Common errors in the use of the passive voice made by the first year english major students at hanoi pedagogical university no 2

HANOI PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY N0. 2
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FACULTY

NGUYEN THI HIEN

COMMON ERRORS IN THE USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
MADE BY THE FIRST-YEAR ENGLISH
MAJOR STUDENTS AT HANOI PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY
N0 2
(SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH)

Hanoi, 2013

Hanoi, 2013

i


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to take this chance to express my greatest gratitude to Mr.
Nguyen Van Den, M.A., my supervisor, for his patience in providing continuous
and careful guidance as well as encouragement, indispensable suggestions and
advice.
Also, I would like to express my particular thanks to all my beloved
lecturers, who always motivated and encouraged me to finish my thesis early.
Especially, I would like to show my sincere thanks to the junior students in class
K38 in the Foreign Language Faculty, who helped me with my questionnaire.
I am particularly grateful to all my friends for their precious assistance
throughout the process of writing this thesis.
Last but not least, I owe a debt of gratitude to my beloved family, for their

whole – hearted encouragement and endless support.

ii


ABSTRACT

Passive voice is a unique and interesting category of English grammar.
The number of passive sentences is very large, and each kind has its own
characteristics as well as uses. Therefore, they sometimes cause confusion to
learners of English.
As a result, students of English often make errors when they use passive
voice. Therefore, this research work entails studying the uses of passive voice
and conducting a survey for error analysis.
Based on the results of the survey, the types of errors and causes have been
found. Solutions to the problems have been suggested.

iii


STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP

Title: Common Errors in the Use of Passive Voice made by the first-year
English major students at Hanoi Pedagogical University No 2

I certify that no part of this thesis has been copied from any other person’s
work without acknowledgements and that the thesis is originally written by me
under the instructions from my supervisor.

Date submitted: May, 2013

Student

Nguyen Thi Hien

Supervisor

Mr Den, M.A

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements

i

Abstract…………………. ............................................................................................................ .ii
Statement of authorship…

iii

Table of contents………..

.................................................................................................... iv

PART ONE
INTRODUCTION

I. Rationale .................................................................................................................................... 1

II. Research presupposition
III. Research objectives
IV. Research scope

2
.......................................................................................................... 2

2

V. Research tasks .......................................................................................................................... 2
VI. Research methods

............................................................................................................ 3

VII. Research significance

3

VIII. Design of the research work ................................................................................................ 3

PART TWO
DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER ONE: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

I.1. Literature review in brief 5
I.2. Concept of voice in English ................................................................................................... 6
I.2.1. Definition of voice…

….. ............................................................................................... 6

I.2.2. Classification 7
I.2.3. Structural differences between active voice and passive voice ............................................ 8
I.3. Passive voice in English

8

I.3.1. Passive voice from the theoretical view ............................................................................... 8
I.3.1.1. Definition

8

I.3.1.2. Passive voice of transitive ordinary verbs ............................................................................ 8
I.3.1.3. The passive transformation................................................................................................ 11
I.3.1.3.1. S- V- O structure

................................................................................................... 11
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I.3.1.3.2. S- V- O- O structure 13
I.3.1.3.3. S- V- C structure
I.3.1.4. Passive types

................................................................................................... 14

15

I.3.1.5. The phrase with by and with ........................................................................................ 16
I.3.2. Passive voice from the practical view ................................................................................ 17
I.3.2.1. Introduction

............................................................................................................... 17

I.3.2.2. Form……………..

................................................................................................... 18

I.3.2.2.1 Tenses and aspects in the passive ................................................................................... 18
I.3.2.2.2. Modal verbs in the passive ............................................................................................. 19
I.3.2.2.3. The passive with get 20
I.3.2.3. Special patterns

........................................................................................................ 21

I.3.2.3.1. The passive with verbs of giving .................................................................................... 21
I.3.2.3.2. The passive with verbs of reporting ................................................................................ 22
I.3.2.3.3. Passives + to-infinitives or active participles .................................................................. 24
I.3.2.3.4. Passives with have and get ............................................................................................. 24
I.3.2.3.5. Passives + to-infinitives and gerunds .............................................................................. 25
I.3.2.3.6. Active forms with passive meanings............................................................................... 26
I.3.2.3.7. Active and passive verb form ......................................................................................... 27
I.3.2.3.8. Active sentences conveying passive meanings ................................................................ 28
I.3.2.3.9. Causative form

