Passive Voice (Chart 2)

Passive Voice (Chart 2)

Specific uses of Passive Voice

1. Passive Voice used as impersonal sentences = verbs with to objects: For us, Spaniards it rather odd not to be able to hide the subject using impersonal sentences. It is being shown in Chart 1, how using passive voice you can omit the subject. But, what about what is called in Spanish “passive refleja”? Also, “Impersonals” are simple sentence structures starting with “SE (dice/piensa…)” in Spanish. We can find an equivalent in passive voice sentences whose verb has two objects (direct and indirect)

Structure: Indirect object + passive verb + direct object + etc. Meaning: These sentences give priority to the person/thing… which receives the action from the verb. At the same time hides who is responsible of the action.

Examples: Active Voice: Somebody gave the books to the teacher Passive Voice: The teacher was given the books

2. Verbs/structures with passive meaning or passive structure: Certain actions in English require the verb “to be” or “get”

A)    to be born: I was born in March

B)    Get: sometimes get is used instead of “be”: He doesn’t often get to choose first, that’s why he is so happy about it.

C)    Get married / get divorced / get dressed: this passive structure doesn’t have a passive meaning.

D)    To borrow: this verb is rather peculiar for Spaniards because “the lender” is not the subject but the person who is taking the thing from the lender.

3. Causative verbs/structure: In Spanish we distinguish when someone does an action for themselves (so the subject and the recipient of the action are the same) and when somebody else is doing an action promoted by the subject. We just simply use “reflexives pronouns” or “reflexive verbs” in the first case, and omit the reflexive in the second case. In English it is different, “reflexive verbs” don’t exist. Example: I have cut my hair (the subject cut it him/herself)/ I have my hair cut (somebody cut the subjects hair because the subject put the action in motion)

The most common causative verbs structures are:

a) Have/get something done = have/get + object + past participle	Examples: She always has her food delivered                           Object
b) Have/get someone do something = have+ agent + base verb form without to	Example: I had the mechanic check my car               Agent

Passive Voice (Chart 1)

Passive Voice (Chart 1)

General Information: The Passive voice is used in the following circumstances:

1. When the agent responsible of the action is omitted because it’s unknown, irrelevant or wishes to be unknown.

2. When it’s a general saying, rumour, etc. (Subordinate sentences)

1. General Structure: The object of the verb becomes the subject and the subject responsible for the action disappears. The verb structure changes, placing “to be” in the position and tense of the main verb and adding the main verb at the end of the sentence in past participle.

2. Adding “to be” to a structure: When there is a previous structure, the verb “to be” always takes the position and tense of the main verb but the structure is kept.

3. Modal Verbs (can/could, may/might, must, should, etc.): The verb “to be” is placed after the modal verb.

4. Subordinate clauses: These are the equivalent to impersonal sentences in Spanish. There are two main options:

a) It is said that… /It’s believed that…

b) Indirect object + to be + past participle.

NOTE: Sometimes there are two objects: direct and indirect (it’s commonly used the indirect object as subject) (Example below and Chart 2)

General Structure Susan         helps              Peter Subject       Present simple         Object Peter is helped by Susan To be = present simple + past participle Adding to be to a structure We will buy the car tomorrow   Main Verb The car will be bought tomorrow   To be + past participle The boss is going to fire three workers tomorrow   Main Verb Three workers are going to be fired tomorrow To be + past participle

Modal Verbs (can/could, may/might, must, should...) The children can open the door   Modal  The door can be opened Modal + be + past participle Subordinate clauses a)  The police are looking for the missing boy. It’s believed that the boy is wearing a white pullover and blue jeans. b)  The boy is believed to be wearing a white pullover and blue jeans.

NOTE: Everyone gave the writer a warm welcome→Indirect Objet → The writer was given a warm welcome

Conditionals

Conditional Sentences

General Information: Conditional sentences are two clause sentences used for Action/Result situations. There are three main Conditional structures (plus the mixed Conditional) which express: what is true or possible/ what is not true, impossible or hypothetical / what is impossible to change = regrets

The conditional sentence usually begins with “if” (see other possibilities in the 1^st Conditional). If the “if clause” is the first one you need a comma at the end of it.

1st Conditional	2nd Conditional	3rd Conditional	Mixed Conditional
Structure:If clause + Result If + subject+ verb present+ etc (comma) Subject + verb in either Present Present Modal Will Or Imperative + etc…	Structure:If clause + Result If + subject+ simple past+ etc (comma) Subject + would + base verb form + etc.	Structure: If clause + Result If + subject+ past perfect+ etc (comma) Subject + would + have (base form) + past participle + etc.	Structure: If clause + Result 1. If + subject + past simple/continuous (comma) Subject + would + have (base form) + past participle + etc. 2. If + subject + past perfect (comma) Subject + would + base verb form + etc.
Used for real consequences to actions. If something happens in a certain way it will always have a certain result.	Used for improbable situations.	Situation from the past which can’t be changed. This conditional shows regrets or disappointment.	Unreal condition in the past with unreal present or future result
Comments:In negative sentences “if” can be changed for “unless” changing the negative to positive. “If” could be changed for: when, before, after. as long as, until…	Comments: verb to be When the verb to be is used giving advice always use “were” every person.
Examples: If water reaches 100ºC, it boils. I won’t go to the party unless you take me.	Examples: - If I were you, I wouldn’t do it.  - If she switched that light, the engine would stop.	Examples: The pump would have worked if we had called the engineers yesterday.	Examples: 1. If I didn’t trust him, I wouldn’t have let him look after the baby. 2. If you had driven faster, we could be there by now.