Order of Adjectives D

Order of Adjectives

DETERMINER 1 DETERMINER 2 DETERMINER 3 NUMBER INTENSIFIER OPINION SIZE LENGTH SHAPE WIDTH PARTICIPLE1 AGE COLOR ORIGIN MATERIAL NOUN DENOMINAL2,3 NOUN

all of the very narrow side streets

both of Dr. Martin's quite rare worn old Italian art books

a rather pretty small tattered antique Japanese cloth doll

an ugly faded brown Spanish tapestry

neither of my somewhat unusual long thin chipped ancient blue Chinese porcelain flower vases

her enormous round red plastic earrings

none of his first three exciting mystery novels

the next big technological breakthrough

the last two utterly strange carved wood statues

those four yellow school buses

a fantastic old French impressionist painting

their exciting New York social life

minute chemical changes

current German philosophical thought

his complete family medical history

the same underlying neurological conditions

1This category is sometimes called condition. Quirk has age, color, participle: "old interlocking Chinese designs," "grey crumbling Gothic church tower" (A Grammar of Contemporary English, pp. 92325). 2An adjective derived from a noun. Examples include biological, classical, ethical, moral, philosophical, social, and technological. 3Compare "family medical history" and "geopolitical battle lines." The denominal adjective can go before the first or second noun. Its placement depends on what the adjective is modifying. In "family medical history," only the history is medical, whereas in "geopolitical battle lines," "battle lines" is a single entity.

The order in these categories never varies. The order in these categories sometimes varies. The order in these categories varies less, but you may see "old worn" instead of "worn old," for example.

The order listed in this chart is generally accepted by authorities, but there is some disagreement about certain details. The colors indicating more variability are the usual areas of disagreement. One problem is that certain collocations are preferred above others. For example, Quirk mentions that English speakers usually say "beautiful long hair" but "long straight hair." The best way to learn these variations is by extensive reading. It is important to understand that we usually use only two or three adjectives together. It is extremely rare to use four or more at the same time. The examples in the table are only for the purposes of illustration. It would be interesting to highlight combinations of two, three, and four adjectives you find in your reading. You could use a different color for each number. You will find that you will have many twoadjective combinations, fewer threeadjective combinations, and almost no fouradjective combinations. It would also be a good idea to keep a list of phrases that contain adjectives in a different order from that of the table. Examples you keep in a notebook can be a very valuable learning tool. You might also want to search the Web with your favorite search engine for specific combinations ("worn old" vs. "old worn," for example). You can also do a simple search of the British National Corpus to search their database using more sophisticated parameters. Whatever you decide to do, remember that reading is the best way to develop both vocabulary and a feel for the language. The more you read, the more you will develop an ear for the language"certain combinations just won't sound "right." As you become more advanced, extensive reading will help you more than grammatical explanations. Use grammar as a basis for investigating the language in depth by reading. So vs. Such

such + a/an + (adjective)+ singular count noun + (that): 1. This has become such a mess that we will have to start over.2. He is such a danger to himself that he will have to be hospitalized.3. Why was that such a traumatic event in her life?such + (adjective)+ singular noncount noun + (that): 4. Such information should be made available to everyone.5. I have never seen him display such confidence.6. Such compelling evidence cannot be ignored.such + (adjective)+ plural count noun + (that): 7. "Such persons shall enjoy the protection of the present treaty."8. Such matters are best discussed in private.9. Such subtle distinctions are unnecessary in the present context.so + adjective/adverb + (that): 10. The economic stimulus package is so crucial to economic growth that the president is personally calling members of Congress.11. The Internet makes it so easy for students to cheat that many teachers are now using special software to catch instances of plagiarism.

12. The food at that restaurant was so thoroughly uninteresting that I will never go back.13. Credit cards are not so readily accepted in some countries.

14. Our company is doing so well that we have almost doubled the number of our employees in less than a year.15. I'm surprised to see his name mentioned so frequently in the papers.

16. That company has spent so much on advertising that it had to raise its prices.17. We have saved thousands of dollars because the new system is so much more efficient than the old one.

18. There are so many houses for sale in our are that prices have come down considerably.19. Our city has so many spectacular restaurants that it is difficult to decide where to eat.

20. So little is known about that disease that it is difficult to treat it.21. There is so little time to do all that one would like to do.

