Try mSpy Phone Tracker for Your Kid's Safety
Passive Voice: special cases |
 |
||
 |
Activity SmartMemo
|
Activity SmartMemo
|
|
 |
16 |  |
 |
Content preview
Instructions
1- Look at the sentences and think of a passive equivalent for them 2- Move your mouse over the black button to check your answer. 3- If you were right, click on the green button, if wrong, click on the red.
PASSIVE WITH TO HAVE
have + object + past participle
The idea behind this construction is "I got someone to do something for me" (especially when you pay for the service)
| |
I had my car cleaned | = | I employed someone to clean my car |
||
| I'll have my hair cut | = | I'll pay a hair-dresser to cut my hair | |||
| I've had my roof repaired | = | I've hired someone to repair my roof | |||
| I'm having my kids looked after | = | A friend's taking care of them for me |
Compare:
- I cut my hair yesterday 
I did it myself, so I probably look horrible
- I had my hair cut yesterday I went to the hairdresser's and they cut my hair
In this construction "to have" is a normal verb, and so needs DO
- Do you have your windows cleaned every month? - No, I don't have them cleaned so often
VERBS WITH TWO OBJECTS
Some verbs have two objects (direct and indirect). In that case we can use two constructions:
1- Ron gave some flowers to Mary
2- Ron gave Mary some flowers
In English, both constructions can be turned into passive voice:
1- Some flowers were given to Mary
2- Mary was given some flowers
Option 2 is not possible in many languages, but in English it is the most usual choice.
They told me a secret A secret was told to me = I was told a secret
A SENTENCE AS THE SUBJECT
When the object of the active voice is a whole sentence (connected with that), we have again two possibilities, the one with infinitive is the most usual:
| They say (that) he is ill | |
It is said (that) he is ill | |
|
He is said to be ill |
VERBS OF OPINION
Something similar happens with verbs of opinion: say, think, expect, know, believe, understand, consider, find... These verbs may use the construction of verbs with two objects (1) or verbs followed by a sentence (2) as seen above. The second option, with infinitive, is the most used:
| 1- They considered me a tourist |
|
|
It was considered (that) I was a tourist |
|
I was considered to be a tourist |
| 2- They think (that) I am a spy |
|
|
It am thought (that) I was a spy |
|
I am thought to be a spy |
| 2- People belive it is true |
|
|
It was believed (that) it was a true |
|
It was believed to be a true |
VERBS OF THE SENSES, HELP & MAKE
Verbs of the senses, help and make (but not let), which are followed by infinitive without to in the active voice, are, nevertheless, followed by a complete infinitive in the passive.
| Active: | They made me do it | |
They saw him leave |
|
They let us go |
| Passive: | I was made to do it | He was seen to leave | We were let go |
Items
| Item | Match | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Experts consider that this painting is a fake | This painting is considered to be a fake |
Also: It is considered that this painting is a fake |
| I paid a man to paint my room | I had my room painted | |
| Mike paid someone to redecorate his house | Mike had his house redecorated | |
| My family find you very cute | You're found to be very cute |
Also: It is found that you are very cute |
| People consider me very good at this | I'm considered to be very good at this |
Also: It is considered that I'm very good at this |
| People elected him chairman of the new firm | He was elected chairman of the new firm | |
| People heard the bomb explode | The bomb was heard to explode | |
| People knew it was dangerous | It was known to be dangerous |
Also: It was known that it was dangerous |
| People say that you look fantastic | You are said to look fantastic |
Also: It is said that you look fantastic |
| She gave me a present | I was given a present |
also: - I was given a present by her - A present was given to me (by her) |
| She let me see her baby | I was allowed to see her baby | |
| She will pay some people to remove all the furniture | She will have all the furniture removed | |
| The police believes he is the murderer | He is believed to be the murderer |
Also: It is believed that he is the murderer |
| They find it difficult to believe | It's found difficult to believe |
Also: It's found that it is difficult to believe |
| They heard him enter the house | He was heard to enter the house | |
| They say that he is here | He is said to be here |
Also: It is said that he is here |
| They say that winter is very cold here | Winter is said to be very cold here |
Also: It is said that winter is very cold here |
| They say you've been away | You're said to have been away |
Also: It is said that you have been away |
| They showed me a photo of her | I was shown a photo of her |
Also: - A photo of her was shown to me |
| They told me a secret | I was told a secret |
Also: - A secret was told to me |
| This medicine made me sleep | I was made to sleep by this medicine | |
| We paid a mechanic to repair our car, but he didn't do it | We didn't have our car repaired | |
| We saw him cross the road | He was seen to cross the road | |
| We won't make you open it | You won't be made to open it | |
| You've paid a gardener to plant trees in your garden | You've had trees planted in your garden |