4. GRAMMAR
THE PASSIVE
Remember that you started to learnt the Passive in Básico 2 and learnt most of it in Intermedio 1, you can click here: Intermedio1 Unit6A
E.g. The thirty pounds will be refunded. (Who will give the money back? We don't know).
(Is the process of getting the thirty pounds back important? Yes.)
E.g. It looks as if it's all been bought. (Who has bought all the money? We don't know.)
(Is it important? No.)
Remember that you started to learnt the Passive in Básico 2 and learnt most of it in Intermedio 1, you can click here: Intermedio1 Unit6A
E.g. The thirty pounds will be refunded. (Who will give the money back? We don't know).
(Is the process of getting the thirty pounds back important? Yes.)
E.g. It looks as if it's all been bought. (Who has bought all the money? We don't know.)
(Is it important? No.)
We use passives to focus attention on who or what an action affects and when it is unclear or unimportant who performs the action.
Form passives using the verb to be + the past participle:
Form passives using the verb to be + the past participle:
6b_passive_voice_theory_(1).doc | |
File Size: | 46 kb |
File Type: | doc |
In the active sentence, the focus is more on the person (e.g. Peter Jackson directed The Lord of the Rings).
In the passive sentence the focus is more on the film (e.g. The Lord of the Rings was directed by Peter Jackson.).
In passive sentences, we often don't mention who performs the action - because it's understood or it's unknown / not important.
In passive sentences, to show who or what performed the action, use by.
If we are talking about what we used to perform the action (the instrument) we do not use by, we use WITH.
Eg. The window was broken with a stone.
Eg. The lock was opened with a key.
In the passive sentence the focus is more on the film (e.g. The Lord of the Rings was directed by Peter Jackson.).
In passive sentences, we often don't mention who performs the action - because it's understood or it's unknown / not important.
In passive sentences, to show who or what performed the action, use by.
If we are talking about what we used to perform the action (the instrument) we do not use by, we use WITH.
Eg. The window was broken with a stone.
Eg. The lock was opened with a key.
ACTIVE VOICE
My bank offered me another credit card last week! (past simple) The news have strengthened the dollar. (present perfect simple) |
PASSIVE VOICE
I was offered another credit card by my bank last week! The dollar has been strengthened by the news. |
The passive is often used in English where other languages use an impersonal subject, e.g. It is said that they won't be invited to the wedding (Se dice que ...); It's made in (Se hace en / Hecho en) ..., They're grown in (Crecen en)..., etc..
ACTIVE VOICE
They pay my wages on the 22nd. (present simple) They are installing a new security system at the moment. (present continuous) They sent out your new card to you last Monday. (past simple) They said they were making cash withdrawals in Morocco. (past continuous) They have cleared the cheque, but they will charge you for this. (present perfect / future will) |
PASSIVE VOICE
My wages are usually paid into my account on the 22nd. A new security system is being installed at the moment. Your new card was sent out to you last Monday. They said cash withdrawals were being made in Morocco. The cheque has been cleared, but you will be charged for this |
Typical mistakes:
· using the active instead of the passive, e.g. The tickets sell at a newsagent's (WRONG); The tickets are sold at a newsagent's.(RIGHT)
· don't think you always have to use by (somebody) when you make a passive sentence.
· problems of form, e.g. leaving out the verb be or not using the participle correctly.
· using the active instead of the passive, e.g. The tickets sell at a newsagent's (WRONG); The tickets are sold at a newsagent's.(RIGHT)
· don't think you always have to use by (somebody) when you make a passive sentence.
· problems of form, e.g. leaving out the verb be or not using the participle correctly.
· Be + -ing:
We can use the be + -ing form of the passive after certain verbs and after prepositions:
We can use the be + -ing form of the passive after certain verbs and after prepositions:
deny + Vb -ing preposition + Vb -ing preposition + Vb -ing |
PASSIVE
He strongly denied being involved in the scandal. I have absolutely no interest in being sold insurance! I'm scared of being ripped off! |
· Intransitive verbs:
Intransitive verbs are verbs that don't have an object. They are never used in the passive form.
These include verbs as become, happen, die, lack, rise, fall, wait, arrive, cry, disappear.
Intransitive verbs are verbs that don't have an object. They are never used in the passive form.
