PASSIVE FORMS BE + PAST PARTICIPLE form

FORMING THE PASSIVEActive : Mary helped the boyPassive : The boy was helped by Mary

Active : An accident happenedPassive : None

FORMING THE PASSIVE In the passive, the object of an active verb becomes the subject of the passive verb.

Only transitive verbs (verb that can be followed by an object) are used in the passive. It is not possible to use intransitive verbs.

HappenSleepComeSeemCryetcINTRANSITIVE VERBS

Form of active and passivesimple present tenseActive1.Mary helps the boy

2. Mary doesnt help the boy. 3. Does Mary help the boy? Passive1. The boy is helped by Mary.2. The boy isnt helped by Mary.3. Is the boy helped by Mary?

Simple continuousActiveMary is helping the boy.Mary isnt helping the boy.Is Mary helping the boy?

PassiveThe boy is being helped by Mary.The boy isnt being helped by Mary.Is the boy being helped by Mary?

Present perfectActiveMary has helped the boy.Mary hasnt helped The boy.Has Mary helped the boy?Passive The boy has been helped by Mary.The boy hasnt been helped by Mary.Has the boy been helped by Mary?

Simple futureActiveMary will help the boy.Mary wont help the boy.Will Mary help the boy?PassiveThe boy will be helped by Mary.The boy wont be helped by Mary.Will the boy be helped by Mary?

USING THE PASSIVEA) Rice is grown in IndiaB) Our house was built in 1980

Usually the passive is used without a BY phrase. The passive is most frequently used when it is not known or not important to know exactly who performs an action.

USING THE PASSIVEIn (a) Rice is grown in India by people, by farmers, or by someone. It is not known or important to know exactly who grows rice in India.(a) and (b) illustrate the most common use of the passive, i.e., without the by-phrase.

USING THE PASSIVEC) Life on the Mississippi was written by Mark Twain.

The by-phrase is included only if it is important to know how performs an action, as in (c), where Mark Twain is important information.

Indirect objects as passive subject1. Someone gave Mrs. Lee an award I.O D.O 2. Mrs. Lee was given an award.

3. Someone gave an award to Mrs. Lee. D.O I.O 4. An award was given to Mrs. Lee.

Indirect objects as passive subjectEither an indirect object or a direct object may become the subject of a passive sentence.1, 2, 3 and 4 have the same meaning.

Notice in 4, when the direct object becomes the subject, to is usually kept in front of the indirect object.

The passive form of modals and phrasal modalsThe passive form: modal + be + past participleExamples:Tom will be invited to the picnicThe window cant be openedChildren should be taught to respect their eldersMay I be excused from class?

Examples:5. This book had better be returned to the library before Friday.6. This letter ought to be sent before June 1st. 7. Fred is supposed to be told about the meeting.8. Mary has to be told about our change in plans.

The passive form of modals and phrasal modalsThe past-passive form: modal + have been + past participle

Examples:The letter should have been sent last week.This house must have been built over 200 years ago.

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