also possible:

He is believed to have been waiting for a message = People believed that he was waiting for a message.
You are supposed to have been working = You should have been working.

45
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47
48
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