ALL

PASSIVE
S 8A
 All Passives:
Be + Past Participle
● We use the passive when we want
to emphasize the action, not who
did the action;
● Only mention the agent when
necessary. Use “by” to do that.
Examples
: A new car park is built every year.
was built last year.
is being built at the moment.

has just been built.

 A dog-walker discovered the body.
The body was discovered by a dog-walker.

They will release the prisoner next month.

The prisoner will be released next month.
Have something done
We can use this structure when someone does
something for us when we can’t or we don’t want to do.

I need to have my hair cut.

They need to have their alarm fixed.
 Have something done
We also use this structure when something (usually bad) is
done to us.
*Remember that have is a normal verb so it can change to all tenses*

I’ve just had my instagram account hacked.

We’ve had our passports stolen.
is said that…, he is thought to… etc
● This is a formal structure usually used in new
reports with the verbs: know, tell, understand, report,
expect, say, believe and think.
- It makes the information sound more impersonal.

Active: People think that the mayor will resign.

Passive: It is thought that the mayor will resign.
 is said that…, he is thought to… etc

We use he, the man, etc + is said, is believed etc + infinitive

(to be) or perfect infinitive (to have been) when we are talking
about the past.

Active: People say the man is in his 40s.

Passive: The mas is said to be in his 40s.
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