АСТРАХАНСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ
Л. В. Рязанова
Passive Voice
in
Grammar reference, exercises, tests
Методические рекомендации по грамматике
Астрахань, 2008 г.
The Passive Voice
When the doer of the activity does nothing and everything is done instead him/her/it – think about Passive Voice, where the doer is the receiver or the sufferer of the action. The Passive Voice is used instead of the Active voice in the following cases: |
|
1. when the doer of the action is not mentioned, being unknown – unimportant; |
1. The telegram was sent yesterday; |
2. when it is necessary to emphasize the action or event rather than the doer of the action; |
2. The conference will be held tomorrow; |
3. when it is desirable to avoid one or you; |
3. Cars are rented cheaply here; |
4. when one wants to make a statement more formal and impersonal; |
4. It has been decided to choose another candidate for the position. |
S
tudy
the steps to turn the active sentence into the passive one.
To be + V3,/ed
1. Active Voice Passive Voice
Ann grows roses. Roses are grown by Ann
1 2 3
2
.
Ann
grows
roses
3 – Roses 2 – are grown 1 – by Ann
3.
a) Take the object of the Active sentence and make it the subject of a new Passive one.
b) Find the verb of the active sentence and define its tense-form.
c) Change the verb of the Active sentence in accordance with the formula of the passive infinitive and the new subject of the Passive sentence.
d) Use the preposition – by – when it is the necessity to mention the doer of the action.
e) Use the preposition – with – to point out that the activity is done with the thing.
f) Omit the former subject of the former active sentence in the new passive one, if it isn’t important.
g) Restore it while modifying the passive sentence into the active one.
Study
the table of the tense-forms of the verbs in the Passive Voice
|
Simple |
Progressive |
Perfect
|
|
present |
Спрашивают Обычно
A Is asked Are
|
Спрашивают Сейчас
A Is being asked Are |
Спросили Уже
H ave been asked Has |
Вместо Perfect continuous – формы – Perfect |
past |
Спросили вчера
W as asked were
|
Спрашивали Когда я приехал
W being asked were
|
Спросили К тому моменту уже
Had been asked
|
|
future |
Спросят завтра
Will be asked
|
Вместо Future Progressive – Future Simple Passive |
Спросят к моменту завтра
Will have been asked |
|
Infinitive
infinitive |
to be V3/ed
|
to be being V3/ed
|
to have been V3/ed
|
m
m
as
S tudy the table
Active |
Passive |
I ask – Я спрашиваю I asked – Я спрашивал I will ask – Я спрошу |
I am asked – Меня спрашивают I was asked – Меня спросили I will be asked – Меня спросят |