ACTIVE - PASSIVE

Form:
The basic formation of the passive is be + past participle
 The agent (by who or what?) is not explicitly stated, but it is most likely
researchers.
Why use passive?

Jack

Simon

ACTIVE:
Jack punches Simon.
 

 
PASSIVE:
Simon is punched by Jack.
Why use passive?
 When the performer of the action is general (e.g. people) or obvious
from the context, or unimportant, or is intentionally not named
Facebook is used everyday.
All pupils are taught computer skills.
The match has been cancelled.
The workers have been told that the factory will close next week.

 To be impersonal in a scientific or technical process

Plastic bags are produced in China.

 To move important information to the beginning of the sentence

The new swimming pool has just been opened.
Agent and instrument

 We can mention who or what performed the action using by and a word or
phrase.
The new swimming pool has just been opened by the Mayor.
The parked car was hit by a lorry.

 The agent is not mentioned if it is unknown, general, obvious or unimportant,

but is mentioned if the speaker wants to draw attention to it.
I was told I wouldn’t need a visa.
I was told by the Embassy that I wouldn’t need a visa.
Tense Active Passive
Simple Present Once a week, Tom cleans the house. Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.
Present Simple He is cleaning the room. The room is being cleaned.
Continuous
Is getting cleaned
Simple Past Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.
Past Simple The hairdresser was brushing her hair. Her hair was being brushed by the hairdresser.
Continuous
was getting brushed
Present Perfect Many tourists have visited that castle. That castle has been visited by many tourists.
Past Perfect George had repaired many cars before he received his Many cars had been repaired by George before he
mechanic's license. received his mechanic's license.

Future Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM. The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.
will

Future I They will have completed the project before the The project will have been completed before the
will deadline. deadline.

Conditional I She would write the letter. The letter would be written.
Conditional II People would have asked a fortune teller in that kind A fortune teller would have been asked in that kind of
of situation. situation.
The Passive Causative

The ‚normal‘ passive

Generally used for

services such as
repairs, beauty, or job
duties
have + something (the object) + past participle

We can use this construction in the following cases:

1. We make someone else do something for us, or we pay someone

else to do something for us.

2. Something negative happens and we have no control over it

(something bad happens to us).

■ I have my business taken care of.

(Somebody is taking care of my business.)
■ I had my business taken care of.

■ He has his dog walked.
(Somebody walks his dog.)
■ He will have his dog walked.
■ Yesterday, (I / cut / my hair) .

■ I had my hair cut yesterday.

■ Every Friday, (Joe / wash / his car) .

■ Every Friday, Joe has his car washed.

■ Tomorrow, (she / repair / her shower) .

■ Tomorrow, I’m having my shower repaired.

■ Each Saturday, (we / deliver / a pizza)  to our home.

■ Each Saturday, we have/get a pizza delivered to our home.

■ Last year, (Bob / clean / his house)  by a charwoman.

■ Last year, Bob got his house cleaned.

Causative active vs causative passive

PASSIVE
She had her hair done (by the hairdresser).
She had her hair done (by the hairdresser).
ACTIVE
She had the hairdresser do her hair.
She had the hairdresser do her hair.
■ They had the store down the street print the brochures.
■ They had the brochures printed (by the store down the street).

■ The judge will have the jury deliver the verdict.

■ The judge will have the verdict delivered (by the jury).

■ My parents are having the landscapers cut down many trees.

■ My parents are having many trees cut down (by the landscapers).
SB, p. 76/77

■ He had his car fixed

■ She had her eyes tested.
■ They had their wall(s) painted.
■ She had her dressed made.
■ He had a pizza delivered.
■ How often do you get your hair cut.
■ Can you fix your computer yourself?
■ Have you ever had pizza delivered to your house?
■ When was the last time you had your eyes tested?
■ Do you like having your photo taken?
■ Have your ever had clothes made for you?
The charity has the volunteers collect the money
For and against essay

■ Online communication is preferable to face-to-face communication.

Discuss.