Unit 42. Passive (3)
A.
Some verbs can have two objects. For example, offer:
They didn’t offer Ann the job. (the two objects are Ann and the job)
So it is possible to make two different passive sentences:
Ann wasn’t offered the job.
The job wasn’t offered to Ann. It is more usual for the passive sentence to begin with the person. Other verbs like offer that can have two objects are:
Here are some examples of passive sentences with these verbs:
I was given two hours to make my decision. (= they gave me two hours)
The men were paid $1500 to do the job. (= someone paid the men $1500)
Have you been shown the new machine? (= has anyone shown you the new machine?)
B. Born: Remember that be born is a passive verb and is usually past:
C.
The passive -ing form is being done / being cleaned, etc.: Active: I don’t like people telling me what to do. Passive: I don’t like being told what to do.
I remember being given a toy drum on my fifth birthday. (= I remember someone giving me .. .)
Hurry up! You know Mr. Miller hates being kept waiting. (= he hates people keeping him waiting)
She climbed over the wall without being seen. (= without anyone seeing her)
D.
Sometimes you can use get instead of be in the passive:
There was a fight at the party, but nobody got hurt. (= nobody was hurt)
Did Ann get fired from her new job? (= was Ann fired from her new job?) You can use get in the passive to say that something happens to someone or something. Often the action is not planned; it happens by chance:
The dog got run over by a car. (= the dog was run over) In other types of situation get is not usually possible:
George is liked by everyone, (not gets liked)
Get is used mainly in informal spoken English. You can use be in all situations.
