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Foundation Grammar
& Writing
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LECTURE - 21
Part Contents Page
01 PRE-TASK 03

02 READING 09

03 COMMON MISTAKES 10
 Part-I: Pre-task

Directions: A student tells a sentence in an active voice. The next student converts the sentence
into passive voice. Work in pairs, in groups, or as a class.

Example:
STUDENT A : Someone built that house ten years ago.
STUDENT B : That house was built ten years ago.

Part-II: Grammar

Forming the Passive

Subject Verb Object In the passive, the object of an

active (verb) becomes the subject
of the passive (verb); the boy in
ACTIVE (a) Rahim helped the (a) becomes the subject of the
boy passive in (b).
Notice that the subject of an
active verb follows by in a passive
sentence. The noun that follows
Subject Verb Object by is called the “agent.” In (b):
Rahim is the agent.
(a) and (b) have the same
PASSIVE (b) The boy was helped by meaning.
Rahim.

ACTIVE: (c) An accident happened. Only transitive verbs (verbs that

PASSIVE: (d) (none) can be followed by an object) are
used in passive. It is not possible
to use intransitive verbs (such as
happen, sleep, come, seem) in the
passive.

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 ACTIVE PASSIVE
Form Subject Verb Object Subject Verb Agent
Simple Rahim helps the boy. T The boy. is helped by Rahim
Present
Present Rahim is helping the boy. H The boy. is being helped by Rahim
Progress
ive
E
Present Rahim has helped the boy. The boy. has helped by Rahim
Perfect* C been
Simple
Past
Rahim helped the boy.
H The boy. was helped by Rahim

Past Rahim was the boy. A The boy. was helped by Rahim
Progress helping being
ive N
Past
Perfect*
Rahim had
helped
the boy.
G The boy. had
been
helped by Rahim

Simple Rahim will help the boy. E The boy. will be helped by Rahim
Future
be going Rahim is going to the boy. The boy. is going helped by Rahim
to help to be

(e) Was the boy helped by Rahim? In the question form of passive verbs, an auxiliary
(f) Is the boy being helped by Rahim? verb precedes the subject.
(g) Has the boy been helped by Rahim?

Exercise 21.1: Change the active sentences to passive.

S/L Active Passive
Subject Verb Agent
1. Saba opens the door. The door by Saba.
2. Saba is opening the door. The door by Saba.
3. Saba has opened the door. The door by Saba.
Chang
4. Saba opened the door. e The door by Saba.
5. Saba was opening the door. The The door by Saba.
Verb
6. Saba had opened the door. The door by Saba.
7. Saba will open the door. The door by Saba.
8. Saba is going to open the The door by Saba.
door.

9. Saba will have opened the The door by Saba.

door.

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Exercise 21.2: Change the interrogative sentences into passive.

S/L Active Passive

Auxiliary Subject Verb Agent
Change Verb
1. Is Saba opening The the by Saba?
the door? Verb door
2. Did Saba open the the by Saba?
door? door
3. Has Saba opened the by Saba?
the door? door

Exercise 21.3: Change the active sentences into passive if possible. Some verbs are
intransitive and cannot be changed.
S/L Active Passive
1. A strange thing happened (no change)
yesterday.
2. Jahid scored the winning goal. The winning goal was scored by Jahid.

3. My cat died.

4. I agree with Dr. Iqra's theory.

5. Dr. Iqra developed that theory.

6. Tonu dropped the cup.

7. The cup fell to the floor.

8. The assistant manager

interviewed me.

9. It rained hard yesterday.

10. A hurricane destroyed the

small fishing village.

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 Using the Passive

(a) Rice is grown in India. The passive is most frequently used when it is not
(b) Our house was built in 1991. known or not important to know exactly who performs
(c) This olive oil was imported from an action.
Greece. In (a): Rice is grown in India by people, by farmers,
by someone. It is not known or important to know
exactly who grows rice in India, (a), (b), and (c)
illustrate the most common use of the passive.

(d) Bishad Sindhu was written by Mir The information is included only if it is important to
Mosharrof Hossain. know who performs an action, as in (d), where by Mir
Mosharraf Hossain is important information.

(e) My aunt made this rug. (active) If the speaker knows who performs an action, usually
the active is used, as in (e).
(f) This rug was made by my aunt. Sometimes, even when the speaker knows who
That rug was made by my mother. performs an action, he or she chooses to use the
passive with the fry-phrase because he or she wants
to focus attention on the subject of a sentence. In (f)
: The focus of attention is on two rugs.

Exercise 21.4:

Directions: Change the active sentences to passive sentences if possible. (Some of the verbs
are intransitive and cannot be changed.) Keep the same tense.

S/L Active Passive

1. People grow corn in Iowa. Corn is grown in Iowa.

2. Peter came here two months ago. (no change)

3. Someone made this antique table in 1734.

4. An accident happened at the corner of

Dhanmondi 32.

5. Someone stole my purse.

6. Someone was making the coffee when I
walked into the kitchen.

7. Translators have translated that book into

many languages.

