PASSIVE & CAUSATIVE IN ENGLISH

PASSIVE & CAUSATIVE IN ENGLISHStudy the example

This house was built in 1930. (was built is passive). Compare active and passive:

Somebody built this house in 1930. (active) (object to subject)

This house was built in 1930. (passive)

We use an ACTIVE VERB to say what the subject does:

My grandfather was a builder. He built this house in 1930.Its a big company. It employs two hundred people.We use a PASSIVE VERB to say what happens to the subject:

This house is quite old. It was built in 1930.Two hundred people are employed by the company.When we use the passive, who or what causes the action is often unknown or unimportant:

A lot of money was stolen in the robbery. Is this room cleaned every day?

If we want to say who does or what causes the action, we use by:

This house was built by my grandfather.Two hundred people are employed by the company.PASSIVE FORMSPresent simple (affirmative)Somebody cleans this room every dayThis room is cleaned every day

Careless driving causes many accidents

Many accidents are caused by careless driving

PASSIVE FORMSPresent simple (negative)Somebody does not clean this room every dayThis room is not cleaned every day

People dont use this road very often

This road is not used very often

PASSIVE FORMSPresent simple (interrogative)Does anybody clean this room every day?Is this room cleaned every day?

How do people learn languages?

How are languages learnt?

PASSIVE FORMSPast simple (affirmative)Somebody cleaned this room yesterdayThis room was cleaned yesterday

They cancelled all flights because of fogAll flights were cancelled because of fogPASSIVE FORMSPast simple (negative)She did not write a storyA story was not written (by her)

They didnt invite Sally to the partySally was not invited to the partyPASSIVE FORMSPast simple (interrogative) Did Matt bring the ingredients?Were the ingredients brought (by Matt)?

Did you wash the car before the trip?Was the car washed before the trip?PASSIVE FORMSFuture simple (affirmative)Somebody will clean the room laterThe room will be cleaned later

We will sell all our books

All our books will be sold

PASSIVE FORMSPresent continuous (affirmative)Somebody is cleaning the roomThe room is being cleaned

John is watering the plants

The plants are being watered (by John)PASSIVE FORMSPast continuous (affirmative)Somebody was cleaning the roomThe room was being cleaned

My mother was baking a cake

A cake was being baked (by my mother)PASSIVE FORMSPresent perfect (affirmative):The room looks nice. Somebody has cleaned itThe room looks nice. It has been cleaned

They have invited John to the party

John has been invited to the party

PASSIVE FORMSPast perfect (affirmative):The room looked nice. Somebody had cleaned itThe room looked nice. It had been cleaned

They hadnt told us the good news

We hadnt been told the news (by them)

PASSIVE FORMSModals:They should clean this room!This room should be cleaned!

You could take some sweets!Some sweets could be taken! PASSIVE FORMSModal perfects:They should have cleaned this room!This room should have been cleaned!

You should take coats for the kids!Coats should have been taken for the kids! PASSIVE FORMSHave to:They have to clean this room!This room has to be cleaned!

He has to wash that jumper!That jumper has to be washed! And now your turn!!!

CAUSATIVECausative structure: to have/ get + past participle

I cut my hairI have my hair cutCAUSATIVEHe washes his car once a month

She usually checks her teeth

He has/gets his car washed once a month

She usually has/gets her teeth checked