Unit 44. Passive 3.
Unit 44; Part A
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So it is possible to make two passive sentences: • The police were given the information. or The information was given to the police. Other verbs which can have two objects are: ask offer pay show teach tell When we use these verbs in the passive, most often we begin with the person: • I was offered the job, but I refused it. (= they offered me the job) • You will be given plenty of time to decide. (= we will give you plenty of time) • Have you been shown the new machine? (= has anybody shown you?) • The men were paid £400 to do the work. (= somebody paid the men £400) |
Unit 44; Part B

The passive of doing/seeing etc. is being done / being seen etc. Compare:
active: I don't like people telling me what to do.
passive: I don't like being told what to do.
• I remember being taken to the zoo when I was a child. (= I remember somebody taking me to the zoo)
• Steve hates being kept waiting. (= he hates people keeping him waiting)
• We managed to climb over the wall without being seen. (= without anybody seeing us)
Unit 44; Part C
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Unit 44; Part D

You can use get instead of be in the passive:
• There was a fight at the party, but nobody got hurt. (= nobody was hurt)
• I don't often get invited to parties. (= I'm not often invited)
• I'm surprised Liz didn't get offered the job. (= Liz wasn't offered the job)
You can use get only when things happen. For example, you cannot use get in the following sentences:
• Jill is liked by everybody. (not gets liked - this is not a 'happening')
• He was a mystery man. Very little was known about him. (not got known)
We use get mainly in informal spoken English. You can use be in all situations.
We also use get in the following expressions (which are nor passive in meaning):
get married, get divorced
get lost (= not know where you are)
get dressed (= put on your clothes)
get changed (= change your clothes)
Exercises
![]() | Unit 43 Unit 44 Unit 45 | ![]() |
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