Grammar Notes

1. Forming the Passive

2. Usage of the Passive

A. Only transitive verbs can be changed to the passive form.

- Food is not permitted in this area. (O)
- The meeting was taken place at the Mizier Hotel. (X)

B. Causative verbs like make, tell, and ask are followed by a to-infinitive in passive sentences.

- The secretaries were made to work very hard.
- The employees were asked to stop making private phone calls.

C. Perceptual verbs like see, observe, and hear are followed by either a to-infinitive for repeated or habitual actions or an -ing form for an action in progress in passive sentences.

- Some new employees have been seen to eat in the conference room. (habitual)
- Some new employees have been seen eating in the conference room. (action in progress)

D. Phrasal and prepositional verbs that consist of verb + adverb/preposition are treated as one unit when changed into passive.

- No one has looked at this report. → This report has not been looked at (by anyone).
- The officer has taken care of the problem. → The problem has been taken care of (by the officer).

E. Besides by, the prepositions at, with, and in may also be used in passive sentences.

- at: be alarmed at, be surprised at
- with: be pleased with, be satisfied with, be covered with, be (pre)occupied with
- at or with: be delighted at/with, be disgusted at/with
- in: be interested in, be involved in, be covered in, be engaged in