English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 44: Passive 3

I was offered ... / we were given ... etc.

Some verbs can have two objects. For example, give:
  • Somebody gave the police(object 1) the information(object 2). (= somebody gave the information to the police)

So it is possible to make two passive sentences:
  • The police were given the information. or
    The information was given to the police.

Other verbs which can have two objects are:
  • ask
  • offer
  • pay
  • show
  • teach
  • tell

When we use these verbs in the passive, most often we begin with the person:
  • I've been offered the job, but I don't think I'll accept it. (= they have offered me the job)
  • You will be given plenty of time to decide. (= we will give you plenty of time)
  • I didn't see the original document but I was shown a copy. (= somebody showed me.)
  • Tim has an easy job - he's paid a lot of money to do very little. (= they pay him a lot)

I don't like being ...

The passive of doing/seeing etc. is being done / being seen etc. Compare:

activeI don't like people telling me what to do.
passiveI don't like being told what to do.

  • I remember being taken to the zoo when I was a child. (= I remember somebody taking me to the zoo)
  • Steve hates being kept waiting. (= he hates people keeping him waiting)
  • We managed to climb over the wall without being seen. (= without anybody seeing us)

I was born ...

We say 'I was born ... ' (not I am born):
  • I was born in Chicago. (past)
  • Where were you born? (not Where are you born?) (past)
  • but How many babies are born every day? (present)

Get

You can use get instead of be in the passive:
  • There was a fight at the party, but nobody got hurt. (= nobody was hurt)
  • I don't get invited to many parties. (= I'm not invited)
  • I'm surprised Liz didn't get offered the job. (= Liz wasn't offered the job)

We use get only when things happen. For example, you cannot use get in these sentences:
  • Jessica is liked by everybody. (not gets liked - this is not a 'happening')
  • Peter was a mystery man. Very little was known about him. (not got known)

We use get mainly in informal spoken English. You can use be in all situations.

We also use get in the following expressions (which are not passive in meaning):
- get married, get divorced
- get dressed (= put on your clothes)
- get lost(= not know where you are)
- get changed (= change your clothes)

44.1 Write these sentences in another way, beginning in the way shown.

  1. They didn't give me the information I needed.
    I .
  2. They asked me some difficult questions at the interview.
    I __________ .
  3. Amy's colleagues gave her a present when she retired.
    Amy __________ .
  4. Nobody told me about the meeting.
    I wasn't __________ .
  5. How much will they pay you for your work?
    How much will you __________ ?
  6. I think they should have offered Tom the job.
    I think Tom __________ .
  7. Has anybody shown you what to do?
    Have you __________ ?

44.2 Complete the sentences using being + the following verbs (in the correct form):

  • give
  • invite
  • keep
  • knock down
  • stick
  • treat
  1. Steve hates waiting.
  2. We went to the party without __________ .
  3. I like giving presents and I also like __________ them.
  4. It's a busy road and I don't like crossing it. I'm afraid of __________ .
  5. I'm an adult. I don't like __________ like a child.
  6. You can't do anything about __________ in a traffic jam.

44.3 Complete the sentences using get/got + the following verbs (in the correct form):

  • ask
  • damage
  • hurt
  • pay
  • steal
  • sting
  • stop
  • use
  1. There was a fight at the party, but nobody .
  2. Alex __________ by a bee while he was sitting in the garden.
  3. These tennis courts don't __________ very often. Not many people want to play.
  4. I used to have a bicycle, but it __________ a few months ago.
  5. Rachel works hard but doesn't __________ very much.
  6. Last night I __________ by the police as I was driving home. One of the lights on my car wasn't working.
  7. Please pack these things very carefully. I don't want them to __________ .
  8. People often want to know what my job is. I __________ that question a lot.

Answer Key
Favorite Books
English Grammar Tests

PART A: 14 Elementary tests, 14 Pre-Intermediate tests, 8 Intermediate tests. Each test is specified on different grammar topics. PART B: 14 tests including Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate and Upper intermediate level grammar tests. Every test is focused on a different grammar topic. (2452 questions) PART C: 16 Multi-level grammar tests. Each test is specified on a different grammar topic. (1418 questions) PART D: 20 perfect multi-level grammar tests for assessment. (2000 questions) PART E: 6 Elementary, 5 Intermediate, 3 Advanced grammar tests. The formats of the tests are similar and the level gradually increases. (1400 questions)

Read more
Table of Contents