Basic Grammar

Forms of Passive

“Transitive Passive”:
Use: when the verb can take an object and the object can
move to be the subject.

Rule: Subject + be-passive + V(3) + Complement

a. My car’s engine is fixed [present simple]
b. My car’s engine is being fixed [present cont.]
c. My car’s engine has been fixed [present. Perfect]
d. My car’s engine was fixed [past simple]
e. My car’s engine was being fixed [past cont.]
f. My car’s engine had been fixed [past perfect]
g. My car’s engine will be fixed [will-future]
h. My car’s engine is going to be fixed [be going to-future]
i. My car’s engine should be fixed [modal]

1. My brother fed the cat in the morning

…………………………………………………
2. Have you decorated your room yet?
…………………………………………………
3. The board won’t change its policy
…………………………………………………

“Prepositional Passive”
Use: When the verb takes a prepositional phrase, and the object of
the phrase leave its preposition behind to be in the subject
position, while the preposition remains hanging by itself:

Rule: Subject + be-passive + V(3) + preposition:

a. The pool was swum in ‫البركة انسبح فيها‬

b. The assignment was looked at ‫انشاف الواجب‬
c. The man was dealt with fast ‫الزلمة اتدبرت أموره بسرعة‬

1. The team should work on the project

…………………………………………….
2. Somebody broke into the house
…………………………………………….
3. Some student will look up the word in the dictionary
……………………………………………………….

“Ergative Passive” ‫فعل المطاوعة‬

Use: when the object of a verb is able to move to be the subject
directly without insertion rule.
a. The window broke ‫انكسر‬
b. The door opened ‫انفتح‬
c. The system changes frequently ‫بيتغيّر‬
d. The building collapses over time‫بينهار‬
e. The ice melts fast ‫بذوب‬

1. The rain makes the car slip easily

The car ……………………………………
 2. Weather decays the roof over time
The roof ………………………………………
3. The wind shook the trees strongly
The trees ……………………………………….
4. The man cleaned the board with napkins
The board ………………………………………

“Passivized” Adjectives: ‫اسم المفعول‬

Either before a noun or after verb-to-be.
1. The engine is fixed
2. This is a fixed engine

1. The task is finished

2. This is a finished task

3. Carly was fascinated )‫اسم المفعول (صفة تدل على من وقع عليه األثر‬
4. This is a fascinating idea )‫اسم الفاعل (من سبب التأثير‬
Fill the table:

English Type of Arabic Translation

structure
Mike fixed the engine
The engine was fixed
The engine fixed easily
The engine is fixed not
broken.