Passive (3)

UNIT 42  Passive (3)

A.   Some verbs can have two objects. For example, offer:

• They didn't offer Ann the job (the two objects are and Ann and the job)

So it is possible to make two different passive sentences:

• Ann wasn't offered the job.

• The job wasn't offered to Ann.

It is more usual for the passive sentence to begin with the person.
Other verbs like offer that can have two objects are:

ask          tell          give          send            show           teach                pay

Here are some examples of passive sentences with these verbs:

• I was given two hours to make my decision. (= they gave me two hours)

• The men were paid $1500 to do the job. (= someone paid the men $1500)

• Have you been shown the new machine. (= has anyone shown you the new machine?)

B.   Born: Remember that be born is a passive verb and is usually past:

• Where were you born? (not are you born)       }simple past 

• I was born in Chicago. (not I am born)               }simple past

• How many babies are born in this hospital every day? -simple present                       

C.   The passive -ing from is being done/ being cleaned, etc. :
Active: I don't like people telling me what to do. 
Passive: I don't like being told what do.

• I remember being given a toy drum on my fifth birthday. (= I remember someone giving me . . . )

• Hurry up! You know Mr. Miller hates being kept waiting. (= he hates people keeping him waiting)

• She climbed over the wall being seen(= without being seen without anyone seeing her)

D.   Sometimes you can use get instead of be in the passive:

• There was a fight at the party, but nobody got hurt (= nobody was hurt)

• Did Ann get from her new job? (= was Ann from her new job?)

You can use get in the passive to say that something happens to someone or something.
Often the action is not planned; it happens by chance:

• The dog got run over by a car. (= the dog was run over)

In other types of situation get is not usually possible:

• George is liked by everyone (not gets liked)

Get is used mainly in informal spoken English. You can use be in all situations.