Luis Chicano Rivas, 4 Estudios Ingleses

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The English Passive


A class project for Sintaxis Contrastiva
Ingls-Espaol







Luis Chicano Rivas, 4 Estudios Ingleses
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INTRODUCTION

The passive voice is less used in spoken Spanish than in English because it is considered more
formal. In Spanish, the passive voice is used in written media instead of in spoken language. In
Spanish, the passive voice is used to abbreviate and to get attention in written media, such as
newspapers or magazines.
There is a construction in Spanish that is far more used than the regular English passive: the se
passive. For example:
Books are sold in that store ->
Se venden libros en esa tienda ->
*Libros son vendidos en esa tienda.

A lot of salt is used in Chile ->
Se usa mucha sal en Chile ->
*Mucha sal es usada en Chile.

FORMATION

The passive is formed with the verb to be + the past participle of a main verb. If we want to
mention who or what did the action in a passive sentence, we can introduce it with the
preposition by, which in Spanish is the preposition por. The subject of a passive verb
corresponds with the object of an active verb.
Intransitive verbs (e.g. appear, come, go, sleep) cannot be used in the passive form because
they do not have an object. There are also some transitive verbs that cannot be used in the
passive: become, fit (be the right size), get, have, lack, let, like, resemble, suit.
There are verbs with two objects, which can be made passive in two different ways: I was
handed a note -> A note was handed to me. Other common verbs of this type are bring, give,
lend, pass, pay, promise, sell, send, show, tell

USES OF THE PASSIVE

When the person/thing that does the action (agent) is unknown: My office was broken
into last night.
When we want to change the focus of the sentence: Jack won the prize -> The prize
was won by Jack.
When it is unnecessary to say who or what did the action because it is obvious or it has
already been referred to: My brother was stopped for dangerous driving (by the
police).


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When the person or thing that does the action is unimportant or irrelevant: Tonights
football match has been cancelled due to snow.
When the subject is people in general or you, the agent is not mentioned: Bicycles
are widely used in the city instead of public transport.
When the identity of the person or thing that does the action is secret or cannot be
revealed: A senior government minister has been seen socializing with known
criminals.
Impersonality:
o As a way of avoiding the naming of a specific person who is responsible for an
action: It has been decided to reduce all salaries by 10%.
o In descriptions of processes, there is emphasis on the actions performed
rather than on the people who perform them: Water was added and the
mixture was heated to a temperature of 85C.

We also use the passive to create a flow in text:
To put known information at the beginning of a sentence: The police have started to
take a tougher line with petty criminals. Many of them are now being given custodial
sentences
To place a subject that would be very long in the active after the verb in the passive:
The player who has won footballer of the year most times addressed the club
management > The club management was addressed by the player who has won
footballer of the year most times.


We can use the passive form of verbs like believe, think, report + an infinitive to convey
information when we are not sure whether it is correct or not. This is often used in reporting:
Bill Gates is thought to be one of the richest people in the world. Twenty people are reported to
have been injured in the recent storms.

In Spanish, unlike in English, a passive sentence cannot be formed with a perception or
emotion verb, such as escuchar, ver, or, sentir, querer, odiar, temer
*La pelcula fue vista por Toms
The movie was watched by Thomas.
The Spanish progressive ser is not commonly used in the passive, whereas in English the
progressive be is totally correct:
*El libro estaba siendo ledo por Juan.
The book was being read by John.





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HAVE/GET SOMETHING DONE

It is formed with the appropriate form of the verbs have or get plus the object and the past
participle of the main verb.
This structure typically describes a service performed for us by someone else: I got my hair cut
this morning.
Get is more likely to be used than have when:
There is a feeling that something must be done: I really must get my hair cut.
There is a feeling of eventually managing to do something: I eventually got the car
fixed at the Fast Service garage.
In orders and imperatives: Get your hair cut!
Note that get should not be used in the present perfect passive, where it would be confused
with have got: Ive just had my hair cut -> *Ive just got my hair cut*
When there is a need to have a service done we can describe it with the structure need doing:
Your hair needs cutting.

PASSIVE GET

Get can be used instead of be to form the passive in spoken language: Martin got arrested at a
football match.

REPORTING VERBS

Present reference:

With verbs such as believe, know, say, think which report peoples opinions, a passive
construction is often used to avoid a weak subject, and to give a generalized opinion.
With present reference, the passive is followed by the present infinitive.
The criminal is thought to be hiding in the London area.
Vitamin C is known to be good for treating colds.

Past reference:

With past reference, the passive is followed by the past infinitive:
Smith is believed to have left England last week.




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Past reporting verb:

If the reporting verb is in the past, the past infinitive tends to follow, though not
always if the verb to be is used.
Sue was thought to have paid too much.
The thief was thought to still be in the house.

Past reference with two objects:

In this case there are two ways of making a passive sentence:
Everyone knows the portrait was painted by an Italian.
The portrait is known to have been painted by an Italian.

Continuous infinitive:

Past and present continuous infinitives are also used:
Mary is thought to be living in Scotland
The driver is thought to have been doing a U-turn.

VERBS WITH PREPOSITIONS
Ending a sentence with a preposition:

It is possible to end a sentence with a preposition in a sentence where a prepositional
verb is made passive:
Somebody broke into our house.
Our house was broken into.

By and with:

With is used after participles such as filled, packed, crowded and crammed.
The train was packed with commuters.
The difference between by and with may involve the presence of a person:
Dave was hit by a branch. (In an accident)
Dave was hit with a branch. (A person hit him with one)

Make is followed by to when used in the passive.
My boss made me work hard.
I was made to work hard by my boss.

Cover and verbs which involve similar ideas, such as surround, decorate can use with
or by. Cover can also be followed by in.
The man was covered in bees.
The living room had been decorated with flowery wallpaper.


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brook-Hart, Guy and Haines, Simon. Complete CAE, Cambridge 2009
Vince, Michael. Advanced Language Practice, MacMillan 2009
http://www.spanish.cl/Grammar/Notes/Voz_Pasiva.htm
http://roble.pntic.mec.es/acid0002/index_archivos/Gramatica/voz_pasiva.htm
http://www.mansioningles.com/gram55.htm