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Lesson 3 - Advanced Passive

The document outlines advanced passive structures in English, focusing on their usage, nuances, and transformation from active to passive forms. It covers various types of advanced passive constructions, including those with reporting verbs, ditransitive verbs, prepositional passives, passive infinitives, and passive gerunds. Mastery of these structures is essential for effective communication in formal and academic contexts.

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Ziprey Lising
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Lesson 3 - Advanced Passive

The document outlines advanced passive structures in English, focusing on their usage, nuances, and transformation from active to passive forms. It covers various types of advanced passive constructions, including those with reporting verbs, ditransitive verbs, prepositional passives, passive infinitives, and passive gerunds. Mastery of these structures is essential for effective communication in formal and academic contexts.

Uploaded by

Ziprey Lising
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 3: Advanced Passive Structures in English

Objectives:
• Understand and apply advanced passive constructions in English.
• Recognize the nuances and contexts where advanced passive forms are appropriate.
• Transform active sentences into advanced passive structures effectively.

Definitions and Overview:


The passive voice is used to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action rather than the
doer. In more advanced English, passive structures become more intricate, allowing for more
nuanced expression. These advanced passive forms include passive constructions with
reporting verbs, two objects (ditransitive verbs), prepositional passive forms, passive infinitives,
and passive gerunds.

Advanced Passive Forms:

1. Passive with Reporting Verbs:


• Usage: Reporting verbs are used to convey information or beliefs without specifying the
source. This form is common in academic writing and formal contexts where the focus is
on the action or belief rather than the individual or entity responsible for it.
• Structure A: Subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive.
o Example: “She is believed to be the mastermind.”
• Structure B: It + passive reporting verb + that-clause.
o Example: “It is said that the company will expand.”
• Common Reporting Verbs: say, believe, think, report, expect, consider, know, allege,
understand.

Examples:
o "The new policy is considered to be a success."
o "It is expected that the merger will be completed by next year."
o "He is known to have played a significant role in the project."

2. Passive with Two Objects (Ditransitive Verbs):


• Usage: Ditransitive verbs take two objects— a direct object and an indirect object. In
passive constructions, either object can become the subject, depending on what you
want to emphasize.
Active: "The teacher gave the students feedback."
Passive 1 (emphasizing the indirect object): "The students were given feedback."
Passive 2 (emphasizing the direct object): "Feedback was given to the students."

Note: The choice of which object to emphasize depends on the focus of the sentence.
Examples:
o Active: "They offered him a job."
o Passive 1: "He was offered a job."
o Passive 2: "A job was offered to him."

3. Prepositional Passive (Pseudo passive):


• Usage: Prepositional passive occurs when the object of a preposition becomes the
subject of the sentence. This transformation is common in more formal or academic
writing.
Active: “They talked about the issue.”
Passive: “The issue was talked about.”
Note: Not all prepositional verbs allow this transformation. The acceptability of
prepositional passives can vary, and some expressions may sound awkward in the
passive voice. For example, “The bed was slept in” is acceptable, while “The bed was
jumped on” is less so.

Examples:
o "The book was looked at by many students."
o "The decision was based on careful research."
o "The results were discussed in the meeting."

4. Passive Infinitive Structures:


• Usage: The passive infinitive ("to be + past participle") is used after certain verbs,
adjectives, or nouns to indicate that the subject is the recipient of the action. This
structure often appears when talking about necessity, obligation, or actions that must be
performed.
Example: “The documents need to be signed.”
Note: The passive infinitive emphasizes the necessity of an action being performed on
the subject.
Examples:
o "The instructions need to be followed carefully."
o "The project is expected to be completed by Friday."
o "The room is going to be cleaned tomorrow."
5. Passive Gerund Structures:
• Usage: The passive form of gerunds (verb + -ing) indicates that the action is being
received by the subject of the sentence. This structure is often used to emphasize the
experience of the subject receiving the action.
Example: “She dislikes being told what to do.”
Note: This form focuses on the subject’s experience of receiving the action, rather than
the one performing the action.

Examples:
o "He enjoys being admired by his colleagues."
o "The students appreciate being recognized for their hard work."
o "The house is no longer liked being visited by tourists."
Exceptions and Considerations:
1. Intransitive Verbs: Verbs that do not take a direct object (e.g., sleep, arrive, run) cannot
be made passive, as there is no object to become the subject.
2. Stative Verbs: Some stative verbs (e.g., have, own) are rarely used in passive
constructions because they describe a state or condition rather than an action.
3. Idiomatic Expressions: Certain idiomatic expressions or fixed phrases may not
conform to standard passive transformations. For example, “I am in the mood for a
coffee” cannot be passively transformed in the usual way.

Activity: Transforming Active to Advanced Passive


Instructions: Transform the following active sentences into their appropriate passive forms.
1. People consider the novel a masterpiece.
2. They reported that the committee approved the proposal.
3. Someone has slept in this bed.
4. The manager gave all employees a bonus.
5. They expect the new regulations to improve safety standards.

Conclusion:
Mastering advanced passive structures enhances clarity and allows for nuanced expression in
English. Understanding when and how to use these forms is crucial for effective communication,
particularly in formal, academic, or professional contexts. Advanced passive constructions offer
a range of ways to focus on actions and their recipients, making them invaluable tools for any
advanced English learner.
Answers:
1. The novel is considered a masterpiece.
(Focus on the novel, not the people considering it.)
2. It was reported that the committee approved the proposal.
(Passive construction with a reporting verb.)
3. This bed has been slept in.
(Prepositional passive, focusing on the bed.)
4. All employees were given a bonus.
(Passive construction with two objects, focusing on the employees.)
5. The new regulations are expected to improve safety standards.
(Passive infinitive construction, emphasizing the expected improvement.)

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