Passive verb forms

A Introduction

A passive verb is a form of be + a passive participle, e.g. is baked, was worn.

Some participles are irregular (see page 383).

B Summary of verb tenses

Present simple: Present continuous: Present perfect: Past simple: Past continuous: Past perfect:

ACTTVE

We bake the bread here. We are baking the bread. We have baked the bread. We baked the bread yesterday. We were baking the bread. We had baked the bread.

PASSIVE

The bread is baked here. The bread is being baked. The bread has been baked. The bread was baked yesterday. The bread was being baked. The bread had been baked.

We form negatives and questions in the same way as in active sentences. The bread isn't baked in a factory. The jacket hasn't been worn for years. Where is the bread baked? Has the jacket ever been worn by anyone else?

The future and modal verbs in the passive

We use be + a passive participle after will, be going to, can, must, have to, should, etc. The gates will be dosed this evening. This rubbish should be thrown away. The machine has to be repaired. The news might be announced soon. Seats may not be reserved. How can the problem be solved?

ACTIVE

Future: We will bake the bread next.

We are going to bake the bread. Modal verb: We should bake the bread soon.

We ought to bake the bread.

PASSIVE

The bread will be baked next. The bread is going to be baked. The bread should be baked soon. The bread ought to be baked.

The passive with get

We sometimes use get in the passive instead of be.

Lots of postmen get bitten by dogs. I'm always getting chosen for the worst jobs.

Last week Laura got moved to another department. Get is informal. We often use it for something happening by accident or unexpectedly.

In negatives and questions in the present simple and past simple, we use a form of do. The windows don't get cleaned very often. How did the painting get damaged?

We also use get in these expressions: get dressed/changed, get washed (= wash oneself), get engaged/married/divorced, get started (= start), get lost (= lose one's way). Emma and Matthew might get married. Without a map we soon got lost.

54 Exercises

i The present continuous passive (B)

Look at the pictures and say what is happening. Use these subjects: the car, dinner, a flag, some houses, the seals. Use these verbs: build, feed, raise, repair, serve.

► The car is being repaired.

2 Passive verb tenses (B)

Complete the information about Barford Hall. Put in the correct form of these verbs.

► build (past simple) 2 use (past continuous) 4 not look (past perfect) 6 use (present simple)

1 own (present simple) 3 buy (past simple) 5 do (present perfect)

The building at the end of the High Street is Barford Hall, which (►) was built in 1827. Today the Hall

(1)…………………………………. by Bardale Council. It (2) .......... …………………as a warehouse when it

(3) …………………… by the Council in 1952, and it (4)................................ ……………...after very well.

Since then a lot of work (5) .................................. on it, and these days the Hall

(6)………………………………….. as an arts centre.

3 The future and modal verbs in the passive (C)

A press conference is being held. Put in the correct form of the verbs.

► Reporter: Can this new drug prolong human life?

Professor: Yes, we believe that human life can be prolonged by the drug.

1 Reporter: Are you going to do any more tests on the drug?
Professor: Yes, further tests............................................................... soon.

2 Reporter: What…………….. the drug............................................................. ?

Professor: It will be called Bio-Meg.

3 Reporter: Can people buy the drug now?

Professor: No, it ....................................................... by the public yet.

4 Reporter: Do you think the company should sell this drug?

Professor: Yes, I think Bio-Meg ............................................................ to anyone who wants it.

4 The passive with get (D)

Put in get or got and the passive participle of these verbs: break, change, divorce, hurt, lose

► If we're going out to the theatre, I'd better get changed.

1 Daniel when he tried to break up a fight.

2 I know the way. We won't ...............................................

3 You'd better wrap up the glasses, so they don't....................................................

4 They were only married a year before they ...................................................

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 2532