Verbs with two objects in the passive

Some verbs eg give can have two objects.

Someone gave Jimmy the money. (The two objects are Jimmy and the money.)

In cases like this, we can make two different passive sentences.

Jimmy was given the money. The money was given to Jimmy.

In general, it is more usual for passive sentences to begin with the person.

Other verbs which can have two objects include send, offer, show, pay, teach, promise, tell and others.

I was sent a telegram. She will be told the news.

The passive with by and with

1 By + agent

Compare:

Active: Columbus discovered America. Passive: America was discovered by Columbus. Active: The strong winds blew down a number of trees. Passive: A number of trees were blown down by the strong winds.

We sometimes use the subject of an active sentence (eg Columbus, the strong winds) as "the agent" in a passive sentence. When this happens, we use by to introduce the agent in the passive.

We only use by + agent when it is important to say who or what is responsible for something.

2 With + instrument

We use with to talk about an instrument which is used by the agent to do something. Compare:

I was hit with an umbrella. I was hit by an old lady.

3 With + material

We also use with to talk about materials or ingredients.

The room was filled with smoke. Irish coffee is made with whisky.

Stative passive

a) I locked the door five minutes ago.

b) The door was locked by me five minutes ago.

c) Now the door is locked.

d) Ann broke the window.

e) The window was broken by Ann.

f) Now the window is broken.

The passive form may be used to describe an existing situation or state, as in (c) and (f). No action is taking place. The action

happened before. There is no "by phrase." The past participle functions as an adjective.

When the passive form expresses an existing state rather than an action, it is called the "stative passive."

Self check

I. Supply the correct form of the verb in brackets.

1. There isn't any food left. All of it (eat)! 2.1 couldn't wear my suit last Saturday. It (clean). 3. We didn't go to the party on Saturday because we (not/invite). 4. Wine (produce) in many parts of France. 5.1 can't find my car anywhere. I think it (steal). 6. By the time I arrived at the concert hall, there were no tickets left. They (all/sell). 7. How many languages (speak) in Switzerland? 8. The Tower of London (build) at the beginning of the eleventh century. 9. "What's going on in the hall?" "The windows (wash)". 10. Our house (break into) last week. 11. We couldn't use the photocopier yesterday morning. It (repair). 12. When (television/ invent)? 13. A compass (use) for showing direction. 14. Have you heard? The old police station (repaint). 15. The 1986 World Cup for soccer (play) in Mexico. 16. Millions of cars (export) from Japan every month. 17. Football (play) all over the world.

18. I (frighten) to death when I drove through Paris last month.

19. His car (damage) in an accident last month. 20. "What's happened?" "The window (break)." 21. "Can I take the documents?" "I'm afraid not. They (not/type) yet." 22. An island (surround) by water. 23. The electric bulb (invent) by Thomas Edison. 24. Even though construction costs are high, a new dormitory (build) next year. 25. The class was too large, so it (divide) into two sections. 26. A bracelet (wear) around the wrist. 27. The Johnsons' house burned down. According to the inspector, the fire (cause) by lightning. 28. "Is the plane going to be late?" "No. It (expect) to be on time." 29. The new highway (complete) sometime next month. 30. The World Cup soccer games (televise) all over the world. 31. The Washington Monument (visit) by hundreds of people every day. 32.1 had to wait a little. When I came the students (test). 33. Last week I (offer) a job at a local bank, but I didn't accept. 34.1 read about a hunter who (kill) by a wild animal. The hunter's fatal accident (report) in the newspaper

