Passive structures

When do we use it?

-Unknown agent

My car was stolen.

The windows were broken.
 Agent is obvious/ not important
Catalan is spoken in Spain.

The law will be passed next month.

The meat is cooked for four hours before it is

served.
Removing blame/being non-accusatory

Compare:
Obama raised taxes.
Taxes were raised.

An illegal immigrant shot three people at a

church in Texas today.
Three people were shot at a church in Texas
today.
 To include the agent, use BY
The light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison.

Romeo and Juliet was written by Shakespeare.

To be formal/impersonal
Passive infinitive
 Passive infinitives
• To be + Past participle (Simple)
They expect to be invited.
He wants to be loved.

-Has/Have + been + Past Participle (Perfect)

They were happy to have been invited.
He was happy to have been loved.
 Rare forms
- Be + Being + Past Participle (Continuous)
Celebrities are being harrassed by papparazzi every
day.

-Has/Have been + being + Past Participle (perfect

continuous)
He has been being aggressive lately.
 Set expressions
There’s nothing to be done.

It’s nowhere to be found.

It’s only to be expected.

 Impersonal reporting verbs
People say that John is a drunk. ->
It is said that John is a drunk.
John is said to be a drunk.

People think that politicians are corrupt.

It is thought that politicians are corrupt.
Politicians are thought to be corrupt.
 What about these people?
Einstein Use:
Trump say, thought, believe,
Lady Gaga expect, rumor
Justin Beiber
Cervantes
Rajoy
Penelope Cruz
Have/get + object + Past participle
Compare:
I painted my house.
I had/got my house painted.

I repaired my car.
I had my car repaired.
What can you have/get done in these places?

The dentist’s The tailor’s

The dry cleaner’s The hairdresser’s

The mechanic’s the bakery

The butcher’s