The Passive

WHAT DID THE BURGLAR TAKE?

Yesterday a burglar broke into my house.He took my jewellery.I had just visited my grandmother.I have not reported it to the police yet.The police will investigate the crime scene.The burglar’s wife is probably wearing my necklace.He should have left me some clues.The police always find burglars.By this time tomorrow they will have locked him up.I will never forget this adventure!

Form

Be + past participle

&

sometimes another verb to make the tense

Use

The Passive is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.

Active sentences

The subject performs the activity

eg. My dog ate my homework!He has never eaten my homework

before.I will have to do my homework

again.

Passive sentences

The subject undergoes the activity

eg. My homework was eaten (by my dog)!My homework has never been

eaten before.It will have to be done again (by me).

Direct Object

The Direct Object of the Active sentence becomes the Subject of the passive sentence.

eg. My sister drew a beautiful picture.A beautiful picture was drawn (by my

sister)

Indirect Object

• The Indirect Object of the Active sentence becomes the Subject of the passive sentence.

eg. Susan told me a secret.I was told a secret. & A secret was told

to me.

Lucy gave apples to the kids.Apples were given to the kids. & The kids were given apples.

Indirect Object with ‘to’

• After a number of verbs, the IO always begins with ‘to’. Such an IO cannot become the subject of a passive sentence.

The most important verbs are:

administer confess delegate entrustadmit confide deliver explainannounce declare demonstrate indicate

communicate dedicate dictate introducemention prove say transmitpoint out report statepropose reveal suggest

Benefactive Object

• A Benefactive Object cannot become the subject of a passive sentence

eg. They had booked her a room.A room had been booked for her.She had been booked a room.

Exceptions: bring, buy, find

Intransitive verbs

Cannot be used in the passive

eg. My dog always barks.My father snores every evening.

‘Men’ in Dutch

eg. Men bood hem een goede baan aan.He was offered a good job.

‘Er’ in Dutch

eg. Er werd een vergadering belegd.A meeting was called.

Er werd besloten de wedstrijd af te gelasten.

It was decided to cancel the match.

Er wordt gezegd dat hij ernstig ziek is.It is said that he is seriously ill. / He is said

to be seriously ill.

Uncle Earl's Hairpiece

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/active-voice-versus-passive-voice.aspx