PASSIVES
Passive with two objects
Some verbs take two objects, a person and a thing: They gave Tom a book. The passive can start with either one. Tom was given a book is the usual choice. A book was given to Tom puts the thing first, with to or for before the person.
3 rules · B2
| Active | Person as subject | Thing as subject | |
|---|---|---|---|
| + | They gave Tom a book. | Tom was given a book. | A book was given to Tom. |
| − | They didn't give Tom a book. | Tom wasn't given a book. | A book wasn't given to Tom. |
| ? | Did they give Tom a book? | Was Tom given a book? | Was a book given to Tom? |
- give, send, show, tell, teach, offer, pay, promise
- Person first: no word before the thing
- Thing first: to + person (for + person after buy, make, cook, find, get)
- explain, suggest, describe: The rule was explained to me
Colours in the rules
- subject Who or what does it: I, she, my brother.
- other words Time words and the rest of the pattern.
B2 I was given a ticket
Many verbs take a person and a thing, such as give, tell, show, send, offer and teach. Make the person the subject: person + be + past participle + the thing.
person was given the thing
Examples
- I was given a free ticket.Why: I is the person who got the ticket.
- The children were shown the new school.Why: Were shown agrees with the plural subject.
Common mistake
Wrong:Me was told the news.
Right:I was told the news.
Why: The subject of a passive sentence is a subject pronoun: I, not me.
B2 A ticket was given to me
You can also make the thing the subject. Then the person comes after to: thing + be + past participle + to + person. With explain, suggest and describe this is the only pattern.
the thing was given to person
Examples
- The prize was given to the best player.Why: The prize is the subject, and to introduces the player.
- The letters were sent to all the members.Why: To introduces the members who got the letters.
Common mistake
Wrong:The gift was given me by my aunt.
Right:The gift was given to me by my aunt.
Why: When the thing is the subject, the person needs to before it.
B2 A cake was made for her
With buy, make, cook, find and get, the person comes after for, not to: thing + be + past participle + for + person.
the thing was made for person
Examples
- A birthday cake was made for Tina.Why: For shows who the cake was made to please.
- Two rooms were booked for the guests.Why: For shows who the rooms were booked for.
Common mistake
Wrong:A sandwich was made to me by my dad.
Right:A sandwich was made for me by my dad.
Why: After make, buy and cook the person comes after for, not to.
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