22. So few jobs were created by the tax cut that the president is proposing a new stimulus package.23. That is an excellent restaurant, but so few people know about it that I am afraid it will go out of business.

24. Why do politicians so often forget their campaign promises?25. So far, the economists have been correct in their predictions. [so far = until now]26. So long as the government spends more than it receives, the national debt will increase.[so long as = as long as = provided that]Notes: such + a/an is used before a singular count noun [1-3].

such without a/an is used:before noncount nouns [3-5]before plural nouns [6-8]

so is used:before an adjective alone [10-11]before an adverb + adjective [12-13]before an adverb alone [14-15]

So is also used with much, many, little, few, often, far, long, etc. [16-26]

Going to vs. WillBy tense: going to Going to is used to refer to plans that the speaker has made. In other words, the speaker has already made a decision as to what he is going to do. I'm really tired. I'm going [to go] to bed early tonight. I'm going [to go] to Hawaii on my vacation. My son is going to have his birthday party at a pizzeria this Saturday. My dad is going to buy a high-definition TV. In order to maintain the current price, the newspaper is going to have fewer pages. The company is going to lay off 2,000 workers. We use going to when we have evidence now of a future event. Look at all those black clouds! It's going to rain today. That car is going too fast. It's going to crash. will Will is used for promises. It does not matter if the time between the promise and the action is very long or very short. I'll see you tomorrow. I'll bring you the book on Monday. I'll help you with that this evening. We use will when we make a decision to do something at the moment of speaking. This can be considered a very short-term promise or an unplanned action, both of which require the use of will to express a future idea.A: Someone is at the door.B: I'll see who it is.A: The telephone is ringing.B: I'll answer it. We use will when we offer to do something for someone.A: I have to clean my room before we leave.B: Don't worry. I'll help you with it. We use will when we ask someone to do something. Will you take seat? Will you open the window. It's hot in here.

By function: plansGoing to is used to refer to plans that the speaker has made. In other words, the speaker has already made a decision as to what he is going to do. I'm really tired. I'm going [to go] to bed early tonight.

promises Will is used for promises. It does not matter if the time between the promise and the action is very long or very short. Can you lend me ten dollars? I'll pay you back on Friday. Teacher (to students): I'll explain the answers after everyone finishes the test. predictions Both will and going to are used to express future ideas. Although the two forms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is usually a difference in their use.Going to is usually used when we have objective knowledge for our prediction, whereas will is usually used when we have only subjective knowledge. Examples of objective knowledge would be a letter from a person stating his intentions, or black clouds in the sky indicating rain. Subjective knowledge is what we believe or think. As Michael Swan explains, "When we use will, we are not showing the listener something; we are asking him or her to believe something."1 The company is going to invest $50 million in a new plant. [objective (external) knowledge - factual knowledge - the company's plans] The economy will improve in the second half of the year. [subjective (internal) knowledge - opinion - asking the reader/listener to believe this statement]

offers We use will when we offer to do something for someone. You've got too many shopping bags. I'll help you carry them.

refusals We use won't (will not) when someone refuses to do something. Tiffany won't go to the party with me. [She refuses.] My father won't take me to the rock concert on Friday. [He refuses.]

requests We use will when we ask someone to do something. Will you wash the dishes for me tonight? Will you feed the dog before you leave for school? We often use will after verbs like be afraid, be sure, believe, doubt, expect, suppose, and think and with adverbs such as perhaps, possibly, and probably2 to indicate a certain doubt or uncertainty about the future. A: I'm afraid he won't like that sweater. B: Oh, I'm sure he'll love it. I suppose Henry will come to the party. I doubt he will be interested in your explanation. A: Do you think it will rain? B: It will probably rain later tonight. Perhaps you'll feel better after you eat. 1Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, p. 2142Elaine Walker and Steve Elsworth, Grammar Practice for Upper Intermediate Students, p. 56

Adverbs of Frequency The most common adverbs of frequency are always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom, rarely, and never. The following chart shows the relative frequencies of these adverbs. It is important to understand that the percentages only show approximate frequencies; other sources will have slightly different numbers. What is important is not the absolute number, but only the relative frequency.

