DK Grammar Guide

76

“THERE” + PASSIVE

REPORTING VERB “TO BE / TO HAVE BEEN”

INFINITIVE CLAUSE

SUBJECT + PASSIVE

REPORTING VERB

“IT” + PASSIVE REPORTING VERB “THAT” CLAUSE

Other passive constructions

Some passive constructions are used to distance

the writer or speaker from the facts. They are

often used in academic writing or news reports.

REPORTING WITH PASSIVES

FURTHER EXAMPLES

Many idioms in English use passive forms. Some idioms

use standard rules for passive forms, while others are

slightly different.

See also:

Passive voice 45 Reporting verbs 24

Possibility 166 Defining relative clauses

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77

FURTHER EXAMPLES

The past participle describes

what happens to the subject.

A form of “get” is

used instead of “be.”

The thing that

receives the action.

SUBJECT “GET / GOT” PAST PARTICIPLE REST OF SENTENCE

PRESENT SIMPLE PASSIVE

PAST SIMPLE PASSIVE

“Get” can sometimes replace “be” in passive sentences.

This form is more informal than the passive with “be.”

USING “GET” IN PASSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO FORM

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