UNIT 6

THE PASSIVE AND

THE CAUSATIVE

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Section 6.1
The Passive

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Goals of Section 6.1

Identify the
Apply them in
types of
the right
passive
context
structures
3
A
B

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 1. Forms

The 2. Uses

3. Passive with Tenses

passive 4. When not to use “By + agent”
and the 5. Other forms of Passive
causative •
•
Verbs with 2 objects
The impersonal passive
• The causative
• Other forms of The causative
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 1. FORMS
ACTIVE  PASSIVE (be + V3/ ed)

subject verb object

The manager welcomes new employees.

New employees are welcomed by the manager

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 1. When we avoid saying who is responsible for something
• E.g., The matter will be dealt with soon.
• (We don’t know or want to say who’ll deal with it.)

2. When we want to focus on a happening, not who or what did it

• E.g., Our roof was damaged in last night’s storm.
• (We’re concerned about the roof.)

2. USES 3. When we want to avoid “vague subjects” like one, someone, they, etc.
• E.g., The form has been signed.
• (When we don’t know or care who has signed it.)

4. When the doer of the action is obvious

• E.g., He was arrested last night.

• (It’s clear who arrested him: the police.)

5. In written reports, signs and notices, and descriptions of processes

• E.g., The fruit is treated with wax and then stored.

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 3. Passive with Tenses
  Simple Continuous Perfect
(be + V_ing) (have + V3/ ed)

Past A: Someone moved the desk. A: Someone was moving the desk. A: Someone had moved the desk.
P: The desk was moved. P: The desk was being moved. P: The desk had been moved.

Present A: Someone moves the desk. A: Someone is moving the desk. A: Someone has moved the desk.
P: The desk is moved. P: The desk is being moved. P: The desk has been moved.

Future A: Someone will move the desk.   A: Someone will have moved the desk.
P: The desk will be moved. P: The desk will have been moved.

! Future Continuous is not usually used in passive form.

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 Other tenses and verb patterns
  Active Passive
be going to The farmers are going to harvest the The grapes are going to be harvested by
grapes. the farmers.
modal You should brush the chicken breast The chicken breast should be brushed
with oil and then fry it. with oil and then fried.
modal perfect They should have delivered the The groceries should have been delivered
groceries by now. by now.
-ing (gerund) I don’t like people telling me what to do I don’t like being told what to do in the
in the kitchen. kitchen.
 

infinitive They need to fix that chair. That chair needs to be fixed.
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 1. Mentioned agent (The agent is a pronoun.)
• E.g., He has painted the house.
• The house has been painted.
2. Unknown agent
• E.g., Someone has stolen my wallet.
• My wallet has been stolen.

4. When not to 3. Generalized agent (If the subject is “people in general”

or “you”, the agent is not mentioned.)
use “by + agent” • E.g., Bicycles are widely used in the city instead of
public transport.
4. Obvious agent
• E.g., I had my hair cut. (We assume by the
hairdresser.)
5. Unimportant agent
• E.g., I was advised to obtain a visa in advance.
(Knowing the agent is unnecessary.)

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5. Other 5.1. Verbs with 2 objects

forms of 5.2. The impersonal passive

The 5.3. The causative

Passive 5.4. Other forms of The Causative

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5.1. Verbs with 2 objects

a. Active: Somebody gave the police the information.

Passive: The police were given the information. (object 1)

Passive: The information was given TO the police. (object 2)

b. Active: Someone has bought my sister a present.

Passive: My sister has been bought a present. (object 1)

Passive: A present has been bought FOR my sister. (object 2)

Common verbs with two objects using TO: bring, give, lend, pay, post, sell, show, tell, write, etc.
Common verbs with two objects using FOR: buy, choose, cook, cut, do, fetch, find, get, make, order, etc.
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 Verbs of ‘saying’ and ‘believing’:
alleged, believed, considered, expected,
known, reported, thought, understood,

5.2. The etc.

impersonal It

passive
There

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Active
1. People think that he is a great teacher.
2. People believe he was a great teacher.
3. People claim he has had an influence on many other
teachers.
4. People say he has been designing the best lesson plan It is said that he has been designing the best lesson plan
for over twenty years.
5. People estimated that this hotel was worth over $12
million.
6. People have suggested that he is a great teacher.
IT
Passive
It is thought that he is a great teacher.
He is thought to be a great teacher.
It is believed that he was a great teacher.
He is believed to have been a great teacher.
It is claimed that he has had an influence on many other
teachers.
He is claimed to have had an influence on many other
teachers.
for over twenty years.
He is said to have been designing the best lesson plan for
over twenty years
It was estimated that this hotel was worth over $12
million.
This hotel was estimated to be/ have been worth over $12
million.
It has been suggested that he is a great teacher.
He has been suggested to be a great teacher.
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 THERE
Active: There is a lot of coal in Antarctic. (believe)

Passive: There is believed to be a lot of coal in Antarctic.

Active: There are many thousands of homeless teenagers living

on the streets of the capital.
Passive: There are believed to be many thousands of homeless
teenagers living on the streets of the capital.
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