What are adverbs? Traditionally an adverb is defined as a word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a whole clause or sentence. There are many kinds of adverbs; common types include adverbs of manner that tell how (easily, quietly), adverbs of time that tell when (afterwards, later), adverbs of place and direction that tell where (there, downstairs, backward, up), adverbs of degree that tell how much (very, almost, extremely) and adverbs of frequency that tell how often (always, sometimes, never). What do we mean by adverbs of frequency? Adverbs of frequency tell us how often an action takes place. Are there other adverbs of frequency? Yes. In addition to the adverbs in the chart above, other common adverbs of frequency include constantly, generally, normally, regularly, frequently, routinely, repeatedly, occasionally, infrequently, and hardly ever. Where do we put adverbs of frequency? The basic rule is that adverbs of frequency come before the main verb but after present and past forms of be (am, are, is, was, were). In the case of tenses that use an auxiliary, we put the adverb between the auxiliary and the main verb. The following tables show the position of the adverbs of frequency in affirmative, negative, interrogative, and imperative sentences.

Affirmative Sentences

Subject Auxiliary Adv. of Frequency Main Verb Predicate

The side effects usually go away after a few hours.

I sometimes have trouble accessing my favorite web site.

Beethoven often went to Baden for the summer.

Kevin has never been a fan of SUVs.

Brian has always wanted to own a restaurant.

I will always be grateful to you.

Affirmative Sentences with BE

Subject BE Adv. of Frequency Predicate

The bus is usually on time.

Some people are never satisfied.

Negative Sentences

Subject Auxiliary Adv. of Frequency Main Verb Predicate

Suzanne doesn't usually get involved in politics.

It doesn't often snow here at Christmas.

I don't ever download music from the Internet.

Negative Sentences with BE

Subject BE + not Adv. of Frequency Predicate

Iron supplements aren't usually necessary for men.

Professor Morgan isn't often at a loss for words.

Interrogative Sentences

Auxiliary Subject Adv. of Frequency Main Verb Predicate

Does Kimberly usually have breakfast at home?

Do you always read the fine print?

Did Chris ever play basketball?

Don't you ever get tired?

Interrogative Sentences with BE

BE Subject Adv. of Frequency Predicate

Are you always so cheerful in the morning?

Isn't Ted usually here by eight o'clock?

Imperative Sentences

Adv. of Frequency Verb Predicate

Always do your best!

Never forget this rule!

Always be truthful!

Short Answers with Adverbs of Frequency

Subject Adv. of Frequency Auxiliary or BE

A: Will you ever change?B:I never will.

A:Has Shirley ever been to Austria?B:She never has.

A: Do they ever study together?B:They sometimes do.

A: Is Jessica ever wrong?B:She seldom is.

Distribution of Adverbs of Frequency by Sentence Type

Adv. of Frequency Affirmative Negative Interrogative Imperative

always X X X X

usually X X X

often X X X

sometimes/occasionally X X

rarely/seldom/hardly ever/scarcely ever1 X

never1 X X

ever X X

1Although used in sentences with affirmative form, the meaning is negative.

Distribution of Adverbs of Frequency by Sentence Position

Adv. of Frequency Initial Medial Final

always X

usually X X

often X X

sometimes/occasionally X X X

rarely/seldom/hardly ever/scarcely ever2 X X

never2 X X

ever X

2If placed in initial position, subject-verb inversion occurs. See below for examples.Subject-Verb Inversion

Negative Adverb Auxiliary Subject Main Verb Predicate

Never did I think I would see my book in print.

Seldom have we had a professor with such enthusiasm.

"Scarcely had he finished speaking when the door of the queen's apartment opened...."

Relative Frequencies of the Adverbs3ADVERB FREQUENCY

never 202

often 153

always 141

ever 103

sometimes 63

usually 51

generally 39

normally 20

constantly 16

rarely 16

regularly 16

frequently 15

repeatedly 15

routinely 11

occasionally 7

almost never 3

seldom 3

Indirect Object with Verbs of Saying A group of verbs, most of which come from Latin and refer to saying or speaking, use only the to-form of the indirect object. For example: The teacher explained the lesson to us. (NOT The teacher explained us the lesson.) addressannounceascribeattributecommendconfesscreditdedicatedescribedictatedisclosedivulgeexplainexpressimpartintroduceleakmentionproposeproverecommendreferrelaterelayrepeatreportrevealsayspeaksuggestunburden

Example sentences:

