16 The passive

B Grammar
1 The passive
How the passive is formed
We form the passive by using the verb to be followed by the past participle:
Active: Passive:
The police officer saw the robber at the airport. The robber was seen at the airport.
She’s following him. He’s being followed.
She’ll catch him soon. He’ll be caught soon.

Active Passive

to catch ➞ to be caught
to have caught ➞ to have been caught
catching ➞ being caught
having caught ➞ having been caught
catch(es) ➞ am/are/is caught
am/are is catching ➞ am/are/is being caught
will catch ➞ will be caught
am/are/is going to catch ➞ am/are/is going to be caught
has/have caught ➞ has/have been caught
caught ➞ was/were caught
was catching ➞ was being caught
had caught ➞ had been caught
would catch ➞ would be caught
would have caught ➞ would have been caught

When the passive is used

The passive is used quite often in English, both in speech and writing. We use the passive when:
● we don’t know who or what did something:
My phone has been stolen. (= Someone has stolen my phone.)
The first tools were made in Africa two million years ago. (= People made the first tools …)
● 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 has been arrested.

116
 The passive 16
We can use by + person/thing to show who/what did the action if this information is important:
The robber was seen by the police officer. (= The police officer saw the robber.)
Verbs with two objects
Some verbs (e.g. give, send, buy, bring) can have two objects:
Active: A witness gave the police some information.
A witness gave some information to the police.
Lots of fans sent the footballer birthday cards.
Lots of fans sent birthday cards to the footballer.
Either of the objects can be the subject of a passive sentence:
Passive: The police were given some information by a witness.
Some information was given to the police by a witness.
The footballer was sent birthday cards by lots of fans.
Birthday cards were sent to the footballer by lots of fans.

2 to have/get something done

When we ask someone else to do something for us, we often use the structure to have something done.
It is not usually necessary to say who did the action:
The president had his speeches written (by his staff). (= The president’s staff wrote his speeches.)
I had my hair cut. (= The hairdresser cut my hair.)
I’m having my kitchen painted. (= The decorator is painting my kitchen.)
They want to have their car fixed. (= They want the garage to fix their car.)
In informal speech, we often use get instead of have:
I got my hair cut. (= I had my hair cut.)
When are you getting that window repaired?
We need to get something done about this leak in the roof.

3 It is said that …
We often use it + passive + that when we report what people in general say or believe:
It is believed that the tree was placed there by other members of the gang. (= Everyone believes that …)
We can use a number of verbs in this pattern, e.g. agree, announce, believe, decide, report, say, think:
It’s (is) said that a famous singer used to live in this house. (= People say that …)
It was agreed that the theatre must be closed. (= The theatre’s owners agreed that …)
It’s (is) reported that the damage will cost millions of pounds to repair. (= The news media report that …)
It’s (has) been announced that a new road will be built along the river. (= The council has announced …)
Until the 16th century it was thought that the sun revolved around the Earth. (= People generally thought that …)

117
 16 The passive

C Grammar exercises
1 Choose the correct words.

1 The children wanted to be / been allowed to stay up late and see the fireworks.
2 Our flight was delaying / delayed by fog and we missed our connection.
3 Lauren was sulking because she wasn’t / hadn’t been invited to Ralph’s party.
4 By the time we arrived at the market, the best fruit had be / had been sold.
5 While the meal was being / been prepared, we had a drink on the terrace.
6 The new library will be open / opened by the Mayor next Saturday.
7 The rock star was sent a chocolate cake by / of one of his fans.

2 Fill in the gaps with the passive form of the verbs.

1 A government minister was found (find) guilty of fraud yesterday.
2 It was a lovely surprise to find that all the washing-up (do) while I was asleep.
3 These souvenirs (make) by children from the local school in their last
summer holidays.
4 Wait for me! I don’t want (leave) on my own!
5 It (say) that the Prime Minister’s husband plays the piano quite well.
6 The votes (count) right now and we should know the result before midnight.
7 As he (sack) from his previous job, he found it hard to get another.
8 In the past, it (think) that the population of the world would always increase
but now it (agree) that this may not be true.
9 The judges still have to decide which design (award) the top prize.
10 This parcel appears (open) before it (deliver).

3 Match the two halves of the conversations and fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in
brackets.

1 I thought those chairs were broken. A I (have / colour).

2 Your bike’s got a flat tyre! B Yes, you need to (have / take in).
3 This carpet’s filthy. C I can (get / fix) at the cycle shop.
4 What’s happened to your hair? D Yes, we should (have / redecorate).
5 I don’t like this room. It’s too dark. E I’ve had them mended (have / mend).
6 These trousers are much too loose. F We (have / check) before we go away.
7 What a beautiful garden! G We must (get / clean).
8 Why is your car at the garage? H Thanks! We (have / design) by an expert.

118
 The passive 16
4 Read this report in the Cybernian News.

www.cybernian_news.com

HOME NEWS ENTERTAINMENT SPORT BUSINESS

VIDEO REPORT WEATHER GOING OUT TV GUIDE

CYBERNIAN NEWS
22 October 3008
Victory for Cybernia!
The victorious Cybernian Inter-galactic Forces report:

Yesterday we invaded Planet Upstart with a large force. We

have completely crushed the year-old rebellion there. Our space
ships have destroyed ninety per cent of the Upstart space
fleet. A special Cybernian task force landed near the central
communications building and captured it without difficulty. Our
spokesperson immediately broadcast a message to the population. We announced that we had
liberated them from the illegal Upstart government and we asked them to cooperate with the new
government of their planet. We have arrested the rebel leaders and we are taking them back to
Cybernia where the government will put them on trial.

Complete the report below so it matches the report in the Cybernian News. Use the passive form
of the verbs.

UPSTART NEWS...22 OCTOBER 3008...

Defeat for Upstarts

Yesterday our planet (1) wasp invaded (invade) by a large force from Cybernia. Our year-old
rebellion (2) (crush).

Ninety per cent of our space fleet (3) (destroy). The central communications building
(4) (capture) without difficulty by a special Cybernian task force and a message
(5) (broadcast). It (6) (announce) that we (7)
(liberate), and we (8) (ask) to cooperate with our new government. Our leaders
(9) (arrest) and they (10) (take) to Cybernia where it
(11) (claim) that they (12) (put) on trial.

5 Correct the mistake in each of the following sentences by Cambridge First candidates.

1 The mark on the ceiling was appeared last week. appeared

2 He escaped without having being recognised by anyone.
3 A shopping mall was been built in the town centre about 20 years ago.
4 Most of the problems was happened when we arrived at the hotel.
5 Yesterday I went to your barber’s shop to cut my hair and I was very disappointed.
6 I can get my computer fixing at the shop next to the bank.
119
 Exam practice
Reading and Use of English Part 4
For questions 1–6, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence,
using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words,
including the word given. Here is an example (0).

0 My grandfather hasn’t spoken to me since Sunday.

SPOKE
My grandfather last spoke to me on Sunday.
1 The students gave a concert after their exams.
WAS
A concert students after their exams.
2 My computer needs to be repaired before the weekend.
HAVE
I must before the weekend.
3 We heard reports last week that the dictator had fled the country.
IT
Last week the dictator had fled the country.
4 No one gave my message to the shop manager.
NOT
My message the shop manager.
5 The teacher said Simon had cheated.
ACCUSED
Simon his teacher.
6 The address the tourist office gave us for the hotel was wrong so we got lost.
RIGHT
We address for the hotel by the tourist office
so we got lost.

Grammar focus task

1 Which of the sentences can these phrases be added to?
a by an expert b by the foreign press

2 What effect does this have on their meaning?

a
b

120