The Passive (Advanced)

Das Wichtigste kurz erklärt

The Passive (Advanced) in 3 Schritten – mit Beispielen.

1. The passive

   The passive is a form of 'be' + past participle. We use it when the action matters more than the doer.

   The letter was written yesterday. / English is spoken here.

2. All tenses

   The passive works in every tense and with modals.

   has been finished / will be built / is being built / can be solved.

3. Impersonal passive

   With verbs like 'say' or 'believe' we can use the impersonal passive.

   It is said that he is rich. / He is believed to be honest.

Übungsaufgaben mit Lösungen

10 Beispielaufgaben aus diesem Thema – erst selbst überlegen, dann die Lösung aufklappen.

1. The passive is formed with ...

   • Aa form of 'be' + past participle
   • B'have' + infinitive
   • C'will' + -ing
   Lösung anzeigen

   Richtig: A – a form of 'be' + past participle

   be + past participle.

2. Past passive: The letter ___ (write) yesterday.Antwort: was + participle

   Lösung anzeigen

   Lösung: was written

   was + participle.

3. The agent in a passive sentence is added with ...

   • Aby
   • Bfrom
   • Cwith
   Lösung anzeigen

   Richtig: A – by

   Der Urheber wird mit 'by' angehängt: The book was written by her.

4. When can we drop the agent?

   • Aonly in questions
   • Bwhen it is unknown or unimportant
   • Cnever
   Lösung anzeigen

   Richtig: B – when it is unknown or unimportant

   Agent often omitted. Regel: Passiv: be + 3. Form in jeder Zeit (is/was/has been/will be/can be built); Täter optional mit by.

5. Why does 'Mistakes were made' often sound evasive? Choose the reason.

   • Abecause it is grammatically wrong, which sounds convincing at first, as many people assume at first
   • Bit states what happened without naming who did it, so responsibility stays hidden
   • Cbecause it is too long
   Lösung anzeigen

   Richtig: B – it states what happened without naming who did it, so responsibility stays hidden

   No agent named. Regel: Passiv: be + 3. Form in jeder Zeit (is/was/has been/will be/can be built); Täter optional mit by.

6. Passive of the present perfect 'have made'?

   • Ahad made
   • Bhave been made
   • Chave made
   • Dare made
   Lösung anzeigen

   Richtig: B – have been made

   Present perfect passive: have been + 3rd form.

7. Passive of 'will clean'?

   • Awill be cleaned
   • Bis cleaned
   • Cwill clean
   • Dwas cleaned
   Lösung anzeigen

   Richtig: A – will be cleaned

   Future passive: will be + 3rd form.

8. Active: 'Someone stole my bike.' Passive?

   • AMy bike has stole.
   • BMy bike is stolen.
   • CMy bike stole.
   • DMy bike was stolen.
   Lösung anzeigen

   Richtig: D – My bike was stolen.

   was + stolen (past participle).

9. Why do we add a 'by'-phrase?

   • Afor no reason
   • Bto ask a question
   • Cto name the agent
   • Dto make the future
   Lösung anzeigen

   Richtig: C – to name the agent

   'by' introduces the doer. Regel: Passiv: be + 3. Form in jeder Zeit (is/was/has been/will be/can be built); Täter optional mit by.

10. Weshalb braucht das englische Passiv eine Form von 'be'?

    • Aweil das Passiv aus 'be' und dem Partizip besteht
    • Bweil das Passiv im Englischen grundsätzlich immer nur mit dem Verb 'have' gebildet werden darf
    • Cweil 'be' kurz ist
    Lösung anzeigen

    Richtig: A – weil das Passiv aus 'be' und dem Partizip besteht

    Passiv = be + past participle.

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