Passive voice

THE PASSIVE

THE CAUSATIVE

PASSIVE FORMS

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PASSIVE FORMS

twoobjects

impersonal

https://englishprojectoxford.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/active-vs-passive-voice.jpg

Why we use the passive

• style
• clarity
• meaning

• Unimportant agent
• Not mentioning agent
• Focus on issues

We make the passive form of verbs in all tenses by using BE in the appropiate tense + past participle:

• My bag was stolen.
• The murder is being investigated.
• All the questions must be answered.
• It might have been stolen.
• The company will be taken over next year.
• I was made to work long hours.
• She was murdered after she had been fired.
• I see the washing-up hasn't been done.

*We avoid perfect continuous tenses: The murder will have been being investigated

Two objects

• both direct and indirect object: both of them can become subject

The teacher will give some assignments to the students: 1. Some assignments will be given to the students. 2. The students will be given some assignments. He sent me a letter to know about the matter. 1. A letter was sent to me to know about the matter. 2. I was sent a letter to know about the matter.

Impersonal /general statements

• two patterns to describe an impersonal or general feeling

They say he is innocent. 1. It is said that he is innocent. 2. He is said to be innocent. They said she was an important writer. 1. It was said that she was an important writer. 2. She was said to be an important writer.

The causative

Why we use the causative

• to describe something which is done for the subject by someone else.

Bear in mind!

• subject + have/get+ something+ past part.
• get is usually more informal than have.
• it can be used in all tenses,

The hairdresser will cut my hair:1. I will have my hair cut. 2. I will get my hair cut. A mechanic was repairing my father's car. 1. My father was having his car repaired. 2. My father was getting his car repaired.

REPHRASING

1. They are delivering her new car this afternoon. (HAVING)2. The athletes will have to pass a series of rigorous drug tests. (BE) *3. The council let us use the village hall for our meeting. (ALLOWED) 4. They believe the suspect is in hiding somewhere across the border. (BELIEVED) 5. They sacked her for being late so often. (GOT)

REPHRASING

1. She is having her new car delivered this afternoon. 2. A series of rigurous drug tests will have to be passed 3. We are allowed to use the village hall for our meeting. 4. The suspect is believed to be in hiding... / It is believed that the suspect is in hiding... 5. She got sacked for being late so often.