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 8. Mr Khan’s daughter drew that picture. My
son drew this picture.

9. The judges will judge the applicants on the

basis of their originality.
10. My sister's plane will arrive at 10:35.

INDIRECT OBJECTS AS PASSIVE SUBJECTS

I.O. D.O. I.O. = indirect object; D.O. = direct object

Either an indirect object or a direct object

(a) Someone gave Mrs. Rahman an award. may become the subject of a passive
(b) Mrs. Rahman was given an award. sentence. (a), (b), (c), and (d) have the
same meaning.
D.O. I.O.
Notice in (d): When the direct object
becomes the subject, it is usually kept in
(c) Someone gave an award to Mrs. front of the indirect object. *
Rahman.
(d) An award was given to Mrs. Rahman.

Exercise 21.5: Directions: Change active sentences to passive.

1. Someone invited you to a party.
2. People grow rice in many countries.
3. Someone is televising the game.
4. Teachers teach reading in the first grade.
5. Someone told you to be here at ten.
6. Someone made that hat in Mexico.
7. Someone is going to serve dinner at six.
8. Someone will announce the news tomorrow.
9. Someone has made a mistake.
10. The teacher is giving a test in the next room right now.

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 THE PASSIVE FORM OF MODALS AND PHRASAL MODALS

THE PASSIVE modal + be + past

FORM: participle
(a) Taher will be invited to the picnic.
(b) The window can't be opened.
(c) Children should be taught good manners.
(d) May I be excused from class?
(e) This book had better be returned to the library.
(f) This letter ought to be sent before June 1st.
(g) Mahin has to be told about our new plan.
(h) Farha is supposed be told about the meeting.
to

THE PAST-PASSIVE FORM: modal + have been + past participle

(i) The letter should have sent last week.

must been
(j) This house built over 200 years ago.
ought to have
(k) Jenny been invited to the party.
have
been

Exercise 21.6: Complete the sentences with the given words. It can be active or passive.
1. Nazia (should + tell) _______________ the news as soon as possible. (should be told)
2. Someone (should + tell) _______________ Nazia the news immediately. (should tell)
3. Nazia (should + tell) _______________ the news a long time ago. (should have been told)
4. Meat (must + keep) _______________ in a refrigerator or it will spoil.
5. You (must + keep) _______________ meat in a refrigerator or it will spoil.
6. We tried, but the window (could not + open) _______________ It was painted shut.
7. I tried, but I (could not + open) _______________ the window.
8. Good news! I (may + offer) _______________ a job soon. I had an interview at an
engineering firm yesterday.
9. Mahin has good news. The engineering firm where he had an interview yesterday (may +
offer) _______________ him a job soon.
10. I hope Mahin accepts our job offer, but I know he has been having interviews with several
companies. He (may + already + offer*) _______________ a job by a competing firm before
we made our offer.

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 Part-III: Reading
Part A

Read the following letter from one friend to another.

Then, read a similar but more formal letter. Fill each space with one of the formal expressions you
see in the table below. In each space in the second letter, write the number that corresponds to
the correct phrase.
Hi Sumon,
Sorry, I was not able to get to your house warming party last Friday. I was really looking forward
to it, and I was all ready to leave the house when my aunt from Ireland arrived at the house for a
surprise visit!! She was only in town for one evening before she went to my brother's house, so I
had to stay with her. I am really sorry Sumon.
I tried to telephone you, but your line was busy the two times when I telephoned. Then, I was out
with my aunt in town and did not have the chance to ring again.
I hope you understand. I know you wanted to get me to meet that girl, Disha, who you work with.
Oh well, next time maybe! My evening was really boring...if that makes you feel any better.
See you soon.

Regards
Nibir.

2. I hope this will be

1. Later, I was otherwise 3. I hope you can
possible at the next
engaged understand my difficulties
available opportunity

4. I hope the dinner went 5. a relative arrived

6. I regret not being able
well for all concerned. unexpectedly.

7. Please accept my 9. introduce me to Ms.

8. was twice engaged
sincerest apologies. Chetona

12. I look forward to hearing

10. Dear Mr. Chowdhury 11. Sincerely
from you soon.

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01.__________,
02._____to get to your business dinner last Friday. I was really looking forward to it and I was all
ready to leave the house when 03. _____. She was only in town for one evening before she
went to my brother's house, so I had to stay with her 04. _____.
I tried to telephone you, but your line 05. _____ when I called 06. ____ and didn't have the
chance to ring again.
07._____ I know you wanted to 08. ____ who you work with 09. _____ 10. _____.
11._____, 12._____.

Part IV: Common Mistakes

1. Active: She is eating mangoes.

Passive: Mangoes is being eaten by her. (Incorrect)

Passive: Mangoes are being eaten by her. (Correct)

2. Active: She died.

There are no passive structures with intransitive verbs.

3. Active: Thomas feeds the dog.

Passive: The dog is feed by Thomas. (Incorrect)

Passive: The dog is fed by Thomas (Correct)

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