...................................................................................................... 29

CHAPTER TWO: COMMON ERRORS IN THE USE OF
THE PASSIVE VOICE
II.1. Survey ............................................................................................................................... 31
II.1.1. Purpose of the survey

32

II.1.2. Population of the survey 32
II.1.3. Type of the survey

32

II.1.4. Construction of the test 32
II.1.5. Preparation of the survey 33
II.1.5.1. Test items

................................................................................................................... 33

II.1.5.2. Arrangement of the test items .......................................................................................... 33
II.1.6. Administration of the try-out .............................................................................................. 34
II.1.6.1. Preparation of the try-out ................................................................................................. 34
II.1.6.2. Try-out

........................................................................................................................ 34

II.1.7. Method of data analysis 35
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II.1.8. Results of the survey

................................................................................................... 35

II.2. Common errors and causes ................................................................................................ 37

II.2.1. Errors in the use of passive voice in imperative sentences ................................................... 37
II.2.2. Errors in the use of passive voice of the causative form ...................................................... 38
II.2.3. Errors in the use of passive voice with get .......................................................................... 38
II.2.4. Errors in the use of passive voice with verbs of opinion ...................................................... 38
II.2.5. Errors in the use of passive voice with verbs of perception ................................................. 39
II.2.6. Errors in the change of the object of the active into the subject of the passive
………………………………………………………………………………................................. …….39
II.2.7.Errors in the change of verb forms from the active to the passiv………………………… .... 39
II.2.8. Errors in the use of passive voice with indefinite pronouns as subjects ................................ 40
II.2.9. Errors in the use of the passive with prepositions ................................................................ 40
II.2.10. Errors in the use of passive voice in yes-no questions ....................................................... 41
II.2.11. Errors in the use of passive voice in (w)h-questions .......................................................... 41
II.2.12. Errors in the use of the passive with 2 objects ................................................................... 41
II.3. SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS AND EXERCISES ........................................................... 42
II.3.1. Suggested solutions ............................................................................................................ 42
II.3.2. Suggested exercises ............................................................................................................ 43

CONCLUSION

PART THREE
CONCLUSION
........................................................................................................................ 45

REFERENCES 47
APPENDICES 49

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PART ONE

INTRODUCTION

I. RATIONALE
English is the international language which is spoken and understood almost everywhere
in the world and has become the key instrument of globalization. By 2012 there could be around
2 billion people learning English, according to a new report commissioned by the British
Council.
In Vietnam, English also plays an important role in all walks of life and in all economic
sectors. Therefore, more and more Vietnamese people are learning English as a foreign
language.
Learners of English, however, have to encounter a great variety of difficulties in
obtaining both grammatical rules and language skills due to the interference of the learners’
mother tongue.
It is proved that English grammar is complex and often causes embarrassment to students
especially in communication. Passive voice is one of the grammatical items that play an
important role in learning and communicating as well. Passive voice is used widely. The uses of
passive voice are preferred in English than those in Vietnamese, especially in daily
conversations.
However, using these passive correctly and effectively is rather complex. Passives consist
of plentiful meanings, forms and characteristics as well. Of course, in learning English in general
and passive voice in particular, being influenced by the mother tongue is unavoidable. Due to its
various uses, it is assumed that there are many errors which may be made.
This thesis is accomplished in hopes of making a contribution to the process of studying
of passive voice. For the reasons above, this study is conducted with the aim of focusing on
errors in using passive voice

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II. RESEARCH PRESUPPOSITION

Some questions are raised:

1. What kinds of errors in using passive voice are made by the major
students at the Foreign Language Faculty?
2. What kinds of errors in passive voice are made by the first– year English
major at Hanoi Pedagogical University N02?
3. What are the causes of the errors in using passive voice made by the
major students at the Foreign Language Faculty?
4. What are the effective ways to minimize the errors made by the major
students at the Foreign Language Faculty?
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The study is aimed at the following goals:

1. To find out the kinds of errors in the use of passive voice made by the
major students at the Foreign Language Faculty.
2. To find out the causes of the errors in the use of passive voice made by
the major students at the Foreign Language Faculty.
3. To offer some suggestions to minimize errors in using passive voice.
IV. RESEARCH SCOPE
The general research area of this study is grammar. The phenomenon is the errors in
using passive voice made by the major students in the Foreign Language Faculty. Others relating
to the passive voice are also briefly mentioned. The population involved in the study is one
hundred students in class K38 at the Foreign Language Faculty.

