Verbal in passive structure

1. Verbs that cannot be used in passive

a) Intransitive verbs (die, bleed, come, arrive) cannot become passive because they
have no objects, and so there is nothing to become the subject of a passive sentence
b) Some transitive verbs cannot be used in the passive. Most of these are stative verbs
(verbs which refer to states, not actions, and which often have no progressive forms),
the most common of which is have, which cannot have a passive form even when it
is not stative.
Eg:
• They have a nice house. (But not * A nice house is had ...)
• I was having a bath. (But not * A bath was being had ...)
2. Verb with two objects
Many verbs, such as give, lend, pay, show, send, promise, offer, refuse, tell, throw, buy, sell, bring,
fetch, teach, get, pass, hand, write can be followed by two objects, which usually refer to a person
(indirect object) and a thing (direct).

Eg:

She gave her sister the car.

 
When these verbs are used in the passive, there are two possibilities.
 
Her sister was given the car.
The car was given to her sister. (omission of to is less common)
3. Ergative verbs
Ergatives are transitive verbs that are used without an object. We use ergatives to say that
an action simply happens, without an agent. We sometimes use ergatives instead of
passives.
Eg: The door opened. (active, intransitive)
The ice melted. (active, intransitive)

Eg: David opened the door (active, transitive).

The door was opened (by David) (passive, transitive).
The door opened (active, intransitive, ergative).
3. Ergative verbs
There are a few situations when it's natural to choose the ergative form. These include:
• When the cause of the action is irrelevant.
Eg: The film began
• When we want to create a feeling of mystery.
Eg: The curtains opened and ...
• When the subject is very easily broken or changed, so that it seems like it can change without a
person doing anything.
Eg: The bubble burst.
• When change usually happens in this case.
Eg: In the spring, the snow melted.
• When there are many possible causes for the change.
Eg: Wages increased
 3. Ergative verbs
In some cases, it's much more natural to use an ergative than a passive. These verbs are intransitive. They
can't make a passive. It's not possible to say ' the accident was happened .
• Verbs like this:

Appear: The sun appeared (NOT: the sun was appeared).

Arrive: The plane arrived (NOT: the plane was arrived).
Die: The plant died (NOT: the plant was died).
Disappear: The fog disappeared (NOT: the fog was disappeared).
Emerge: A pattern emerged (NOT: a pattern was emerged).
Fall: The apple fell (NOT: the apple was fallen).
Happen: The events happened (NOT: the events were happened).
Occur: The problem occurred (NOT: the problem was occurred).
Rise: The bread rose (NOT: the bread was risen).
Vanish: The path vanished (NOT: the path was vanished).
 SPECIAL PASSIVE STRUCTURES

1. Passive with get

When get is followed by a past participle (PP), the meaning is very similar to a
passive verb-form, and get acts as an auxiliary verb in a similar way to be.
Eg:
• That picture got / was damaged when we were moving.
• How did the window get broken? / How was the window broken?

However, not all passive sentences can be constructed with get. You could not
say "Our house got built in 1900" or "Parliament got opened by the Queen last
week."
 SPECIAL PASSIVE STRUCTURES
Get + PP seems to be used particularly in three cases:
a) When we are talking about things that are done suddenly,
unexpectedly or by accident
Eg:
• He got caught by the police driving at 80 mph through Cambridge.
• More and more people are getting attacked in the Tube these days.
• I got invited to lots of parties last holidays.
• My brother got hit by a cricket ball.
 SPECIAL PASSIVE STRUCTURES
b) The past participle functions as an adjective describing the subject.
Eg:
• I stopped working because I got tired.
• They are getting married next month
c) When the passive draws more attention to the result than to the
action or agent, the ‘resulting’ copula get frequently replaces be.
Eg:
• My kitchen window was broken by your little boy. (focus on the boy)
• I know how that window got broken. (focus on the broken window)
SPECIAL PASSIVE STRUCTURES
Some phrases with this get are

get dressed get washed

 
get lost get confused

get engaged get married get divorced

The passive with get is common in spoken English, but is often not appropriate in
formal writing.
SPECIAL PASSIVE STRUCTURES
2. Passive voice with reporting verbs
If we want to avoid mentioning the generalised agents we, they, people,
everybody, one etc. with reporting verbs, we can use the following passive
patterns:
a. it + passive reporting verb + that-clause
In this pattern, the generalised agent + active reporting verb is replaced
with it + passive reporting verb:
• Eg:
Everybody knows that my grandfather likes red wine.
~ It is known that my grandfather likes red wine.
SPECIAL PASSIVE STRUCTURES
b. subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive
In this pattern we start with the subject of the reported clause, which is
followed by the passive reporting verb and the to-infinitive form of the
verb in the reported clause: 
Eg:
• Everybody knows that my grandfather likes red wine.
~ My grandfather is known to like red wine.
 SPECIAL PASSIVE STRUCTURES
3. Special cases of active/passive usages:
A few verbs can sometimes be used in active form but with passive meaning.
• Eg:
Your report reads well. (Your report is read with interest.)
The new Ford is selling badly.
It’s a pretty material, but it doesn’t wash.
After need, require, deserve and, less commonly want, active -ing forms can be used as equivalent to passive
infinitive constructions.
• Eg:
Your shoes need cleaning (need to be cleaned.)
Your hair needs cutting.
The car wants servicing. (rarely used)
Be + to infinitive : an order (= should)
Eg:
The matter is to be given top priority.
You are not to drive too fast
 SPECIAL PASSIVE STRUCTURES
4. Simple present subjunctive of the Passive Voice
Eg:
She ordered that the most important details be made known.
He advises that the plane be flown at a high altitude
Advise demand prefer require

Ask insist propose stipulate

Command move recommend suggest

Decree order request urge

 CAUSATIVE VERB
Causative verbs indicate that one person causes a second person to do
something for him or her by paying, asking, or forcing the person.

1. HAVE/GET + object + past participle

• Eg:
I had/get my hair cut this morning. 
I'm going to have/get my apartment painted. 
• Compare:
I cut my hair this morning. (I did it myself.)
I'm going to paint my apartment. (I'm going to do it myself.)
 CAUSATIVE VERB
2. HAVE + object + bare infinitive
This structure has a meaning similar to "make someone do something":
• Eg:
I'll have her copy the document right away (I'll ask/tell her to copy the
document right away)
The teacher had me stay after class to discuss my essay. (The teacher
made me stay after class to discuss my essay.)
 CAUSATIVE VERB
3. GET + object + TO-infinitive
• This structure means "persuade someone to do something". It is
similar in meaning to have + object + bare infinitive but is more
informal:
• Eg:
Finally, we got a mechanic to repair the elevator.
I couldn't get her to understand the problem.
 CAUSATIVE VERB
4. MAKE = FORCE

make someone do something

The robber made the teller give him the money.
= The robber forced the teller to give him the money.
The teacher always makes the children stay in their seats