She addressed her remarks to the students.He attributed his success to hard work.They broke the news to the press on Monday morning.We commend his soul to the deep.He confessed his involvement in the crime to the police.He credited his success to staying focused.He dedicated his life to the search for knowledge.She described the assailant to a police artist.She dictated the book to an assistant.Company representatives disclosed their plans to purchase a factory in Ohio.He divulged his plans to a journalist.He explained his motives to detectives, police said.French President Jacques Chirac expressed his condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin.He imparted his knowledge to his students.The first season of The X-Files introduced us to Agents Scully and Mulder.They leaked the report to the media.She mentioned the restaurant to her students.The committee proposed the new policy to the Board of Directors.Velikovsky unsuccessfully tried to prove his thesis to the academic community.Captain Pasley recommended the young man to Captain Bligh in 1791.His doctor referred him to a specialist.He related the story to me over dinner one evening.The spy relayed the information to his superiors.He repeated the story to his friends at work.They never reported the incident to the police.He revealed his secret to his friend.You should have said something to her.The look on her face spoke volumes to me.Someone suggested the idea to a professor at Berkeley.She unburdened herself to her best friend.

Verbs with Two Object Patterns Many English verbs can be followed by a direct and an indirect object. A number of these verbs have two patterns--one with and one without "to." When a verb is followed by two nouns (V N1 N2), N1 is the indirect object and N2 is the direct object. IODOJohn gave Mary a present.With many verbs the indirect object can follow a prepositional phrase with "to," and the order of the two objects reversed. John gave a present to Mary. (NOT John gave to Mary a present.)Here is a list of common verbs which can be used with and without "to." assignawardbringfaxfeedgivegranthandlendloanmailofferowepasspromisepayreadserveshowsellsendshowsingtaketeachtellthrowwirewrite

Another group of verbs uses this same pattern with "for" instead of "to." IODOMary made John a cake.Mary made a cake for John. (NOT Mary made for John a cake.)

Here is a list of common verbs which can be used with and without "for." bakebookbuildbuycookdo (a favor)findgetknitmakeorderplaypour (a drink)preparereservesing

English Prepositionsaboardaboutaboveacrossafteragainstahead ofall overalongalong withalongsideamidamidstamongamongstapart fromapropos (of)aroundas (He worked as a diplomat.)as foras ofas toaside fromastrideatat the expense ofat the hands ofat variance withatopaway frombar (=except)barring (=except)because ofbeforebehindbelowbeneathbesidebesidesbetweenbeyondbut (=except) (All but one were sleeping.)byby dint ofby means ofby virtue ofby way ofclose byclose toconcerningconsideringdespitedowndue toduringexceptexcept forexceptingfollowingforfor the sake offromgrantedinin accordance within addition toin aid ofin betweenin case ofin charge ofin common within comparison within contact within default ofin exchange forin face ofin favor ofin front ofin lieu ofin line within need ofin place ofin quest ofin regard toin relation toin respect ofin return forin search ofin spite ofin view ofincludinginsideinstead ofintolesslikeminusnearnext tonotwithstandingofoffoff ofonon account ofon behalf ofon pain ofon pain ofon the strength ofon top ofontooppositeout (He ran out the door.)out ofoutsideoverowing topastpendingperplusreroundsave (=except)since (He hasn't written since June.)than (The new microchip is smaller than a postage stamp.)throughthroughouttilltotogether withtowardtowardsunderunderneathunlikeuntilupup touponuponviawithwith regard towith respect towithinwithoutworth (It is well worth the effort.)

Verbs Followed by Gerund and/or InfinitiveGerund onlyInfinitive onlyGerund or Infinitive

admitanticipateappreciateavoidcan't helpconsiderdefenddeferdelaydenydetestdiscussdislikedreadenjoyexcusefancyfinishforgiveimagineinvolvekeep (=continue)mentionmindmisspardonpostponepreventquit (=stop)recallrecollectresentresistresumerisksave (=avoid the trouble of)suggestunderstandaffordagreeappeararrangeaskattemptbegcarechancechooseclaimconsentconspiredaredecidedemanddeserveendeavorexpectfailhappenhesitatehopeintendlearnmanagemeanneedomitofferplanpreparepretendpromiseproverefuseremainrushseemstrugglesweartendthreatenwaitwantwishattempt*can/can't bearbeginceasecontinuedislikedreadforget*hateintendlikeloveneglectpreferproposeregret*remember*can/can't standstartstop*try*

