THE PASSIVE

THE PASSIVE

1. is formed

   • to be + past participle
     • present simple
       • In the USA a major crime is committed every twenty-seconds
     • present continuous
       • The bank robbery is being investigated
     • past continuous
       • He realised that he was being watched
     • present perfect
       • Ninety-eight precent of this year’s murder cases have been solved
     • past perfect
       • She had been arrested twice before
     • future (will)
       • He will be released from prison next month
     • modals
       • They may be called in for questioning later today
     • past simple
       • The thief was arrested in his home
   • use by + person/thing (agent)
     • to show how does the action if this information is important
       • The robber was seen by the police officer
         • = The officer saw the robber

2. we use when...

   • we don't know who or what did something
     • My bicycle's been stolen. (= Someone has stolen my bicycle
   • the action is more important than who did it
     • Income tax was introduced in England in 1798
   • it is obvious who or what did something
     • The thief's been arrested

3. Verbs with two objects

   • A witness gave some information to the police
     • The police were given some information by witness
     • Some information was given to the police by a witness

4. to have sth done, when we ask someone else to do something for us

   • formal
     • The president had the car taken to the airport
     • I had my hair cut
     • I'm having my kitchen painted
     • They want to have their car fixed
   • informal
     • I got my hair cut