INTEGRATED COURSE

UNIT 8
1.
THE PASSIVE

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 The Passive

A passive verb in English is formed with a form of be and the past

participle of the verb, for example, is taught. The auxiliary be verb
indicates the tense. For example, “is” is in the present tense, so the
verb tense is in the present tense.

We often use the passive when we are more interested in what

happened to someone or something than in who or what did the
action.

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 SENTENCE IN ACTIVE VOICE

A huge hurricane hit New Orleans.

subject verb object
There are three steps to making this active sentence passive:

1. Make the direct object of the active sentence the A huge hurricane hit New Orleans.
subject of the passive sentence. subject verb
object

New Orleans ______________________ .

subject
2. Make the verb passive: be + past participle A huge hurricane hit New Orleans .
subject verb object

New Orleans was hit _________________.

subject passive verb

3. If necessary, add by to the subject of the active A huge hurricane hit New Orleans
sentence and make it the agent. subject verb object

New Orleans was hit by a huge hurricane.

subject passive verb agent

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 SENTENCE IN PASSIVE VOICE

New Orleans was hit by a huge hurricane.

subject passive verb agent

TIPS!
• In passive sentences we can use ‘by + the agent’ to say who or what
does the action: New Orleans was hit by a huge hurricane.

• We only use ‘by + the agent’ when it is important or unusual

information. We don’t use it when the agent is clear from the context:
Twelve people were arrested by the police.
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 PASSIVE VOICE IN DIFFERENT VERB TENSES

○ The passive voice is formed in the various verb tenses. There

is no passive form for present perfect progressive, simple
future progressive and past perfect progressive.

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 ACTIVE VERB PASSIVE VERB FORM
PASSIVE VERB
PRESENT SIMPLE
The Constitution guarantees am/is/are + past participle Equality for all is guaranteed by
equality for all. the constitution .

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Many leaders are taking steps to is/are + being + past participle Steps are being taken by many
enforce the Constitution. leaders to enforce the Constitution.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

We have violated the principles of have/has + been + past participle The principles of the Constitution
the Constitution in the past. have been violated in the past.

PAST SIMPLE
School segregation violated a was/were + past participle A constitutional right was violated
constitutional right. by school segregation.

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 ACTIVE VERB PASSIVE VERB FORM
PASSIVE VERB
PAST CONTINUOUS
The Montgomery police were was/were + being + past participle A constitutional right was being
violating a constitutional right violated by The Montgomery police
when they arrested a black woman when they arrested a black woman
on a bus. on a bus.
PAST PERFECT
The government had feared a had + been + past participle A violent uprising had been feared
violent uprising. by the government.
SIMPLE FUTURE
We will feel the impact of the civil will + be + past participle The impact of the civil rights
rights movement for years to come. movement will be felt for years to
come.
SIMPLE FUTURE
We are going to feel the impact of am/is/are + going to be + past The impact of the civil rights
the civil rights movement for years participle movement is going to be be felt for
to come. years to come.

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 The Passive Form of Modals & Phrasal Modals

Modal + be + past participle

ACTIVE VERB PASSIVE VERB FORM PASSIVE
VERB
will will + be + past participle Tom will be invited to the picnic.
can can + be + past participle The window can’t be opened.
should should + be + past participle Children should be taught to respect their
elders.
may may + be + past participle May I be excused from class?
had better had better + be + past participle This book had better be returned to the library
before Friday.
ought to ought + be + past participle This letter ought to be sent before June 1st.
be supposes to am/is/are supposed + be + past Fred is supposed to be told about the
participle meeting.
have to have + be + past participle Mary has to be told about our change in plans.

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2.
QUANTIFIERS

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 Quantifiers
We use quantifiers when we want to give someone information
about the number of something: how much or how many.

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 Quantifiers
Quantity Plural countable nouns uncountable nouns
(bottles, tins, etc.) (rubbish, stuff, etc.)
nothing not any not any
no no
a small quantity not many not much
hardly any a bit of
several hardly any
a few a little
a large quantity a lot of/lots of a lot of/lots of
loads of loads of
plenty of plenty of
more than we want too much too many

less than we want not enough not enough

the correct quantity enough enough

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 QUANTIFIERS

○ We can say There aren’t any biscuits, or There are no biscuits and
There isn’t any milk, or There’s no milk.

○ Not many, hardly any and not much have a negative meaning.
Several, a few, a bit of, and a little have a positive meaning.
Several is usually more than a few.

○ Loads of is more informal than a lot of and lots of.

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 The word order with not enough and enough:

○ not + enough + noun:

There aren’t enough places.

○ not + adjective + enough:

It isn’t big enough.

○ enough + noun:
There’s enough milk.

○ adjective + enough:
That’s hot enough.

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 some, any, much, many
○ some and any
We usually use some in positive sentences: I’ve found some coffee.
We usually use any in negative sentences and questions: There
isn’t any sugar. Is there any milk?

We often use some in questions with Would you like ...?; Would you
like some coffee?

○ much and many

We don’t usually use much or many in positive sentences: There
isn’t a lot of stuff here. not There’s much stuff here. I’ve got lots of
cups not I’ve got many cups.

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3.
WORD FORMATION (2)

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 Word Formation (2): prefixes and opposites
○ We often use the prefixes un-, dis-, im-, in-, and ir- to make
opposite of words.
Prefix Examples

un- unconscious, unusual, uncommon, unbelievable, unselfish, unreliable,

unambitious, unhelpful

dis- disappear, dishonest, disorganised, disloyal, dissimilar

im- impossible, impatient, impolite, immature

in- incorrect, inconsiderate, informal, insensitive

ir- irresponsible, irregular

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 Word Formation (2): prefixes and opposites

○ We can use these prefixes to make opposites of adjectives

(unconscious, etc.), and verbs (disappear, etc.).

○ Adjectives beginning with p usually take the prefix im-,

(possible  impossible, etc.) and adjectives beginning with r
usually take the prefix ir- (responsible  irresponsible, etc.).

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 Other prefixes and suffixes
We often use other prefixes and suffixes to change the meaning of words.

Prefix/suffix meaning example

under- not enough underestimate, underpaid, undercharge, underuse

do something
re- reattach, repaid, rewrite, recharge, remarry, replay, reuse
again

over- too much over-optimistic, overpaid, oversleep, overcharge, overuse

-ful with hopeful, painful, careful, successful, playful, useful

-less without harmless, painless, sleepless, careless, useless

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THANKS!
Any questions?

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