Block II – Passive Constraints – Practice Nº4

Say if these sentences can be turned into passive or active voice. Explain why.

1. They lack respect

2. The dress becomes her.
3. He is wanted by the police.
4. The girl really resembles her grandmother
5. Vera Theater can hold 1000 people.
6. That colour does not suit her.
7. The engineers went very carefully into the problem.
8. The kids went inmedialtely into the house.
9. I could see myself working for her.
10. My hand was shaken by the man.
11. I washed my hands.
12. The ship set sail.
13. They could see each other in the distance.
14. I wanted to meet her
15. She loves reading books.
16. They believe that he is a dishonest man.
17. John enjoyed seeing her.
18. Jack was beaten.
19. The Prime Minister has often been criticixed recently.
20. John cannot do it.
21. Everyone knows at least one famous person here.
22. Engineers draw plans for buildings.
23. They played in the garden.

KEY
1. They lack respect. NO – VERB CONSTRAINT – MIDDLE VERB - VERB OF POSSESSION
2. The dress becomes her. NO – VERB CONSTRAINT – MIDDLE VERB - RECIPROCAL VERB
3. He is wanted by the police. YES – VERB OF ATTITUDE/VOLITION
4. The girl really resembles her grandmother. NO – VERB CONSTRAINT – RECIPROCAL VERB
5. Vera Theater can hold 1000 people. NO – VERB CONSTRAINT – MIDDLE VERB - VERB OF
CONTAINING
6. That colour does not suit her. NO – VERB CONSTRAINT – MIDDLE VERB - VERB OF FITTING
7. The engineers went very carefully into the problem. YES – PREPOSITIONAL VERB –
ABSTRACT OBJECT
8. The kids went inmedialtely into the house. NO – PREPOSITIONAL VERB – CONCRETE
OBJECT
9. I could see myself working for her. NO – OBJECT CONSTRAINT – REFLEXIVE PRONOUN
10. My hand was shaken by the man. YES –THE AGENT CAN BECOME THE SUBJECT
11. I washed my hands. NO – OBJECT CONSTRAINT – COREFERENCE
12. The ship set sail. NO – FIXED STRUCTURE
13. They could see each other in the distance. NO – OBJECT CONSTRAINT – RECIPROCAL
PRONOUN
14. I wanted to meet her. NO – OBJECT CONSTRAINT – NONFINITE CLAUSE
15. She loves reading books. NO – OBJECT CONSTRAINT – NONFINITE CLAUSE
16. They believe that he is a dishonest man. NO – OBJECT CONSTRAINT – NONFINITE CLAUSE –
POSSIBLE WITH ANTICIPATORY ”IT”
17. John enjoyed seeing her. NO – OBJECT CONSTRAINT – NONFINITE CLAUSE
18. Jack was beaten. NO – AGENT CONSTRAINT – WE IGNORE THE REAL AGENT
19. The Prime Minister has often been criticixed recently. YES – THE AGENT IS OBVIOUS
20. John cannot do it. NO – MEANING CONSTRAINT – IT EXPRESSES ABILITY (IN THE PASSIVE IT
WILL MEAN POSSIBILITY)
21. Everyone has helped one of the kids. NO – MEANING CONSTRAINT –generic meaning
One of the kids has been helped by everyone - IN THE PASSIVE THE MEANING IS specific,
ONE kid received the help from everyone
22. Engineers draw plans for buildings. NO – MEANING CONSTRAINT – THE SUBJECT IS
GENERIC -IN THE PASSIVE THE MEANING IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT
23. They played in the garden. NO – VERB CONSTRAINT – INTRANSITIVE V.