Grammar conspectus

Passive Voice

Passive Voice (PV) is an analytical form which is built up by means of the auxiliary verb to be in
the required tense-aspect form and the participle of the notional verb.
Passive Construstions (PC) - ? A passive construction occurs when you make the object of an
action into the subject of a sentence.
Types of PC
 two member PC
e.g. The papers have not yet been signed.
We use 2 member PC when we are interested in action not in doer of the action.
 3 member PC
eg The papers have not yet been signed by all members of the commission
It's used in emphatic speech to stress the doer of the action. (but usually instead of 3member PC we
use active forms)

1. Direct PC (corresponds to the direct object of the verb). Eg He was carried to the field
hospital.
1. “subjective predictive construction” eg She is said to be a first-class driver.
2. The construction with formal “it”, may contain verbs denoting mental and physical
perceptions, suggestion, order, request, decision, verbs of saying. Usually the PC is
followed by “that”. eg It was explained that...
There are some restrictions in using direct PC:
 when direct object is expressed by an infinitive. Eg we arranged to meet at 5 o'clock)
 a reflexive pronoun or noun with a possessive pronoun referring to the same person
as the subject of the sentence. Eg He hurt himself
 if there is a set phrase. Eg to lose heart etc. (exceptions: to take care, to take no
notice, to pay attention, take responsibility form PC)
2. Indirect Passive. The indirect object of the verb becomes the subject of the passive
construction. Eg I was told some very interesting news.
Freely used only with to tell. Can be used with set phrases. To give is frequently used with IP
3. Prepositional PC. Restrictions:
 usually used with a limited number of verbs: v of speaking, to look, mockery blame
verbs, miscellaneous group, some set phrases.
 Is not used with verbs which take 2 objects, direct and personal:
 explain
 point out
 announce
 dedicate
 devote
 say
 suggest
 propose...
Another variant of Prepositional PC: the subject of the PC corresponds to an adverbial
modifier of place in the active construction. Eg the room looked as if it had not been lived in for
years.

Tense-aspect forms.
1. PV lacks the Future Progressive, Fp in the past, all the Perfect Continuous forms
2. The lexical character affects the meaning of all the Indefinite Passive tenses
Verbs which can take two direct objects:
 ask
  envy
 forgive
 excuse
eg smb was envied smth

Verbs which take direct and indirect object (can form two passive constructions):
 tell
 give
 offer
 promise
 show
eg indirect: smb was given smth
direct: smth was given to smb

Verbs which can form PC with the first element of a complex object in the centre:
 tell
 ask
 allow
 forbid
 advise
 order
eg I told him to do it. He was told to do it

Verbs which can be used in only in following pattern:

1. smth was explained to smb
2. it was explained (to smb) that
3. it was explained (to smb) how to do smth
 explain
 announce
 describe
 repeat
 dictate
 point out

Prepositional verbs can form PCs

eg doctor was sent for