English Grammar and Composition chapter 12: The Passive

12 The Passive

Read the following conversations and notice the positions of -ing verbs.

1. Pantha : How many countries in the world use English?

present simple passive

Aditya : English is used by almost all countries in the world.

2. Salma : Uttam, we are going on a picnic.

Uttam : Really! Great! Please tell me the plan.

Salma : We are working on it. I'll tell you later.

Uttam : Who is making the plan?

Salma : The plan is being prepared by the class captains.

present continuous passive

3. Sylvi : Who invented radio?

Setu : It was invented by Marconi. past simple passive

4. Tahsin : This is a beautiful old building. When was it built?

Orin : It was built in the Mughal era. past simple passive

Tahsin : Who built it?

Orin : It was built by a Mughal emperor.

5. Shishir : You said you took the patient to the hospital.

Pranto : Yes, I did. Yet I couldn't save the patient.

Shishir : Why?

Pranto : Doctors did their best.

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Medicines were being experimented. past continuous passive

But they didn't work.

6. Pritu: Have you attended the meeting today?

Antu: Yes, I've.

Pritu: Would you please tell me the decisions taken?

Antu: It has been decided that some make up classes will take place in next couple of weeks. present perfect passive

7. Teacher: Who will take the responsibility of booking the bus for the picnic?

Student: Iqbal's uncle is a bus driver.

So booking can be arranged by Iqbal. modal passive

Grammar Point

We use passive when object of the verb is more important than who does the work (subject). Since object is more important in the passive, object is used as subject in the sentence.

It is funny to say – Some people established the school in 1856.

So we say – The school was established in 1856.

Read the above texts (1-7) again and see if they prove what is said here (Grammar Point).

Passives are more used in the formal situation such as media reports and public information.

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Activity 1

Complete this story about a journey using the past simple passive or past continuous passive form of the verbs in the brackets.

My journey to Kuakata was painful. First of all, I was late to get up from my bed. I _______________ (take) to the bus stop by a rickshaw but the rickshaw _______________ (stick) in traffic jam because the road _______________ (repair). When I got to the bus stand , I _______________ (tell) that there was a problem and the bus would be late. When the bus came I _______________ (give) a seat beside some noisy young boys and girls. During the journey all through the passengers _______________ (entertain) with some cheap music and video. Suddenly the bus _______________ (stop) by some policemen and it _______________ (check) thoroughly. It took nearly half an hour. I was inwardly burning. When I arrived at Kuakata after evening, it was raining. I went to hotel where some other tourists were waiting too. We _______________ (charge) higher than the regular tariff. However, finally I _______________ (take) to a room. The door _______________ (unlock) by the porter and I was happy to see the tidy room. I just threw myself in the bed.

Activity 2

Complete these news stories, using the passive form of the correct verbs in the box. The first one is done for you.

A new bridge is going to be built over the river Padma. The plan _______________________________ in 2014. The construction work will end in 2019. I

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come to know about it from TV news. The whole project _______________________ by the government of Bangladesh without any support from any donor countries or agencies. The people of southern districts _______________________ hugely as soon as the bridge _____________________. The bridge will connect the southern districts to the capital city. This will save the travel time of the people living in those districts. The report says that several national and international companies have started their work. The construction sights _________________ by Communication Minister and other high officials.

Activity 3

Complete this conversation between two friends, using the words after it (a-i) and the correct passive forms. The first one is done for you.

Antara : Have you seen my recent posts in Facebook?

Amy : Yes, they are lovely. (a) Where were the photographs taken?

Antara : On my way to Barishal from Dhaka.

Amy : Okay. And (b) ____________________________________

Antara : Last week when I went to my cousin's wedding party.

Amy : (c) ______________________________

so I didn't know.

Antara : (d) ____________________________________________________ much early. And sorry that_______________ not____________________.

(e) ______________________________________________________________.

A big party (f) ______________________________________________________.

Amy : (g) _________________________________ in the previous one?

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Antara : All family members only – roughly about 15-20.

Amy : How (h)___________________________________in the next one?

Antara : A few hundred, I guess.

Amy : I'm (i) ______________________________. It should be like that.

a. Where / the photograph/ take

b. When / they/ take

c. I / not / invite

d. The party / not/ plan

e. Many people / invite

f. A big party / arrange/ soon

g. How many / people/ invite

h. How many / people/ invite

i. I / not / surprise

Activity 4

Read the following sentences and compare between active and passive forms.

Present simple

Active : How many people do you invite ?

Passive: How many people are invited ?

Present continuous

Active : Is Jami videoing the programme ?

Passive: Is the programme being videoed by Jami ?

Past simple

Active : We didn't plan the programme much earlier.

Passive: The programme was not planned much earlier.

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Past continuous

Active: My uncle was planning the whole programme earlier.

Passive: The whole programme was being planned by my uncle earlier.

Present perfect

Active: We have already sent the invitation cards.

Passive: The invitation cards have already been sent.

Modal

Active: You can download the photo from the net.

Passive: The photo can be downloaded from the net.

Going to

Active: The programme is going to take place on 13^th of May.

Passive: The programme is going to be taken place on 13^th of May.

We use active or passive depending on what we are most interested in. We use the active if the subject of the verb needs to be focused. But if the action itself is important, then we use passive form.

Sometimes we use by+agent, when both action and agent (doer) are important to be focused. for example .

Piya: Look, these paintings are quite interesting, aren't they?

Lira: Sure! They should be. They are painted by Jainul Abedin!

Piya: And what about that one – people with big muscles?

Lira: You really don't know? That's painted by SM Sultan. All figures of Sultan are muscular.

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Activity 5

Read the information in a brochure and change the active sentences into passive.

Welcome to Green Valley School. We are situated at Pubail which is only a few kilometres from Dhaka city. We request you to send your kid to us. Here are some reasons why we claim our school different from other schools.

i. We have a spacious campus near Dhaka. It's only 30 km away from the zero point.

ii. We take extra care for slow learners.

iii. We have residential facilities. Students can learn staying away from the din and bustle of the city.

iv. Our school buses come to the city on Friday and Saturday and stay from morning till evening.

v. We do alternative assessment of our learners. It prepares them for final exams.

vi. Learners do not need extra hours to study and they do not need private tutors.

vii. This is a whole campus program. Here students learn academic matters. They take part in physical activities like games and sports. They also take part in cultural activities and social welfare programs.

viii. We send students to different institutions home and abroad as part of our exchange programmes.

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