V. RESEARCH TASKS
The study involves fulfilling the following tasks:
1. To study the definition, formation, classification and meanings of passive
voice in English
2. To study the grammatical features of passive voice in English
3. To conduct a survey to find out error types and causes related to passive

voice in English. On the basis of the findings, some suggested teaching methods
are sought to minimize the students’ errors
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VI. RESEARCH METHODS
To achieve the objectives of the study, the following methods have been applied:
1. Collecting data from books
2. Consulting the supervisor, experienced teachers and friends
3. Synthesizing theoretical materials on English grammar
4. Conducting a survey and analyzing the results

VII. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
Errors in any language teaching and learning, particularly in English as a foreign
language, are sometimes predictable and sometimes unpredictable. Therefore, it is essential for
teachers to give better treatment to anticipate errors. After the research, it is hoped that the result
will be helpful to provide:
1. Input for learners of English in order to have better understanding about passive voice
in English
2. Input for learners in order to minimize their errors in using passive voice.
3. Input for teachers of English with information on error types and solutions to the
problems in order to help their students have a deep insight into passive voice.
This study is also beneficial to anyone who is interested in the passive voice in English.

VIII. RESEARCH DESIGN
The research work has three main parts: Introduction, Development, and Conclusion. The
part Development consists of two chapters.
Chapter one, Theoretical Background, consists of three sections. Section one presents
literature review in brief. The section two shows the concept of voice in English in definition,
classification and structural differences between active voice and passive voice. Section three

deals with passive voice in English from two viewpoints: theoretical and practical. Moreover, the
differences in the passive voice are mentioned as well.
Chapter two is Common Errors in the Use of Passive Voice. It describes the research
method. It is composed of three sections. Section one is devoted to the survey. The second deals
with error types and causes. The last one is on solutions to the problems and suggested exercises
on passive voice.

x


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PART TWO

DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER ONE: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
I.1. Literature review in brief
Passive voice has been described by many grammarians like Vince (1994), Swan (2005),
Eastwood (1992), and Azar (1996) and so on. They each have their own ways to describe passive
voice. Generally, they focus their attention on the definition, formation, functions of the passive
voice and its uses.
In the book Oxford Guide to English Grammar, Eastwood (1992) deals with passive verb
forms. He also introduces some special passive structures and gives the differences between
active and passive voice. In his series of studies about passive voice in medical English, he
describes the uses, characteristics and productivity of passives that are sometimes considered to
be passive voice. He also makes comparisons among passive voice in his surveys.
Quirk (1973) deals with passive voice verb forms. He focuses his attention on the uses of
passives. He describes the uses, characteristics and productivity. Especially, he introduces clearly

passive tenses from the theoretical view and introduces beginning university students to the
study of English linguistics, with a strong focus on linguistic analysis and argumentation;
especially, Ingo Plag shows major methods of tense – formation such as forms, uses,
characteristics of passives, and clauses and features of passive voice.
Azar (1996) in Understanding and Using English Grammar refers to the formation of the
passive and also the use of passives. He pays much attention to passive voice in indirect objects
used as passive subjects, the passive form of modals and phrasal modals and stative forms.
In the book Macmillan English Grammar in Context, Vince (1994) only focuses his
attention on the uses of passives. Moreover, he pays much attention to passives with causative
“have”, verbs with two objects and passive reporting verbs.
In the book Passive Resistance, CLS no 7, Lakoff, R (1971) traces the development of
the English language in grammar and passive voice. The author explains the definition, origin of
passive voice as well as gives precise illustrations for them.
Thomson, A.J. and Martinet, A.V. (1986) in Practical English Usage only gives the
forms of passive verb forms. He also mentions the differences between active and passive voice.

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Sinclair (2009) in Easy Learning Grammar and Punctuation only pays much attention to
the function of passive voice and the subject of a passive sentence. Also, he gives some special
passive structures.

