Example:

1. The police never catch some criminals.

2. Some criminals are never caught.

 

The subject of the active sentence becomes the agent (preceded by the preposition by) in the passive sentence, or disappears. 

 

Example:

1. Someone took the money.

2. The money was taken (by someone).

 

Example:

1. No one has seen Cooper since 1971.

2. Cooper has not been seen since 1971.

3. Several people died in the incident. (Not: Several people were died in the accident) 

 

Example:

1. Police officers are well trained.

2. The suspect was arrested yesterday.

3. He will be held in the local jail.

 

To make a negative passive sentence, place not after the first verb. 

 

Example:

1. Cooper has not been caught.

 

Use the present progressive and past progressive passives to describe actions in progress ( = not finished) at a certain time.

 

Example:

1. The suspect is being held in prison.

2. The robbery occurred while the money was being taken to a bank.

 

1. when you don’t know who performed the action or when it is not important to say who performed it. 

 

Example:
- The money was stolen.

 - The plane was refueled.

 

 

2. when you want to avoid mentioning the agent.

Example: - A criminal is sometimes regarded as a hero. (We don’t want to say who regards him as a hero)

 

3. when you want to focus on the receiver or the result of an action instead of the agent.

Example: The thief was caught by the detective. 

a) to introduce new information about the agent.

Example: The money was stolen by a person who has a criminal record. 

b) to credit someone who did something

Example: The bills were photocopied by FBI agents.

 

c) when the agent is surprising

Example: The money was found by a little boy.

 

You can omit the by phrase in passive sentences if you feel it is unnecessary or undesirable to mention the agent. 

Example: Why hasn’t the crime been solved?

Example: 

- The police arrested the suspect. [active sentence]

- The suspect was arrested by the police. [passive sentence]

 

However, an indirect object is sometimes the subject of a passive sentence. 

Example: 

- The FBI gave Cooper the money. (indirect object: Cooper) [active sentence]

- Cooper was given the money by the FBI. [passive sentence]

Example:

1. The criminal should be arrested.

2. He could have been arrested before this.

 

Use have (got) to, had better, had to, must, ought to, and should in passive sentences to express advisability, obligation, and necessity. 

Example: 

1. The charges had to be dropped. 

2. Criminal suspects must be charged.

 

Use can and could to express present and past ability.

Example:

1. Suspects cant be kept in jail.

2. The thief could have been caught.

 

 

Use will and be going to to talk about future events. 

Example:

1. This prisoner will be tried.

2. The suspects are going to be released.

 

Use cant, could, may, and might to talk about future possibility and impossibility. 

Example:

1. The mystery may never be solved. 

2. He cant be released from jail.

Example:

1. Will that criminal ever get caught?

2. Our team got beaten in the soccer game. 

 

Be Careful! Although the be passive both with action and non-action verbs, the get passive is used only with action verbs. 

Example:

1. More research is needed about the causes of crime. (Not: More research gets needed about the causes of crime)

 

Example:

1. You should have your car serviced.

2. I just got my best suit dry-cleaned.

 

The passive causative is used in the past, present, and future and with modals. 

Example:

1. We had the windows washed.

2. I get my car tuned up twice a year.

3. She’s going to get her hair cut. 

Example:

1. The detective had the evidence analyzed. 

2. Sometimes criminals get their hair dyed or shaved.

 

The passive causative can occur with a by phrase, but this phrase is often omitted. Use the by phrase only when it is necessary to mention the agent.

Example:

1. I got my photos developed at the drugstore. 

2. We had our house inspected by Jim.

 

Be Careful: Don’t confuse the simple past causative with the past perfect.

Example:

1. They had the grass cut. (simple past causative --- meaning, someone else cut the grass)

2. They had cut the grass. (past perfect --- meaning, they had done this before a specific time in the past)

 

Be Careful: Don’t confuse the passive causative with the expression to get something done meaning to finish something.

Example:

1. I got the work done by a mechanic. (passive causative)

2. I got the work done by noon. (I finished the work by 12pm)

1) I washed my car. (have)
________________________________

2) I cut my hair. (get)

________________________________

3) I cleaned the windows. (have)

_______________________________

 4) I made the necklace. (get)

______________________________

5) I delivered the furniture. (have)

________________________________ 

6) I repaired the roof. (get)
________________________________

 

1. We had our room painted. (simple past causative/past perfect)

2. Nenna got her hair cut. (simple past causative/past perfect)

3. Jim had cleaned the room. (simple past causative/past perfect)

4. My neighbor had called the police. (simple past causative/past perfect)

5. Mimi had the mail delivered. (simple past causative/past perfect)

2. This house _____________  (build) my father.

3. The rubber tyre ______________   (invented) in 1891.

4. The rubber tyre _______________ (invented) John Dunlop. 

5. The electric chair _______________ (invented) as a method of legal execution.

6. The electric chair _______________ (invented) a dentist.  

7.  The flower ___________(buy) at the nearby florist.

8. The flower ____________ (buy) my sister from her trip to florist. 

Passive: An exam __________ given by our English teacher today.

 

2. Active: Thomas _______ written many books.

Passive: Many books __________ written by Thomas.

 

3. Active: Do you ___________ pay the bill before leaving the restaurant?

Passive: The bill _______________paid before leaving the restaurant?

 

4. Active: You ______ obey the traffic rules.

Passive: The traffic rules __________ obeyed.

 

5. Active: You ______ forget the rules quickly.

Passive: The rules __________ forgotten quickly.

 

6. Active: They ______ cancel the game.

Passive: The game __________ cancel by them. 

 

1. I did not beat her.

2. I will never forget this experience.

3. Mother made a cake yesterday.

4. The boy teased the girl.

5. Did she do her duty?

6. The tiger was chasing the deer.

7. She has written a novel.

8. She has learned her lessons.

9. Have you finished the report?

10. The police have caught the thief.

11. My brother has completed the work.

12. Somebody stole my pen yesterday.

13. Our team may win the match.

14. Nurses look after patients.