PASSIVE VOICE
The active voice: My grandfather planted this tree.
subject (T-transitive) object
The passive voice: This tree was planted by my grandfather.
subject agent
→ Transitive verbs are followed by a direct object. (in the accusative case – 4.p.)
– write a letter, read a book … trans.verbs
× to like, to have – nelze vytvořit trpnou větu
→ Intransitive verbs have no object (happen) or have an indirect object ( in the dative case- 3.p.) – to belong sb. – The car belongs to my sister.
If a verb is followed by a preposition, the preposition stays with it in the passive sentence:
E.g. rely on
They relied on him. = He was relied on.
They laughed at her. = She was laughed at.
Verb + 2 objects:
They handed me a note.
obj.ind. obj.dir.
→ A note was handed to me.
→ I was handed a note.
Agent or no agent:
– it is not always necessary to include the agent in the passive sentence
- Someone has stolen my bicycle. = My bicycle has been stolen. – There is no point in adding „by
someone“, because the agent is unknown
- He was arrested. = by police, detective – The agent is obvious
He was dismissed. = by his employer
- They opened the door with the screwdriver. = The door was opened with a screwdriver. (by them)
= the instrument is more important than the agent
Compare:
He was hit with a branch. = someone hit him with (-implies presence of a person) a branch .
He was hit by a branch. = a branch hit him
Miniskirts are worn again. = a generalised agent
You use the passive with „reporting verbs“:
– say, expect, report, suppose, believe, understand, know… = to avoid impersonal subject „they“ or
„people“
e.g. People say(reporting verb) he is rich. = He is said to be rich.
ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE
They say he lives in Brazil. He is said to live in Brazil. (pres.inf.)
They believe he (has) spent some time in He is believed to have spent some time in
Australia. Australia. (perfect inf.)
They report he is travelling to Africa. He is reported to be travelling to Africa. (pres.cont.)
They understand he was driving too fast. He understood to have been driving too fast.(perf.
cont. inf.)
They supposed she is involved in an accident. She is supposed to be involved in an accident. (pres. passive inf.)
They know the picture was painted by an The picture is known to have been painted by an
Australian. Australian. (perfect passive infinitive)
HAVE STG. DONE
- we speak about services done for us by someone else
We are having the bathroom painted. = Právě nám malují koupelnu.
We have had new tiles put on the roof.
Where did you have your hair cut?
- The King had his head cut off. = we also speak about misfortune which happened to us caused by
an unspecified person
I have had my bike stolen.
!!! He had his old dog shot. – Zastřelili mu starého psa. i Nechal zastřelit starého psa.
GET STG. DONE
- expresses urgency: I must get my car serviced.
- In the end we got the wall painted. = we managed to do this ourselves !!!
- the imperative (rozkaz) : Get vaccinated before going abroad.
Make, let, hear, see, (help):
– active voice: They made him leave.
×
– passive voice: He was made to leave.
They let him leave. × He was allowed to leave.
ACTIVE VERBS WITH PASSIVE MEANING:
The book reads well. Ta kniha se dobře čte.
The new Ford is selling badly.
There is a lot to see / to be seen.
× There is nothing to do. = I am bored.)
There is nothing to be done. = no way of putting it right – už se to nedá napravit
– want, need, require:
The shirt needs washing / to be washed.
THE PASSIVE IS USED:
- when we want to focus on the action rather than the agent:
J.F.Kennedy assassinated in 1963.
- for style reasons:
When he came home, a detective arrested him.
he was arrested.= pouze 1 podmět- the same subjects are preferred
- in scientific report:
The air is separated into hydrogen, oxygen…
- you want to avoid naming a specific person:
It´s been decided to reduce all salaries by 10 per cent.
A new shop was opened / has been opened.
There was a new shop opened.
New houses were /are built.
There are new houses being built.
She was said She was told
to be diligent. to be diligent.
= prý byla pilná = bylo jí řečeno, aby byla pilná
= They said she was diligent. They told her to be diligent
TRANSLATION:
Does this application form have to be fill in?
Your food is still being prepared.
All the tickets will have been sold by the time we get there. – ne before !!! – poředí dějů
Tony has been given another 6 months to finish his thesis.
I have been working in Jack´s office for the last few days because my office is being redecorated.
No decision will be made till all the candidates have been interviewed.
We have had all our money stolen.
The Chinese are believed to have invented gunpowder.