Basic Passive Rules The impersonal passive is used

Basic Passive Rules The impersonal passive is used when a. We do not know who did it (subject) b. The focus is on the object and not on the subject c. It is not important to know who does it (subject) d. The subject is known or understood e. Formally less personal and friendly f. Rules and regulations

Basic Passive Rules - Answers • • • • The passive is used in each of these sentences because. . . 1. My car was stolen last night We do not know who stole it 2. Hamlet was written by Shakespeare The focus is on the book not Shakespeare 3. All the computers are checked before they leave the factory It is not important to know who - that Pete and John do it 4. The Prisoner is being taken to Jail It is known who takes the prisoner - the police 5. The problem is being dealt with in our accounts department. Formality less personal and friendly 6. Smoking is prohibited in the station Rules and regulations

Use the verb in brackets and create a passive grammar structure in the correct tense 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. The election __________(hold) next week Antibiotics ___________(develop) in the 1930’s The new bridge _________(open) by the Queen More and more cars _______(produce) every year We __________ (invite) to Paul’s wedding Every car which left the ferry _____(stop) and searched The door __________(leave) open on purpose. Everyone who applies _______(give) an interview Books ___________(return) within 3 weeks He _____(promote) 3 times before becoming a director By 2050 the first space station _________(build)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Answers The election is being held next week Antibiotics were developed in the 1930’s The new bridge is going to be opened by the Queen More and more cars are sold every year We have been invited to Paul’s wedding Every car which left the ferry was being stopped and searched 7. The door may have been left open on purpose. 8. Everyone who applies will be given an interview 9. Books must be returned within 3 weeks 10. He had been promoted 3 times before becoming a director 11. By 2050 the first space station will have been built

Passive Tense Answers Tense Present simple Present Continuous Past simple • • • Active People speak English in China. • Passive English is spoken by people in China Decorators are painting our house. The police caught the thief. Our house is being painted by decorators. The thief was caught by the police. • • Past continuous Present Perfect simple Past Perfect Simple Going to Will Future Perfect Modal present Modal perfect • • They were taking the dogs for a • walk. The police have arrested the • murderer. • I had told her to arrive at 9. 00 They are going to sell the car. • He will buy the car tomorrow • Scientists will have built a space • station by 2050 The committee should solve the • problem They may have sold the house • The dogs were being taken for a walk. The murderer has been arrested . She had been told to arrive at 9: 00. The car is going to be sold. The car will be bought tomorrow. A space station will have been built by 2050. The problem should be solved. The house may have been sold.

Different methods of writing impersonal passive • • • People believe the company stole over a million pounds It is believed that the company stole over a million pounds The company is believed to have stolen over a million pounds There is a belief that the company stole over a million pounds One belief is that the company stole over a million pounds We expect the train strike will begin tomorrow It is expected that the train strike will begin tomorrow The Train Strike is expected to begin tomorrow There is an expectation that the train strike will begin tomorrow One expectation is that the train strike will begin tomorrow