Common Verbs and Their Prepositionsaboutatin

agreeargueboastbragcarecomplaincrydodreamfightforgetgripehearjokeknowlaughliereadtalkthinkwonderworrywriteaimbarkexcelfrownglaregringrowljump at (the chance)laughlooknodscreamshootshoutsmilestarethrow s.t. at s.o./s.t.wavewhistlewinkyellaidassistbelievecompeteconfideconsistdealdelightendengageexcelhelpindulgeinvestmajormeddleparticipateperseverepersistresideresultsharespecializestarsucceed

s.o.=someones.t.=something

Common Verbs and Their Prepositions 2ontowith

actagreebankbetbuildchoke commentconcentratecountdependdifferdisagreedwellelaborateenlargeexpandexperimentfallfocusharpimposeimproveinsistleanlectureoperaterelyremarkreportspeakspeculatespystumbletalktripvotewagerworkwriteadaptadjustadmitapologizeappealattendbelongcomplainconfessconnectcontributedeclinedecreasedropfallgetgohappenincreasejumplistenmoveobjectpointreactreadreferrelatereplyresortrespondreturnrisesinkslipspeaksticksubmitsubscribesurrendertalkwavewriteagreeargueassistcollidecomparecompetecomplycontinuecooperatecopedealdisagreefighthelpidentifypleadproceedquibblereasonstrugglesympathizetamper

English Pronouns

SUBJECT PRONOUNS OBJECT PRONOUNS POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

I me my mine myself

you you your yours yourself

he him his his himself

she her her hers herself

it it its (its) itself

we us our ours ourselves

you you your yours yourselves

they them their theirs themselves

ACTIVE VOICE AFFIRMATIVE SIMPLE TENSES SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE FUTURE

I WORKED YOU WORKED WE WORKED THEY WORKED HE WORKED SHE WORKED IT WORKED I WORK YOU WORK WE WORK THEY WORK HE WORKS SHE WORKS IT WORKS I WILL WORK YOU WILL WORK WE WILL WORK THEY WILL WORK HE WILL WORK SHE WILL WORK IT WILL WORK

PROGRESSIVE TENSES PAST PROGRESSIVE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE FUTURE PROGRESSIVE

I WAS WORKING HE WAS WORKING SHE WAS WORKING IT WAS WORKING WE WERE WORKING YOU WERE WORKING THEY WERE WORKING I AM WORKING HE IS WORKING SHE IS WORKING IT IS WORKING WE ARE WORKING YOU ARE WORKING THEY ARE WORKING I WILL BE WORKING HE WILL BE WORKING SHE WILL BE WORKING IT WILL BE WORKING WE WILL BE WORKING YOU WILL BE WORKING THEY WILL BE WORKING

PERFECT TENSES PAST PERFECT PRESENT PERFECT FUTURE PERFECT

I HAD WORKED YOU HAD WORKED WE HAD WORKED THEY HAD WORKED HE HAD WORKED SHE HAD WORKED IT HAD WORKED I HAVE WORKED YOU HAVE WORKED WE HAVE WORKED THEY HAVE WORKED HE HAS WORKED SHE HAS WORKED IT HAS WORKED I WILL HAVE WORKED YOU WILL HAVE WORKED WE WILL HAVE WORKED THEY WILL HAVE WORKED HE WILL HAVE WORKED SHE WILL HAVE WORKED IT WILL HAVE WORKED

PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSES PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE PRESENT PERFECTPROGRESSIVE FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I HAD BEEN WORKING YOU HAD BEEN WORKING WE HAD BEEN WORKING THEY HAD BEEN WORKING HE HAD BEEN WORKING SHE HAD BEEN WORKING IT HAD BEEN WORKING I HAVE BEEN WORKING YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING HE HAS BEEN WORKING SHE HAS BEEN WORKING IT HAS BEEN WORKING I WILL HAVE BEEN WORKING YOU WILL HAVE BEEN WORKING WE WILL HAVE BEEN WORKING THEY WILL HAVE BEEN WORKING HE WILL HAVE BEEN WORKING SHE WILL HAVE BEEN WORKING IT WILL HAVE BEEN WORKING