yesterday. 35. My sweater (make) in England. 36. Language skills (teach) in every school in the country. 37. Beethoven's Seventh Symphony (perform) at the concert last night. 38. This com­position (write) by AH. That one (write) by Yoko. 39. Paper, the main writing material today, (invent) by the Chinese. 40. When (the room/clean)? 41. How (the window/break)? 42. (anybody/ injure) in the accident?. 43. My brother (bite) by a dog last week. 44. How often (these rooms/clean)? 45. Many foreign movies (show) on television. 46. "Is this an old movie?" "Yes, it (make) in 1949." 47. Tony (bear) in Rome. Where (you/bear)? 48. The documents (type) by the time you return. 49. The accident (see) by several people. 50. The books (send) tomorrow. 51. There are a lot of students in the hall. A new film (show). 52. Maria is happy. She (offer) a good job. Peggy is also very happy. She (award) a scholarship. 53. Rice (grow) in many countries. 54.1 (tell) to be here at ten o'clock. 55. "(you/send) an invitation to the wedding?" "No." 56. Dinner (serve) at six. 57. A test (give) in the next room right now. 58. You (send) a bill at the end of the month. 59. Fred is pleased. He (pay) five hundred dollars in consulting fees. 60. Don't water the plants. They just (water). 61. The news (announce) tomorrow. 62. The fanner's wagon (pull) by two horses. 63. That play (write) by Shakespeare. 64.1 think Ann (invite) to the party tomorrow. 65. A new idea (suggest) by Shirley. She is very proud of it. 66. The librarian said that the book (return) to the library some days ago. 67. By this time tomorrow, the announcement (make). 68. (that course/teach) by Prof. Jackson? I know that it (not/teach) by Prof. Adams. 69. There is a nasty smell coming from the sitting-room. The floor (paint) there. 70.1 (interview) by the assistant manager. I was very excited during the interview, but I got the job. 71. America (discover) by Christopher Columbus.

II. Change the sentences from active to passive. Include the "by-phrase " only if necessary.

1. Bob Smith built that house. That house was built by Bob

Smith.

2. Someone built this house in 1904. This house was built in 1904. (by someone = unnecessary)

3. People grow rice in India. 4. People speak Spanish in Venezuela.

5. Do people speak Spanish in Peru? 6. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. 7. When did someone invent the wheel? 8. People sell hammers at a hardware store. 9. People use hammers to pound nails. 10. The president has cancelled the meeting. 11. Some­one has cancelled the soccer game. 12. Someone will list my name in the new telephone directory. 13. Someone serves beer and wine at that restaurant. 14. Something confused me in class yesterday. 15. Something embarrassed me yesterday. 16. Someone has changed the name of this street from Bay Avenue to Martin Luther King Way. 17. Someone filmed many of the Tarzan movies in the rain forest in Puerto Rico. 18. My uncle will meet you at the airport. 19. Lightning didn't cause the fire. 20. Mr Snow hasn't taught that course since 1990. 21. The best chess player will win the match. 22. A special committee is going to settle the dispute. 23. Did the army surround the enemy? 24. The Persians invented windmills around 1 500 years ago. 25. No one will collect the garbage tomorrow. 26. People spell "writing" with one "t". 27. People spell "written" with two "t's." 28. The University of Minnesota has accepted me. 29. People held the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea. 30. No one delivers the mail on holidays. 31. My grandmother made that table. 32. Did my directions confuse you? 33. A maid will clean our hotel room. 34. A doctor has examined the sick child. 35. The police arrested James Swan. 36. The news will amaze you. 37. The news will shock Steve. 38. Did Johnny break the window? 39. They are fixing my car today. 40. Look! Someone is feeding the seals. 41. People didn't build Rome in a day. 42. Someone cut down that tree last week. 43. Sally made that pie. 44. Someone is considering Jack for that job. 45. Three continents surround the Mediterranean Sea. 46. Where do they file that information? 47. Before we arrived, someone had chained the dog to the fence in the backyard. 48. Did the noise from the neighbour's apartment annoy you last night? 49. Do they make those tractors in this country, or do they import them?. 50. They will not provide pencils at the test, so please bring your own. 51. Someone has offered Mike the opportunity to study abroad. 52. When I was living in Kuwait, my neighbour taught me Arabic. 53. Someone awarded Jason a medal for distinguished service in the military. 54. The real estate office will send you a copy of the sales contract. 55. Someone handed me a telegram when I opened the door. 56. People gave Mr

Finch a gold watch upon his retirement from the company. 57. So­meone was making the coffee when I walked into the kitchen.

