Feb 15, 2016
PASSIVE & CAUSATIVE IN ENGLISH
PASSIVE & CAUSATIVE IN ENGLISHStudy the example
This house was built in 1930. (was built is passive). Compare active and passive:
Somebody built this house in 1930. (active) (object to subject)
This house was built in 1930. (passive)
We use an ACTIVE VERB to say what the subject does:
My grandfather was a builder. He built this house in 1930.Its a big company. It employs two hundred people.We use a PASSIVE VERB to say what happens to the subject:
This house is quite old. It was built in 1930.Two hundred people are employed by the company.When we use the passive, who or what causes the action is often unknown or unimportant:
A lot of money was stolen in the robbery. Is this room cleaned every day?
If we want to say who does or what causes the action, we use by:
This house was built by my grandfather.Two hundred people are employed by the company.PASSIVE FORMSPresent simple (affirmative)Somebody cleans this room every dayThis room is cleaned every day
Careless driving causes many accidents
Many accidents are caused by careless driving
PASSIVE FORMSPresent simple (negative)Somebody does not clean this room every dayThis room is not cleaned every day
People dont use this road very often
This road is not used very often
PASSIVE FORMSPresent simple (interrogative)Does anybody clean this room every day?Is this room cleaned every day?
How do people learn languages?
How are languages learnt?
PASSIVE FORMSPast simple (affirmative)Somebody cleaned this room yesterdayThis room was cleaned yesterday
They cancelled all flights because of fogAll flights were cancelled because of fogPASSIVE FORMSPast simple (negative)She did not write a storyA story was not written (by her)
They didnt invite Sally to the partySally was not invited to the partyPASSIVE FORMSPast simple (interrogative) Did Matt bring the ingredients?Were the ingredients brought (by Matt)?
Did you wash the car before the trip?Was the car washed before the trip?PASSIVE FORMSFuture simple (affirmative)Somebody will clean the room laterThe room will be cleaned later
We will sell all our books
All our books will be sold
PASSIVE FORMSPresent continuous (affirmative)Somebody is cleaning the roomThe room is being cleaned
John is watering the plants
The plants are being watered (by John)PASSIVE FORMSPast continuous (affirmative)Somebody was cleaning the roomThe room was being cleaned
My mother was baking a cake
A cake was being baked (by my mother)PASSIVE FORMSPresent perfect (affirmative):The room looks nice. Somebody has cleaned itThe room looks nice. It has been cleaned
They have invited John to the party
John has been invited to the party
PASSIVE FORMSPast perfect (affirmative):The room looked nice. Somebody had cleaned itThe room looked nice. It had been cleaned
They hadnt told us the good news
We hadnt been told the news (by them)
PASSIVE FORMSModals:They should clean this room!This room should be cleaned!
You could take some sweets!Some sweets could be taken! PASSIVE FORMSModal perfects:They should have cleaned this room!This room should have been cleaned!
You should take coats for the kids!Coats should have been taken for the kids! PASSIVE FORMSHave to:They have to clean this room!This room has to be cleaned!
He has to wash that jumper!That jumper has to be washed! And now your turn!!!
CAUSATIVECausative structure: to have/ get + past participle
I cut my hairI have my hair cutCAUSATIVEHe washes his car once a month
She usually checks her teeth
He has/gets his car washed once a month
She usually has/gets her teeth checked