level 11

Passive Forms of
Gerunds and Infinitives

by oscar flores
Use an active form of a gerund or an infinitive to
focus on who performs the action.

The government forces us

to change our clocks
during the summer.
Use a passive form of a gerund or an infinitive to
focus on an action instead of who performed the
action.

We are forced to change

our clocks during the
summer (by the
government).
 Active
Voice
I want you to
give me a new
suit for my
birthday.
 Passive
Voice
I want to be
given a new
suit for my
birthday.
 Active
Voice
I expect people
to tell me the
truth.
 Passive
Voice
I expect to be
told the truth .
 YouTube forces me to watch
commercials. I don't like that.
I don't like being forced to
watch commercials.
I don't like to be forced to
watch commercials.
Susan hates not being told
what's going on.
 Interrogative
Do you enjoy being
entertained by commercials
on TV?.
 Don't you resent being
required to watch ads in
movie theaters?
I don't like to be told what
to do.
I don't like being told what to
do.
 Negative
They were angry not to be
told about the meeting.
We would like to be called by
our first names, please
I want to be given a second
chance.
I want to be taken to the
beach for vacation
We don't need to be
threatened .
 I am annoyed at being
forced to do the dishes.
I can't tolerate being asked to
dance Caballo dorado.
I can't tolerate being asked to -------
I'm annoyed at being -----
I love to be -----
I want to be given---- for my birthday.
I like to be___________
I don't like_______