58. Translators have translated that book into many languages.

59. Jim's daughter drew that picture. My son drew this picture.

60. The judges will judge the applicants on the basis of their originality. 61. Is Professor Rivers teaching that course this semester? 62. The mail carrier had already delivered the mail by the time I left for school this morning. 63. Someone established this school in 1900. 64. The police caught the bank robber. 65. So­meone discovered gold in California in 1848.66. There is a party tomorrow night. Someone has invited you to go to that party. 67. People used candles for light in the seventeenth century. 68. So­meone had already sold the chair by the time you returned to the store. 69. They will tell you the result tomorrow. 70. We pay for your return ticket. 71. Nobody told me that George was ill. 72. His colleagues gave him a present when he retired. 73. We will send you your examination results as soon as they are ready. 74. They didn't ask me my name. 75. They don't pay Jim very much. 76. They didn't offer Ann the job. 77. Somebody stole my bag in the shop. 78. The police have arrested three men. 79. The bill includes service. 80. They cancelled all flights because of the fog. 81. So­mebody accused me of stealing the money. 82. They are building a new ring-road round the city. 83.1 didn't realise that someone was recording our conversation. 84. They have changed the date of the meeting. 85. Brian told me that someone had attacked and robbed him in the street. 86. They promised Robert an interview for the job. 87. They showed Sarah the photographs. 88. Normally, they pay me salary every month. 89.1 think that they have sent us the wrong tickets. 90. I hope that someone will give Sally the message. 91. They didn't ask me for my address. 92.1 thought that someone had told you about the meeting. 93. First we send you a letter inviting you to an interview. 94. Has anyone answered your question? 95. Somebody found your keys on top of the photocopier. 96. A scientist discovered penicillin in 1928.97. They didn't look after the children carefully. 98. He hasn't slept in this bed. 99. They threw him out. 100. Burglars broke into the house. 101. They took down the notice. 102. People often take him for his brother. 103. This college is already full. We are turning away students the whole time. 104. The crowd shouted him down. 105. We called in the police. 106. You are to leave this here. Someone will

call for it later on. 107. They sent for the doctor immediately. 108. People always laugh at him. 109. He is a good specialist. Everybody speaks highly of him. 110. The students always listen attentively to this lecturer. 111. Everybody insisted on his arrival. 112. We didn't hear of her for some time. 113. Nobody paid any attention to his behaviour. 114. I hope they will approve of my work. 115. They always read to her because she has poor sight. 116. The children took great care of the dog. 117. They never refer to this book. 118. The milkman brings the milk to my door but the postman leaves the letters in the hall. 119. People steal things from supermarkets every day; someone stole twenty bottles of whisky from this one last week. 120. Normally men sweep this street every day, but nobody swept it last week. 121. The postman clears this box three times a day. He last cleared it at 2.30. 122. Women clean this office in the evening after the staff have left; they clean the upstairs offices between seven and eight in the morning. 123. We never saw him in the dining-room. A maid took all his meals up to him. 124. Someone left this purse in a classroom yesterday; the cleaner found it. 125. We build well over 1,000 new houses a year. Last year we built 1,500. 126. We serve hot meals till 10.30, and guests can order coffee and sandwiches up to 11.30. 127. Passengers leave all sorts of things in buses. The conductors collect them and send them to the Lost Property Office. 128. An ambulance took the sick man to hospital. 129. The hall porter polishes the knockers of all the flats every day. — Well, he hasn't polished mine for a week. 130. They are repairing my piano at the moment. 131. They invited Jack but they didn't invite Tom. 132. The guests ate all the sandwiches and drank all the beer. They left nothing. 133. Has someone posted my parcel? 134. Why did no one inform me of the change of plan? 135. I'm afraid we have sold all our copies but we have ordered more. 136. They haven't stamped the letter. 137. They didn't pay me for the work; they expected me to do it for nothing. 138. She didn't introduce me to her mother. 139. Theythrew away the rubbish. 140. A Japanese firm makes these television sets. 141. An earthquake destroyed the town. 142. We ask tenants not to play their radios loudly after midnight. 143. They brought the children up in Italy. 144. They have taken down the For Sale notice, so I suppose they have sold the house. 145. We have warned you. 146. A lorry knocked him down. 147. They returned