In short, much research has been done on the passive voice about definition,
formation, classification and meanings of passive voice in English. However, the
research about common errors in the use of passive voice made by the first - year
English majors at Hanoi Pedagogical is a new aspect. In order to help us find better
learning solutions for English major students at Foreign Language Faculty, it is
essential to have a comprehensive study of Common Errors in the Use of Passive
Voice made by the first-year English major students at Hanoi Pedagogical

University Number 2.
I.2. Concept of voice in English
I.2.1. Definition of voice
Nowadays, there is little consensus of what voice is. Therefore, a large number of
definitions of voice have been offered in many grammar books and dictionaries. However, it is
always a controversial issue to choose the best definition. There are some typical definitions that
are usually used in learning English to help learners understand and grasp clearly about voice.
In A Grammar of Present-day English (1986: 85), Gordon, E. M. notes, “Voice is the
form of the verb, which serves to show whether the subject of the sentence is the agent or the
object of the action expressed by the predicate verb”.
In Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (1995: 1932), voice is also defined as “a form
or set of forms of a verb in which either person or thing that does something is the subject of the
verb (the active voice) or the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb is the
object (the passive voice).
According to Quirk, R and Greenbaum, S and Leech, G and Svartvik (A Grammar of
Contemporary English – 1972: 801), voice is a grammatical category through which we can see
it in two ways but the meaning in fact does not change.”
To sum up, voice is a grammatical category that indicates the relation of the subject to the
action of the verb. This will be illustrated by the following example.
Nam painted the house yesterday.
→ The house was painted by Nam yesterday.

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In the former sentence, the subject “Nam” performs the action indicated by the verb
“painted”. In the latter sentence, on the other hand, “the house” does not do the action. “The
house” is affected by the action of painting.
I.2.2. Classification
In English, voice is classified into two main subdivisions including active voice and

passive voice.

 Active voice
Active voice is used in a clause in which the subject expresses the agent of the main verb.
Thus, the subject does the action designated by the verb. A sentence in which the agent is
marked as the grammatical subject is called an active sentence.
Somebody cleaned the window.
The subject “somebody” is the agent of the action performed by the verb “cleaned”. This
sentence is called an active sentence.

 Passive voice
A sentence is called passive when it serves to show that the person or thing denoted by
the subject of the sentence is not the agent (doer) of the action expressed by the predicate verb
but is the object of this action. The subject of a passive verb does not act but is acted upon; it
receives the action of the verb.
The window was cleaned by somebody. (1)
The subject “the window” itself cannot express the action of cleaning. It receives the
action of the verb “clean”. Sentence (1) is a passive sentence.
I.2.3. Structural differences between active voice and passive voice
It is certain that active voice and passive voice are used to express the same fact reported.
They, however, are different from each other in terms of structure and semantic and lexical field.
Now we are coming to analyze an example
The police arrested the criminal. (1)
The criminal was arrested by the police. (2)
Firstly, in this example, sentence (1) is different from sentence (2) in verb form. In
sentence (1), the main verb is in the active form “arrested”. In sentence (2), on the other hand,
the verb of the active sentence is superseded by the verb phrase which is the combination of the
verb “to be” in the same tense with the active verb and the past participle of the active verb.
Secondly, sentence (1) and sentence (2) are different from each other in the position of
the components. In sentence (1) – an active sentence, the agent plays the role of the subject “the

police” whereas in sentence (2) – a passive sentence, the object of the active sentence “the
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criminal” takes the subject position. In addition, the subject turns into a prepositional phrase
“by/with + agent”.
I.3. Passive voice in English
I.3.1. Passive voice from the theoretical view
I.3.1.1. Definition
A sentence is called passive when it serves to show that the person or thing denoted by the
subject of the sentence is not the agent (doer) of the action expressed by the predicate verb but is
the object of this action. The subject of a passive verb does not act but is acted upon, it receives
the action of the verb.
The window was cleaned by somebody. (1)
The subject “the window” itself cannot express the action of cleaning. It receives the
action of the verb “clean”. Sentence (1) is a passive sentence.

I.3.1.2. Passive voice of transitive ordinary verbs
The most common passive form includes an appropriate tense of “be” followed by the
past participle of the main verb of the active sentence. In Oxford Guide to English Grammar
(1994:135), John Eastwood suggests “A passive verb has a form of be and a participle. Be is in
the same tense as the equivalent of the active form. The passive participle has the same form as a
past participle.”
To be + past participle.
However, according to Quirk R., et al. (1972: 83-92), there are two tenses in English:
present tense and past tense.
English has two marked aspects: the progressive aspect and the perfective aspect. Aspect
refers to the manner in which the verb action is regarded or experienced.
Tenses and aspects in the passive together with examples can be described as follows:
He has been taken to the zoo.