ACTIVE VOICE NEGATIVE SIMPLE TENSES SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE FUTURE

I DIDN'T WORK YOU DIDN'T WORK WE DIDN'T WORK THEY DIDN'T WORK HE DIDN'T WORK SHE DIDN'T WORK IT DIDN'T WORK I DON'T WORK YOU DON'T WORK WE DON'T WORK THEY DON'T WORK HE DOESN'T WORK SHE DOESN'T WORK IT DOESN'T WORK I WON'T WORK YOU WON'T WORK WE WON'T WORK THEY WON'T WORK HE WON'T WORK SHE WON'T WORK IT WON'T WORK


I WASN'T WORKING HE WASN'T WORKING SHE WASN'T WORKING IT WASN'T WORKING WE WEREN'T WORKING YOU WEREN'T WORKING THEY WEREN'T WORKING I'M NOT WORKING HE ISN'T WORKING SHE ISN'T WORKING IT ISN'T WORKING WE AREN'T WORKING YOU AREN'T WORKING THEY AREN'T WORKING I WON'T BE WORKING HE WON'T BE WORKING SHE WON'T BE WORKING IT WON'T BE WORKING WE WON'T BE WORKING YOU WON'T BE WORKING THEY WON'T BE WORKING


I HADN'T WORKED YOU HADN'T WORKED WE HADN'T WORKED THEY HADN'T WORKED HE HADN'T WORKED SHE HADN'T WORKED IT HADN'T WORKED I HAVEN'T WORKED YOU HAVEN'T WORKED WE HAVEN'T WORKED THEY HAVEN'T WORKED HE HASN'T WORKED SHE HASN'T WORKED IT HASN'T WORKED I WON'T HAVE WORKED YOU WON'T HAVE WORKED WE WON'T HAVE WORKED THEY WON'T HAVE WORKED HE WON'T HAVE WORKED SHE WON'T HAVE WORKED IT WON'T HAVE WORKED


I HADN'T BEEN WORKING YOU HADN'T BEEN WORKING WE HADN'T BEEN WORKING THEY HADN'T BEEN WORKING HE HADN'T BEEN WORKING SHE HADN'T BEEN WORKING IT HADN'T BEEN WORKING I HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING YOU HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING WE HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING THEY HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING HE HASN'T BEEN WORKING SHE HASN'T BEEN WORKING IT HASN'T BEEN WORKING I WON'T HAVE BEEN WORKING YOU WON'T HAVE BEEN WORKING WE WON'T HAVE BEEN WORKING THEY WON'T HAVE BEEN WORKING HE WON'T HAVE BEEN WORKING SHE WON'T HAVE BEEN WORKING IT WON'T HAVE BEEN WORKING

ACTIVE VOICE INTERROGATIVE SIMPLE TENSES SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE FUTURE

DID I WORK? DID YOU WORK? DID WE WORK? DID THEY WORK? DID HE WORK? DID SHE WORK? DID IT WORK? DO I WORK? DO YOU WORK? DO WE WORK? DO THEY WORK? DOES HE WORK? DOES SHE WORK? DOES IT WORK? WILL I WORK? WILL YOU WORK? WILL WE WORK? WILL THEY WORK? WILL HE WORK? WILL SHE WORK? WILL IT WORK?


WAS I WORKING? WAS HE WORKING? WAS SHE WORKING? WAS IT WORKING? WERE WE WORKING? WERE YOU WORKING? WERE THEY WORKING? AM I WORKING? IS HE WORKING? IS SHE WORKING? IS IT WORKING? ARE WE WORKING? ARE YOU WORKING? ARE THEY WORKING? WILL I BE WORKING? WILL HE BE WORKING? WILL SHE BE WORKING? WILL IT BE WORKING? WILL WE BE WORKING? WILL YOU BE WORKING? WILL THEY BE WORKING?


HAD I WORKED? HAD YOU WORKED? HAD WE WORKED? HAD THEY WORKED? HAD HE WORKED? HAD SHE WORKED? HAD IT WORKED? HAVE I WORKED? HAVE YOU WORKED? HAVE WE WORKED? HAVE THEY WORKED? HAS HE WORKED? HAS SHE WORKED? HAS IT WORKED? WILL I HAVE WORKED? WILL YOU HAVE WORKED? WILL WE HAVE WORKED? WILL THEY HAVE WORKED? WILL HE HAVE WORKED? WILL SHE HAVE WORKED? WILL IT HAVE WORKED?


