III. Passive Voice
The Passive Voice is formed with the verb to be and the Past Participle of the notional verb.
|
Present |
Past |
Future |
Simple |
a is + V3 are
|
w + V3 were
|
will be + V3 |
Continuous |
a m is being + V3 are
|
w being + V3 were |
__________
|
Perfect |
h been + V3 has
|
had been + V3 |
will have been + V3 |
Perfect Continuous |
__________
|
__________ |
__________ |
m
as
as
ave
The Passive Voice is used:
1) when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the context:
He was arrested a week ago. (The police arrested him.)
This tea is produced in India. (It is not important who produces this tea.)
2) when the action is more important than the doer:
The new factory will be opened next week.
3) when we refer to an unpleasant event and don’t want to mention the person who is guilty:
My dress was spoilt. (instead of ‘You spoilt my dress.’)
Only transitive verbs (verbs that can take objects) can be changed into the passive:
Miriam cleaned her room. – The room was cleaned by Miriam.
Some transitive verbs (bring, tell, send, sing, show, teach, promise, write, read, give, pass, buy, throw, offer, hand, post, take, pay, lend) can make two different passive constructions:
Nick sent him a letter. – He was sent a letter/A letter was sent to him.
Such transitive verbs as have, suit, fit, resemble can’t be used in the passive.
Prepositions used in the passive
by + doer with + instrument/material
The window was broken by that boy. The window was broken with a stone.
Who was the window broken by? The cakes were made with flour and eggs.
What was the window broken with?
What was the cake made with?
Phrasal verbs preserve their prepositions in the Passive Voice:
The children laughed at John. – John was laughed at.
Here is a list of phrasal verbs often used in the passive:
argue about
talk about
deal with speak to/about
look at
look after make fun of
look into think of/about
listen to make use of
refer to catch sight of
pay attention to
laugh at lose sight of
send for take care of
rely on find fault with
pay for throw away
wait for break into
insist on
We use the construction have + object + V3 to say that we have arranged for someone to do something for us:
Every month I have my hair cut.
Recently my father has had his car serviced.
Jennifer is having her nails polished now.
Task 53. Change the sentences given below into passive where possible:
1. They feed lions at the zoo twice a day.
__________________________________________________________________.
2. Someone will find your wallet in the street.
__________________________________________________________________.
3. Grandma knitted a jumper for me.
__________________________________________________________________.
4. You have made a lot of mistakes.
__________________________________________________________________.
5. The police will surely arrest him soon.
__________________________________________________________________.
6. Tarry and Sandy have invited me to their house-warming party.
__________________________________________________________________.
7. My cat ran away last night.
__________________________________________________________________.
8. How do people make sugar?
__________________________________________________________________.
9. Mark’s friends influence him a lot.
__________________________________________________________________.
10. After Josh had saved a little boy they awarded him a medal.
__________________________________________________________________.
Task 54. Give two passive sentences for each active one:
1. A policeman showed me the way to the railway station.
a) ________________________________________________________________.
b) ________________________________________________________________.
2. They are telling us a strange story at the moment.
a) ________________________________________________________________.
b) ________________________________________________________________.
3. He gave her some money to buy two tickets.
a) ________________________________________________________________.
b) ________________________________________________________________.
4. By midday I had already written them a letter of invitation.
a) ________________________________________________________________.
b) ________________________________________________________________.
5. They will pay him $ 150 for painting the façade.
a) ________________________________________________________________.
b) ________________________________________________________________.
6. My parents promised me a laptop for the New Year.
a) ________________________________________________________________.
b) ________________________________________________________________.
7. The mail carrier handed me a postcard from Auntie Jan.
a) ________________________________________________________________.
b) ________________________________________________________________.
8. We sold the car to our neighbour.
a) ________________________________________________________________.
b) ________________________________________________________________.
9. Granny was reading Joey a tale when his mum entered the bedroom.
a) ________________________________________________________________.
b) ________________________________________________________________.
10. They finally offered him a promotion.
a) ________________________________________________________________.
b) ________________________________________________________________.