(Present tense and perfective aspect)
The room is being cleaned at the moment.
(Present tense and progressive aspect)
The house was being cleaned.
(Past tense and progressive aspect)
The negative and interrogative forms of passive sentences are made up in the same way
as in active sentences.
Negative: The disease has not been found for many years.
The machine was not fixed by the mechanical engineer.
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In the sentences above, “not” comes after the auxiliaries “has” and “was”.
Question: Has the house been painted?
When were the mails sent?
There is also inversion of the subject and the first auxiliary.
It is noted that “by” is contained in the question about the agent.
Who was this novel written by?
Therefore, passive voice of transitive ordinary verbs occurs in almost all tenses in
English. Passive forms of English ordinary verbs together with examples are shown in the
following table: Table 1
12 kinds of passive voice corresponding with 12 tenses
Tense
Present simple

Structure
Is/am/are + p.p

Examples
The house is cleaned every

day.

Present progressive

Is/am/are + being + p.p

The room is being cleaned at
the moment.

Present perfect

Have/has been + p.p

Has the disease been found?

Present perfect progressive

Have/has + been + being + p.p

He has been being taken to the
zoo.

Past simple

Was/were + p.p

I was accused of stealing the
money.

Past progressive

Was/were + being + p.p

Our conversation was being
recorded.

Past perfect

Had + been + p.p

The room hadn’t been cleaned.

Past perfect progressive

Had + been + being + p.p

The wall had been being
painted since then.

Future simple

Will + be + p.p

You will be asked a lot of
questions at the interview.

Future progressive

Will + be+ being + p.p

He will be being taken to the
zoo.
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Future perfect

Will + have + been + p.p

The problem will have been
solved by Friday.

Future perfect progressive

Will + have + been + being + The supermarket will have
p.p

been being built for exactly ten
years.

I.3.1.3. The passive transformation
Passive transformation involves the change in the position of the subject and object, and
verb forms.

Subject
Dung

The room

Active verb

Object

has cleaned

the room

has been cleaned

Subject

Passive verb

by Dung
Agent

The idea is taken from such traditional linguists as Thomson and Martinet, Murphy, and
Quirk and Green Baum. Of all the sentence patterns, only three types which contain transitive
verbs, allow passive transformation including S-V-O, S-V-O-O, and S-V-O-C.
I.3.1.3.1. S- V- O structure
The object of this pattern can be classified into a noun phrase, a finite clause and nonfinite clause.
The object is a noun phrase.
It is certain that the object of an active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
equivalent
The bear caught the fish.
→ The fish was caught by the bear.
The object is a finite clause (that-clause)
The corresponding passive is commonly formed by the use of introductory “it”. The
finite clause as an object still remains.
He saw that the car was useless.

→ It was seen that the car was useless.
The agent can be placed after the main clause if necessary.
The journal says that the oil price will increase sharply.
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→ It is said by the journal that the oil price will increase sharply.
In addition, passive transformation is done by having the subject of the object clause made the
subject of the passive sentence and the verb of the object clause becomes an infinitive verb. The
happening time of actions in the finite clause and the main clause should be paid attention to.
We use the perfect infinitive when the action in the subordinate clause takes place before
that superordinate clause.
They thought that the prisoner had escaped by climbing over the wall.
→ The prisoner was thought to have escaped by climbing over the wall.
We use the simple infinite when the action in the superordinate clause takes place before.
They expect that the government will lose the election.
→ The government is expected to lose the election.
Last but not least, the finite clause can become the subject of the passive sentence. Such
verbs include admit, announce, declare, explain, point out, remark, report, state, and suggest.
They showed me that she was a sensitive woman.
→ That she was a sensitive woman was shown to me.
The object is a non-finite clause
A non-finite clause as an object may be an infinitive or an ing-participle. Generally, there
is no passive equivalent for an active sentence whose object is a non-finite clause.
He wants to play games.
Not →

To play games is wanted by him.

However, passive transformation is accepted with a few verbs (agree, arrange, decide)

and introductory “it”.
We decide to move to the suburbs.
→ It is decided to move to the suburbs.
Moreover, some verbs such as advise, insist, propose, recommend, suggest followed by
an in-participle with an object, a finite clause “that….should” is used in the passive.