These include verbs as become, happen, die, lack, rise, fall, wait, arrive, cry, disappear.
TRANSITIVE VERBS
They are action verbs that have an object to receive that action. In "The batter hit the ball", the direct object the ball received the action of the verb hit. I baked some cookies. I rode the bicycle. I moved the chair. |
INTRANSITIVE VERBS
They are action verbs but unlike transitive verbs, the do not have an object receiving the action, e.g. The bird sang. Notice there are no words after the verb sang. I laughed. I cried. The book fell. The subject is performing the action of the verb and nothing is receiving the action. |
If you want to do more exercises about the passive, download the following presentation:
6b_passive_voice_intermedio_1_-_films_(1).pptx | |
File Size: | 1332 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
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8. GRAMMAR
WISH
WISH
"Wish" refers to hypothetical things (things we want, but which are impossible).
As such, it is followed by past forms (past simple or past perfect).
E.g. I wish we didn't have to, but we are penniless.
Is is a current situation? Yes.
Can he change the situation? No.
What's the tense of the verb after "wish"? Past simple. (When we use "wish" to refer to a present situation that can't be changed we use wish + past simple.)
E.g. How I wish I had never opened that bag.
Did he open the bag? Yes.
Does he think this was a bad idea? Yes.
When did this happen? In the past.
What's the tense after "wish"? Past perfect. (When we regret a past situation we use wish + past perfect.)
After the examples, look at these forms:
WISH + PAST SIMPLE:
wish + past simple
· to talk about things in the present that you would(n't) like.
I wish I was better with money. I'm always in debt.
I sometimes wish I had a car, but I can't afford one.
wish + could
· to refer to abilities we would like.
I wish we could stop working, but we can't.
I sometimes wish we could stop working, but we can't.
wish + would
· to refer to habits or to people / things "refusing" to do something.
I wish the government would invest in schools more.
I wish he wouldn't waste his money the way he does.
wish + mustn't = > didn't have to
I wish I mustn't go, but I've got to work.
I wish I didn't have to go, but I've got to work.
If you want to talk about future possibilities, use "hope" and present tenses, not "wish". I hope interest rates go up soon. I have a lot of savings.
WISH + PAST PERFECT:
wish + past perfect (simple or continuous)
· it refers to regrets about the past and to things in the past we now want to be different.
I wish I had invested the money instead of spending it.
I wish we had never sold that painting. We sold it for 6,000 pounds and it's worth ten times that figure now.
wish + could have (done)
· to refer to past possibilities.
I wish I could have done something, but it was impossible.
I really wish I could have gone, but I was just so busy.
As such, it is followed by past forms (past simple or past perfect).
E.g. I wish we didn't have to, but we are penniless.
Is is a current situation? Yes.
Can he change the situation? No.
What's the tense of the verb after "wish"? Past simple. (When we use "wish" to refer to a present situation that can't be changed we use wish + past simple.)
E.g. How I wish I had never opened that bag.
Did he open the bag? Yes.
Does he think this was a bad idea? Yes.
When did this happen? In the past.
What's the tense after "wish"? Past perfect. (When we regret a past situation we use wish + past perfect.)
After the examples, look at these forms:
WISH + PAST SIMPLE:
wish + past simple
· to talk about things in the present that you would(n't) like.
I wish I was better with money. I'm always in debt.
I sometimes wish I had a car, but I can't afford one.
wish + could
· to refer to abilities we would like.
I wish we could stop working, but we can't.
I sometimes wish we could stop working, but we can't.
wish + would
· to refer to habits or to people / things "refusing" to do something.
I wish the government would invest in schools more.
I wish he wouldn't waste his money the way he does.
wish + mustn't = > didn't have to
I wish I mustn't go, but I've got to work.
I wish I didn't have to go, but I've got to work.
If you want to talk about future possibilities, use "hope" and present tenses, not "wish". I hope interest rates go up soon. I have a lot of savings.
WISH + PAST PERFECT:
wish + past perfect (simple or continuous)
· it refers to regrets about the past and to things in the past we now want to be different.
I wish I had invested the money instead of spending it.
I wish we had never sold that painting. We sold it for 6,000 pounds and it's worth ten times that figure now.
wish + could have (done)
· to refer to past possibilities.
I wish I could have done something, but it was impossible.
I really wish I could have gone, but I was just so busy.