Task 55. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct passive form:
1. I __________ (promote) last year.
2. The car ________ (repair) right now.
3. The windscreen _______ (break) yesterday.
4. When the doctor__________ (send) for? – Half an hour ago.
5. When these papers _________ (sign), I’ll take them to the lawyer.
6. This painting always ________ (look) at with bewilderment.
7. He ___________ (expel) from school a year ago.
8. Sorry, but I ________ (wait) for. Let’s meet tomorrow.
9. Flowers _________ (water) twice a week.
10. Tea __________ (grow) in India.
Task 56. Fill in the gaps with the correct prepositions by or with:
1. The car was being washed _________ Sue.
2. The bag was tied up _______ a string.
3. The film is directed _______Stephen Spielberg.
4. This cake was made_______ some shortcakes and fresh cream.
5. Soup is eaten ______ a spoon.
6. The lock was broken ______ a sledgehammer.
7. The bear was shot ______ a hunter ______ a gun.
8. The roof was blown off _______ the storm.
9. The sofa is covered _______ a plaid.
10. Preparations were being made _______ wedding organizers.
Task 57. Change the sentences given below into passive paying special attention to the place of preposition:
1. Mothers usually look after their children with great care.
__________________________________________________________________.
2. We sent for the doctor twice yesterday.
__________________________________________________________________.
3. They looked for the keys everywhere.
__________________________________________________________________.
4. I have just lost sight of her.
__________________________________________________________________.
5. My parents spoke to the dean three days ago.
__________________________________________________________________.
6. Everybody was listening to the teacher with great attention.
__________________________________________________________________.
7. We have been waiting for him for half an hour.
__________________________________________________________________.
8. I will take care of you dog while you are away.
__________________________________________________________________.
9. She is always finding fault with me.
__________________________________________________________________.
10. The senior students were always making fun of him.
__________________________________________________________________.
Task 58. Paraphrase the sentences using the construction have smth. done:
1. The hairdresser was cutting my hair.
__________________________________________________________________.
2. The chef cooked John’s lunch.
__________________________________________________________________.
3. When will they repair the roof of your house?
__________________________________________________________________.
4. We hired a famous architect to design our future house.
__________________________________________________________________.
5. Recently a fashion designer has made a dress for Linda.
__________________________________________________________________.
6. The gardener cuts the grass in my garden every fortnight.
__________________________________________________________________.
7. Our housekeeper irons all our clothes.
__________________________________________________________________.
8. A mechanic fixed his car last week.
__________________________________________________________________.
9. At 10 a.m. tomorrow the maid will be polishing the silver in Mrs. Brown’s house.
__________________________________________________________________.
10. Helen’s burglar alarm has just been fitted.
__________________________________________________________________.
Task 59. Imagine that you are a millionaire and have everything done. Write down 10 sentences describing what exactly others do for you. Use the adverbial modifiers in brackets:
e.g. Once a week I have the grass in my own park cut. (once a week).
1. ___________________________________________________________. (now)
2. ______________________________________________________. (yesterday)
3. _______________________________________________________. (last year)
4. ______________________________________________________. (at 10 a.m.)
5. ________________________________________________________. (always)
6. ___________________________________________________. ( 3 times a day)
7. ________________________________________________________. (in 2015)
8. ____________________________________________________. (every month)
9. ___________________________________________________________. (just)
10. _______________________________________________________. (recently)
Task 60. Correct the mistakes if necessary:
1. The cake was made by flour, chocolate and milk.
2. A ten-year-old boy has been rescued from a fire last night.
3. The statuette was disappeared from his house long ago.
4. Have you your car serviced yet?
5. The child is looked by his granddad.
6. The announcement has made that the house is being sold.
7. I’ll have my wedding dress sewn by a famous designer.
8. Who was this picture taken?
9. The citizens were been addressed by the Prime Minister.
10. The students’ pronunciation is paid a great attention to.
Task 61. Translate into English:
1. Меня регулярно информируют о проблемах, возникающих в компании.
|
|
2. Когда построят еще один корпус университета?
|
|
3. Мне сказали о твоем приезде 15 минут назад.
|
|
4. Над Ником постоянно смеются. – С детьми поговорит классный руководитель, и проблема будет решена.
|
|
5. Я думаю, что наш дом построят к следующему году.
|
|
6. Мне дадут завтра машину? – Нет! Машина поцарапана, и я догадываюсь, кто это сделал! – Но папа, ты ко мне постоянно придираешься!
|
|
7. Боюсь, здесь немного холодно. – Завтра нам заменят разбитое стекло.
|
|
8. Этот портфель оставил мужчина, который сидел за столиком у окна.
|
|
9. Нам только что установили центральное отопление. Теперь в доме тепло!
|
|
10. В котором часу сделали объявление? – В 9 утра. Я уверен, что к вечеру будут проданы все билеты.
|
|