They suggested helping people being homeless after the floods.
→ They suggested that people being homeless after the floods should be helped.
I.3.1.3.2. S- V- O- O structure
It is a fact that some verbs in English take two objects. The former is an indirect one and
the latter is a direct one. The indirect object is always a noun phrase and the direct object can be
a noun phrase, a finite or non-finite clause.
The direct object is a noun phrase
In the case both objects are noun phrases
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Tom sent me a letter.
→

I was sent a letter (by Tom.)
A letter was sent to me by Tom.

The preposition “to” is to be contained in the passive sentence with the direct object of
the active sentence as its subject. As for some verbs, the preposition “for” is needed.
They’ve built it an exclusive balcony.
An exclusive balcony has been built for it.
The direct object is a finite clause
An active sentence can be changed into a passive one with either of the objects as the
passive subject.

They told me that they would move to London.
It was told to me that they would move to London.
The direct object is a non-finite clause
A non-finite clause here is a to-infinitive or a bare-infinitive verb.
His boss asked him to accomplish the task.
He was asked to accomplish the task.
The direct object is a prepositional phrase
A preposition phrase, in general, cannot become the passive subject.
I explained everything to her.
Everything was explained to her.
Not

She was explained everything.

In addition, when the direct object is a phrase beginning with who, when, which, and
where, the phrase can be put after the past participle of the active verb as follows:
He told me how to get there.
→ I was told how to get there.
I.3.1.3.3. S- V-O- C structure
The object complement can be a noun phrase, an adjective, or a non-finite clause
consisting of a to-infinitive, a bare-infinitive clause, an ing-participle and an ed- participle
clause.
The object complement is a noun phrase
They consider it a blessing.
→ It is considered a blessing.
People call me Anne
→ I am called Anne
The object complement is an adjective
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The object of the active sentence changes into the subject of the passive one and the
adjective is placed after the main verb.
We believed her innocent.
→ She was believed innocent (by us).
The object complement is a to-infinitive clause
I assume you to know some English words.
→ You are assumed to know some English words.
Such verbs includes believe, consider, assume, intend, etc.
However, when active sentences consisting of some verbs such as wish, want, like, love,
the passive is formed with a to-infinitive passive and the object in the to-infinitive clause is put
after the main verb.
I want her to clean the house
→ I want the house to be cleaned by her.
The object complement is a bare infinitive clause
The passive is made by making the active object the passive subject and the bareinfinitive clause is put by a to-infinitive one. The verbs of perception are see, hear, observe, etc.
I saw the thief climb into the house.
The thief was seen to climb into the house.
Of all the causative verbs (let, make, have), only the verb make allows passive
transformation in the same way as verbs of perception.
My parents made me look after my younger brother.
I was made to look after my younger brother.
The object is an ing-participle and ed-participle
When the object is an ing- participle, the subject of the passive sentence is the object of
active voice whereas passive transformation is carried out as usual except for have and get when
the object is an ed- participle as follows:
I heard her singing.
→ She was heard singing
I.3.1.4. Passive types
The passive clause in transitive analysis is sub-grouped in following main types: true

passive, beneficiary-passive, range-passive and circumstantial passive. The idea is taken from
Halliday, M.A.K (1985). Table 2
True passive: effective, medium/subject, agent: by
The vase

was

broken

by the ball
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Medium

Process: material

Doer/agent

Subject

Finite

Predicator

Adjunct

Mary

was

upset

by the news

Medium

Process: mental

Subject

Finite

Doer/agent
Predicator

Adjunct

Beneficiary- passive: effective, beneficiary/subject, and agent: by
Tom

was

Beneficiary

Process

Subject

Finite

sent

Predicator

a letter

by Mary

Medium

Doer/agent

complement

adjunct

Range-passive: middle (i.e.: medio – passive), range/subject, medium: by
Songs

were

Range

Process

Subject

Finite

sung

by the choir
medium

Predicator

Adjunct

According to Halliday, there are other types of passive structures when “indirect”
participants act as potential subjects. These are circumstantial passives which include locationpassive, manner-passive and others.
The bed has not been slept in (Location-passive).
This pen has never been written with (Manner-passive)
I.3.1.5. The phrase of by and with
According to Halliday, the clauses with features of agency can be put in passive voice by
using an analytic causative or bringing in an agent of the second order. The examples can be
seen in all processes: material, mental, and relational as follows: Table 3
Material process
They

had got

the bomb

exploded

Actor

by the police
Initiator

Mental process
What

made

you
Sensor

be frightened

by the story
Phenomenon

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Agent 2

Medium

Agent 1

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Relation process
They

had/got

Tom

voted

by the

captain

team

Identified/token

Identifier/value

assigner

Medium

Range

Agent 1

In terms of semantics and functions, according to functional grammar, the passive
structures have been analyzed. And based on different processes, the passive constructions are
analyzed into different labels, which complement others to have a full analysis of different types
of passive construction
I.3.2. Passive voice from the practical view
I.3.2.1. Introduction
Compare the active and passive sentences.

