Page 109 - Oxford_English_Grammar_Course_Basic_2015

passives: introduction English is spoken in Australia.

When A does something to B, there are often two ways
to talk about it:'active'and'passive'.
We use active verbs if we want A to be the subject. A B
We use passive verbs if we want B to be the subject.
We make passive verbs with be (am, are, is etc) + past participle (cooked, seen etc).

ACTIVE PASSIVE
A B B (by A)
Mrs Harris cooks our meals. Our meals are cooked by Mrs Harris.
Andrew broke the window. The window was broken by Andrew.
Somebody saw her in Belfast. She was seen in Belfast.
The government will close the hospital next year. The hospital will be closed next year.
Passive verbs have the same tenses (simple present, present progressive, present perfect etc) as active verbs.
For a list of active and passive tenses, see page 300.
Note the use of by in passives, to say who or what does the action.

Our meals are cooked by Mrs Harris. (NOT... from Mrs Harris.)

^ Which picture goes with which sentence?

► The policeman helped the old lady. 4 Annie loves all dogs........
1 The policeman was helped by the old lady. 5 Annie is loved by all dogs........

2 The car hit a tree........ 6 The Queen photographed the tourists........
3 The car was hit by a tree........ 7 The Queen was photographed by the tourists.

H

Q Circle the correct answer.

1 English speaks / spoken / is spoken in Australia.
2 I studied / was studied French for three years at school.
3 We spent / was spent too much money on holiday.
4 This window broke / was broken by your little boy.
5 Her clothes made /are made in Paris.
6 This book written / was written by my brother.
7 The new university will open / will opened / will be opened by the Prime Minister.
8 Ann was driving / was driven much too fast, and she stopped / was stopped by the police.

9 This house built / was built in 1800.
10 Everybody had / was had / was have a good time at the party.

94 PASSIVES