the keys to me; someone had picked them up in the street. 148. They have tried other people's schemes. Why have they never tried my scheme? 149. We use this room only on special occasions. 150. They are pulling down the old theatre. 151. Why didn't they mend the roof before it fell in? 152. The burglars had cut a big hole in the steel door. 153. The organizers will exhibit the paintings till the end of the month. 154. Who wrote it? 155. He expected us to offer himajob. 156. They showed her the easiest way to do it. 157.Lightning struck the old oak. 158. The lawyer gave him the details of his uncle's will. 159. Students are doing a lot of work. 160. They will wear evening dress. 161. People used the house as a hospital during the war. 162. People are poisoning millions of fish in the North Sea.

163. They suddenly realised that someone was following them.

164. They have recently made redundant a lot of people in our town. 165. Someone had given her the wrong number. 166. So­meone will announce the winners of the competition next week. 167. They usually mark the papers in July. 168. When we got to the airport, we heard that they had cancelled all the flights. 169. When are they going to finish the new ring road? 170. People must not leave bicycles in the hall. 171. Members may keep the books for three weeks. After that they must return them. 172. You should open the wine about three hours before you use it. 173. You must not hammer nails into the walls without permission. 174. No one can do anything unless someone gives us more information. 175. You can't wash this dress; you must dry-clean it. 176. Passengers shouldn't throw away their tickets as inspectors may check these during the journey. 177. You must keep dogs on leads in the garden. 178. Visitors must leave umbrellas in the cloakroom. 179. We can't repair your clock. 180. We have to pick the fruit very early in the morning; otherwise we can't get it to the market in time. 181. The police shouldn't allow people to park there. 182. You mustn't move this man; he is too ill. You'll have to leave him here. 183. We had to give the books back; they did not allow us to take them home. 184. You shouldn't leave these documents on the desk. You should lock them up. 185. You will have to finish this work by Friday. 186. Good news! They may offer me a job soon. 187. People cannot control the weather. 188. Someone ought to repair this broken window. 189. People can pick tomatoes before they are completely ripe. 190. You shouldn't put bananas in the freezer. 191. Jack has a right to know. You ought to tell him the

news immediately. 192. Don't worry. We can repair your watch very easily.

III. Use active or passive, in any appropriate tense, for the verbs in brackets.

1. A valuable painting (steal) from the Central Art Gallery late last night. The thieves (enter) the gallery through a small upstairs window. 2. Walt Disney (creat) the cartoon character Mickey Mouse. 3. This problem (discuss) at the last meeting. 4. In 1964 Martin Luther King (win) the Nobel Prize. In 1968 he (assassinate) in Memphis, Tennessee. 5. The president (arrive) in Rome yesterday afternoon. Later he (interview) on Italian TV, 6. Teachers (give) a new pay rise by the government. The news 1 (announce) earlier today. 7. These photos (take) by my sister. 8. The I game (win/probably) by the other team tomorrow. They're a lot better than we are. 9. There was a terrible accident on a busy downtown street yesterday. Dozens of people (see) it, including my friend, who (interview) by the police. 10. In my country, certain prices (control) by the government, such as the prices of medical supplies. However, other prices (determine) by how much people are willing to pay for a product. 11. Yesterday the wind (blow) my hat off my head. I had to chase it down the street. I (want, not) to lose it because it's my favourite hat and it (cost) a lot. 12. Right now Alex is in the hospital. He (treat) for a bad burn on his hand and arm. 13. Yesterday a purse-snatcher (catch) by a dog. While the thief (chase) by the police, he Gump) over a fence into someone's yard, where he met a dog. The dog (keep) the thief from escaping. 14. The first fish (appear) on the earth about 500 million years ago. Up to now, over 20,000 kinds offish (name) and (describe) by scientists. New species (discover) every year, so the total increases continually. 15. The morning paper (read) by over 200,000 people every day. 16. Last night my favourite program (interrupt) by a special news bulletin. 17. That's not my coat. It (belong) to Louise. 18. Our mail (deliver) before noon every day. 19. The "b" in "comb" (pronounce, not). It is silent. 20. A bad accident (happen) on Highway 95 last night. 21. When I (arrive) at the airport yesterday, I (meet) by my cousin and a couple of her friends. 22. Yesterday I (hear) about Margaret's divorce. I (surprise) by the news. Janice (shock). 23. A new house