Active: The secretary typed the report.
Passive: The report was typed (by the secretary).
When the person doing the action (the secretary) is the subject, we use an active verb.
When the subject is what the action is directed at (the report), then we use a passive verb. We
can choose to talk about the secretary and what he/she did, or about the report and what
happened to it. This choice depends on what is old or new information in the context. Old
information usually comes at the beginning of the sentence, and new information at the end.
In a passive sentence the agent can be the new and important information (...by
the secretary.), or we can leave it out if it does not add any information. We say the report
was typed because the fact that the typing is complete is more important than the identity of the
typist.
The passive is often used in an official, impersonal style.

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I.3.2.2. Form
I.3.2.2.1 Tenses and aspects in the passive
A passive verb has a form of be and a passive participle. Be is in the same tense as the
equivalent active form. The passive participle has the same form as a past participle: announced,
called, seen.
Active: The Ministry announced the figure. (past simple)
Passive: The figure was announced. (past simple of be + passive participle)
Simple tenses (simple form of be + passive participle)
Large numbers of people are killed on the roads.
The drugs were found by the police.
The perfect (perfect of be + passive participle)
Cocaine has been seized by the FBI.
The drugs had been loaded onto the ship in Ecuador.
The continuous (continuous of be + passive participle)

The case is being called 'the chocolate connection'.
Three men were being questioned by detectives last night.
Will and be going to (future of be + passive participle)
The drugs will be destroyed.
The men are going to be charged with importing cocaine.
For other modal verbs,
We form negatives and questions in the same way as in active sentences. In the negative
not comes after the (first) auxiliary; in questions there is inversion of the subject and the (first)
auxiliary.
Negative: The drugs were not found by customs officers.
The law hasn't been changed.
Question: Where were the drugs found?
Has the law been changed?
NOTE
We use by in a question about the agent.
Who were the drugs found by?
When we use a phrasal or prepositional verb in the passive, the adverb or preposition
(e.g. down, for) comes after the passive participle.
The tree was cut down last week.
Has the doctor been sent for?
Note also verb + adverb + preposition, and verbal idioms with prepositions.
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Such out-of-date practices should be done away with.
The poor child is always being made fun of.
We can sometimes use a participle as a modifier, like an adjective: a broken vase.
We can also put the participle after be. The vase was broken can express either a state or
an action.
State: The vase was broken. It lay in pieces on the floor, (be + complement). The drugs

were hidden in the ship. They were in blocks of chocolate.
Action: The vase was broken by a guest. He knocked it over.
(passive verb) The drugs were hidden (by the gang) and then loaded onto the ship.
I.3.2.2.2. Modal verbs in the passive
According to Eastwood, J. (Oxford Guide to English Grammar-1994:136), the passive
voice is also known to be expressed by the combination of modal verbs followed by be with the
past participle.
Modal verb + be + p.p
E.g.
The problem can be solved immediately.
Violent actions should be banned in the school.
Plans have to be made every day.
The building that used to be used as a shop is now used as storage.
A modal verb can also come with the perfective and passive together.
Modal verb + have been + p.p
The window should have been cleaned yesterday.
My bicycle has disappeared. It must have been stolen.
The building ought to have been checked down before it fell down.
I.3.2.2.3. The passive with get
In English we can form a passive sentence with “get” as auxiliary and the past participle.
The verb “get” can function in a manner very similar with “be”. In Oxford Guide to English
Grammar (1994: 136) John Eastwood notes, “We sometimes form the passive with get rather
than be”
A house can be built of stone, brick or clay.
A house can get built of stone, brick or clay.
(Lakoff, 1971)
If this sentence is plus with “by – phrase”, it is understood as a passive voice
Get passives often refer to something happening by chance, unexpectedly or incidentally
without warning.
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