Passive Voice

Introduction In grammar, the voice of a verb describes the relationship between the action (or state) and the participants (subject, object, etc.), a form of the verb which shows whether the subject of a sentence acts or is acted on. the active voice: The subject is the agent or doer of an action the passive voice: the subject is the recipient of the action.

How to form a passive sentence  - object subject in the passive sentence - subject by + the agent in the passive sentence (or is left out)  Three steps:  a. move the direct object to the subject  b. move the subject to the end of the sentence; add the preposition "by" before it  c. change the verb Shakespeare wrote the play. The play was written by Shakespeare.

 Basic formation: be + past participle tense passive voice The police are investigating the murder. The murder is being investigated. (passive) A thief stole my bag. My bag was stolen. He who respect himself is respected by others. Those who never respect other people will never be respected by others.

Passive voice of phrasal verbs  The college dean will preside over the meeting.  The meeting will be presided over by the college dean.  We put up with these interruptions.  These interruptions were put up with.  These forms are mostly treated as single-word verbs, and both the adverb particle and the preposition should remain immediately after the verb.

 They finally arrived at the station.  They finally arrived at the conclusion.  We must pay special attention to this important issue.  This important issue must be paid special attention to.  Special attention must be paid to this important issue.  ?Special attention to this important issue must be paid.

Passive voice of non-finite verbs  To do ---- to be done  Doing ---- being done  She expects to be praised.  She enjoys being praised.  she likes to be praised.  She likes being praised.  some verbs can only collocate with the infinitive, some only with the –ing participle, and some either with the infinitive or with the –ing participle without change of meaning.

 Nobody can answer this question.  Who wrote the story?  They haven't done anything to make the river clean.

Voice Constraints  Not all the active sentences can be made passive. Three kinds of voice constraint: verb, object, meaning.  1. Verb constraints  a. linking and intransitive verbs do not occur in some senses in passive.  b. I have a lot of friends.  He lacks sense of humor.  Few people survived in the genocide. (some stative verbs denoting have)  Some “verb + noun” combination, which have the force of an intransitive verb  The medicine soon take effect.  The plant will soon take root.

2. Object Constraints  a. Transitive verbs with reflexive, reciprocal and possessive objects  ＊ himself could be seen.  ＊ Each other could be seen.  ＊ My hand was shaken by the man.  b. Transitive verbs followed by clausal objects.  John thought that she was attractive.  *That she was attractive was thought by John.  c. When the object is an infinitive or –ing participle  John hoped to meet her.  *To meet her was hoped by John.

3. Meaning constraints  The meaning may differ in active and passive:  Every schoolboy knows one joke at least. (Every schoolboy knows at least some joke or other)  One joke at least is known by every schoolboy. (there is one particular joke that is known to every schoolboy.)  Few students have read many books in this school. Many books have been read by few students in this school.  Every man loves his wife.  His wife is loved by everyman.

Stylistic constraints  In scientific and technological English  In news reports  In government documents

Use of Passive Voice  1. When the doer of the action is unknown  2. when we are more interested in the event itself than in the agent  Hundreds of passengers were killed in the crash ．  Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.  3. When the speaker/writer wants to emphasize the receiver of the action instead of the performer. Mr. HU was elected President of China. This song was composed by a teacher.

 4. To connect ideas in different clauses more clearly:  The old professor wheeled himself to the platform and the students warmly applauded him.  … and was warmly applauded by the students.p119  5. When making statements, announcements, and explanations:  Something should be done about the traffic jams in this town.  Students are asked not to smoke.  6. Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice  A mistake was made.

 7. When the subject of the sentence is too long or complex.  The notion is especially opposed to by those who have invested much in the area.  It is generally considered impolite to ask one’s age, salary, marriage, etc.  8. when the speaker/writer wants to avoid responsibility for actions taken.  Cigarette ads were designed to appeal especially to children.  We designed the cigarette ads to appeal especially to children. (“we” accepts responsibility)

The Get-passive  The word get is sometimes used instead of be to form the passive. The children were punished. The children got punished.

Be-passive vs. get-pasive  A. Get indicates a change in status or condition. It refers to an event rather than a state.  They will get married tomorrow. (They changed from “single” to “married”)

 B. "Get" passives often mean the action occurred suddenly or unexpectedly and lay emphasis on what happens to the subject rather than who actually causes the event.  He got killed in the accident. (Something caused him to die.)  C. The get-passive is fairly informal,usually used in spoken English.  The corrupt officials got punished.  Optimist: a man who gets treed by a lion, but enjoys the scenery.

Active constructions expressing passive meanings  active in form but passive in meaning  A. remnants of Old English  The house is building ． The book is printing ． The dinner is cooking  B. verbs denoting a sense perception  The flower smells sweet.  The dish tastes delicious.

 C. when the subject is represented as having certain inherent qualities which promote ， hamper ， or prevent the realization of the idea expressed by the predicate verb.  Tomatoes bruise easily. My voice doesn‘t carry well ． Nylon dries quickly. The door won’t lock ．  Compare:  The box doesn’t lock.  The box wasn’t locked.  His novels don't sell ． His novels are not sold ．

D. want, deserve, need, require, stand etc.+doing The point deserves mentioning. The coat requires mending. The children need looking after. The book is worth reading.

Passive constructions or “linking verb ＋ complement" constructions  -ed participles either as part of a passive construction or as adjectives functioning as complement of a linking verb  -ed as adjective  I am(very) annoyed with him ． I am (very) interested in chess.  -ed as part of a passive construction  I was annoyed by mosquitoes all night ． I was interested in what you told me.  Differences:1. whether can be transformed into active voice. 2. whether can be replaced by other linking-verbs. 3. action or state

Exercises:  I am pleased to see her again.  He was fascinated with the sweet tune of the melody.  She was shocked by the news.  The country was occupied by the aggressors.  She is addicted to gambling.  The car is equipped with air-conditioning.  She was born in a small village.  The girl was lost in the novel.  Achievements is founded on diligence and wasted upon recklessness.