(build) next to ours next year. 24. Radium (discover) by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898. 25. When (your bike, steal)? — Two days ago. 26. A: (you, pay) your electric bill yet? B: No, I haven't, but I'd better pay it today. If I don't, my electricity (shut off) by the power company. 27. A: Did you hear about the accident? B: No. What (happen)? 28. The Eiffel Tower (be) in Paris, France. It (visit) by millions of people every year. It (design) by Alexander Eiffel (1832-1923). It (erect) in 1889 for the Paris exposition. Since that time, it (be) the most famous landmark in Paris. Today it (recognize) by people throughout the world. 29.1 don't have my car today. It's in the garage. It (repair) right now. 30. Kate didn't have her car last week because it was in the garage. While it (repair), she took the bus to work. 31. I'm sorry, but the computer job is no longer available. A new computer programmer (hire, already). 32. What products (manufacture) in your country? 33. The examination papers are scored by machine. The students (tell) their results next week. 34. The organizers (exhibit) the paintings till the end of the month. 35. The teacher (assist) by two graduate students during the exam yesterday. 36. A: Where (buy, you) that beautiful necklace? B: I (buy, not) it. It (give) to me for my birthday, (like, you) it? 37. Soon after I (apply) for a job with the United Nations two years ago, I (hire). 38. Yesterday we went to look for an apartment. I really liked it, but by the time we got there, it (rent, already). 39. There's going to be a story in the local newspaper about my neighbour, Mrs Morris. Tomorrow she (interview) by one of the local reporters about her doll collection. Over the years, she (collect) more than 400 dolls all over the world. 40. Ali and Mustafa (complain) to the landlord many times since they moved into their present apartment, but to date nothing (do) about the leak in the roof and the broken window in the bedroom. 41. The darks' living room (redecorate) in blue and white. They want it to look nice for their daughter's wedding reception. 42. The old clock wasn't ticking because it (wind, not). Someone forgot to do it. 43. The news of the victory (broadcast) throughout the country over the radio and television. Everyone (hear) about it almost as soon as it (happen). 44. Only coffee and dessert (serve) at the reception yesterday. 45. Kim wants very badly to make the Olympic team next year. She (train) hard for the last two years. 46. Mark is a genius. By the time he (graduate), he (offer) jobs by a dozen computer companies. 47. When

I (finish) my work, I'm going to take a walk. 48. After the test papers (return) to the students in class tomorrow, the students (give) their next assignment. 49. The Olympic Games (begin) in 776 B.C. in Olympia, a small town in Greece. At that time, only Greeks (allow) to compete in them. 50. "Miss Jones, please type those letters before noon." "They (already, type). They're on your desk." 51. "Can't we do something about the situation?" "Some­thing (do) right now." 52. "Has the committee made its decision yet?" "Not yet. They (still, consider) the proposal." 53. Something funny (happen) in class yesterday. 54.1 (agree) with you on that subject. 55. Let's go ahead and do it now. Nothing (accomplish) by waiting. 56. "When can I have my car back?" "I think it (finish) late this afternoon."

IV. Supply the stative passive of the given verbs. Use the Simple Present or the Simple Past.

1. It is hot in this room because the window (close). 2. Yes­terday it was hot in this room because the window (close). 3. Sa­rah is wearing a blouse. It (make) of cotton. 4. The door to this room (shut). 5.We can leave now because class (finish). 6. The lights in this room (turn on). 7. This room (crowd, not). 8. We can't go any farther. The car (stick) in the mud. 9. We couldn't go any farther. The car (stick) in the mud. 10. My room is very neat right now. The bed (make), the floor (sweep), and the dishes (wash). 11. We are ready to sit down and eat dinner. The table (set), the meat and rice (do), and the candles (light). 12. Where's my wallet? It (go)! Did you take it? 13. Hmmm. My dress (tear). I wonder how that happened. 14. Don't look in the hall closet. Your birthday present (hide) there. 15. Excuse me, sir. Could you give me some directions? I (lose). 16. That's hard work, I (exhaust). I need to rest for a while. 17. The children (excite) about going to the circus. They're looking forward to seeing the elephants, the clowns, and the acrobats. 18. George (dress) in his best suit today because he has an important interview this afternoon. 19. Lousie is probably sleeping. The lights in her room (turn off). 20. Carolyn and Joe were married to each other for five years, but now they (divorce). 21. You told me one thfhg and John told me another. I don't know what to think. I (confuse). 22.1 love my wife. I (marry) to a wonderful woman. 23. I thought I

had left my book on this desk, but it isn't here. It (go). I wonder where it is. 24. We can't eat this fruit. It (spoil). We'll have to throw it away. 25. Vietnam (locate) in Southeast Asia. 26. A: "The TV set doesn't work." B: "Are you sure? (it/plug in)?" 27.1 (accustom) to living here. 28.1 (satisfy) with the progress I have made. 29. I (not acquaint) with that man. Do you know him? 30. Mark Twain (know) for his stories about life on the Mis­sissippi. 31. My car (equip) with air conditioning and a sun roof.

V. Translate from Russian into English.

1. Об этом фильме много говорят. Я думаю его стоит по­смотреть. 2. Он очень сердит. С ним никогда так не разговари­вали. 3. Вам не придется ждать. Документы будут проверены и письма напечатаны, когда вы придете. 4. Роман написан мо­лодым талантливым автором. 5. Не говори таких вещей. Над тобой будут смеяться. 6. Когда пришел директор, все было го­тово: документы были проверены и письма были напечатаны. 7. Почему так холодно в зале? — Его как раз проветривают. Читальный зал проветривается несколько раз в день. 8. Он квалифицированный врач. О нем хорошо отзываются. 9. Мож­но взглянуть на документы? — Их все еще печатают. 10. Де­тей поведут в театр в воскресенье. 11. Дворец Спорта еще стро­ился, когда я приехал в Минск. 12. Эта картина нарисована неизвестным художником. 13. К вечеру работа была законче­на. 14. Поторопись. Тебя ждут 15. Где будет построена новая библиотека? 16. Что производится на этой фабрике? 17. Пись­мо не может быть отправлено сегодня, так как оно еще не под­писано директором. 18. Иностранным студентам показали ау­дитории, лаборатории и общежитие Московского универси­тета. 19. Его прервал шум в коридоре. 20. Стекло бьется очень легко. 21. В котором часу закрывается читальный зал? — Он закрывается в 10 часов вечера. 22. Этот вопрос сегодня обсу­ждаться не будет. 23. Я не хочу показывать вам свою статью, пока она не будет закончена. 24. Как только журналы будут получены, мы покажем их вам. 25. Какой вопрос обсуждался на собрании, когда вы пришли? 26. К сожалению, ничего не было сделано, чтобы помочь ему закончить работу. 27. Доку­менты уже подписаны? — Нет еще. 28. Когда был воздвигнут этот памятник? 29. Интересная проблема обсуждается сейчас

в клубе. 30. Она счастлива. Ей предложили интересную рабо­ту. 31. В этом доме не живут 32. Школу построят к началу учебного года. 33. Газеты и письма доставляются рано утром. 34. Он сказал, что работа будет завершена в срок, если будут получены все необходимые сведения. 35. Мне были даны все необходимые указания. 36. Меня попросили придти немного позже, потому что мое заявление все еще рассматривалось.

Fluency