HAD I BEEN WORKING? HAD YOU BEEN WORKING? HAD WE BEEN WORKING? HAD THEY BEEN WORKING? HAD HE BEEN WORKING? HAD SHE BEEN WORKING? HAD IT BEEN WORKING? HAVE I BEEN WORKING? HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING? HAVE WE BEEN WORKING? HAVE THEY BEEN WORKING? HAS HE BEEN WORKING? HAS SHE BEEN WORKING? HAS IT BEEN WORKING? WILL I HAVE BEEN WORKING? WILL YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING? WILL WE HAVE BEEN WORKING? WILL THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING? WILL HE HAVE BEEN WORKING? WILL SHE HAVE BEEN WORKING? WILL IT HAVE BEEN WORKING?

PASSIVE VOICE AFFIRMATIVE SIMPLE TENSES SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE FUTURE

I WAS GIVEN HE WAS GIVEN SHE WAS GIVEN IT WAS GIVEN WE WERE GIVEN YOU WERE GIVEN THEY WERE GIVEN I AM GIVEN YOU ARE GIVEN WE ARE GIVEN THEY ARE GIVEN HE IS GIVEN SHE IS GIVEN IT IS GIVEN I WILL BE GIVEN YOU WILL BE GIVEN WE WILL BE GIVEN THEY WILL BE GIVEN HE WILL BE GIVEN SHE WILL BE GIVEN IT WILL BE GIVEN


I WAS BEING GIVEN HE WAS BEING GIVEN SHE WAS BEING GIVEN IT WAS BEING GIVEN WE WERE BEING GIVEN YOU WERE BEING GIVEN THEY WERE BEING GIVEN I AM BEING GIVEN HE IS BEING GIVEN SHE IS BEING GIVEN IT IS BEING GIVEN WE ARE BEING GIVEN YOU ARE BEING GIVEN THEY ARE BEING GIVEN

RARELY USED


I HAD BEEN GIVEN YOU HAD BEEN GIVEN WE HAD BEEN GIVEN THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN HE HAD BEEN GIVEN SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN IT HAD BEEN GIVEN I HAVE BEEN GIVEN YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN HE HAS BEEN GIVEN SHE HAS BEEN GIVEN IT HAS BEEN GIVEN I WILL HAVE BEEN GIVEN YOU WILL HAVE BEEN GIVEN WE WILL HAVE BEEN GIVEN THEY WILL HAVE BEEN GIVEN HE WILL HAVE BEEN GIVEN SHE WILL HAVE BEEN GIVEN IT WILL HAVE BEEN GIVEN


RARELY USED

RARELY USED

RARELY USED

PASSIVE VOICE NEGATIVE SIMPLE TENSES SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE FUTURE

I WASN'T GIVEN HE WASN'T GIVEN SHE WASN'T GIVEN IT WASN'T GIVEN WE WEREN'T GIVEN YOU WEREN'T GIVEN THEY WEREN'T GIVEN I'M NOT GIVEN YOU AREN'T GIVEN WE AREN'T GIVEN THEY AREN'T GIVEN HE ISN'T GIVEN SHE ISN'T GIVEN IT ISN'T GIVEN I WON'T BE GIVEN YOU WON'T BE GIVEN WE WON'T BE GIVEN THEY WON'T BE GIVEN HE WON'T BE GIVEN SHE WON'T BE GIVEN IT WON'T BE GIVEN


I WASN'T BEING GIVEN HE WASN'T BEING GIVEN SHE WASN'T BEING GIVEN IT WASN'T BEING GIVEN WE WEREN'T BEING GIVEN YOU WEREN'T BEING GIVEN THEY WEREN'T BEING GIVEN I'M NOT BEING GIVEN HE ISN'T BEING GIVEN SHE ISN'T BEING GIVEN IT ISN'T BEING GIVEN WE AREN'T BEING GIVEN YOU AREN'T BEING GIVEN THEY AREN'T BEING GIVEN

RARELY USED


I HADN'T BEEN GIVEN YOU HADN'T BEEN GIVEN WE HADN'T BEEN GIVEN THEY HADN'T BEEN GIVEN HE HADN'T BEEN GIVEN SHE HADN'T BEEN GIVEN IT HADN'T BEEN GIVEN I HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN YOU HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN HE HASN'T BEEN GIVEN SHE HASN'T BEEN GIVEN IT HASN'T BEEN GIVEN I WON'T HAVE BEEN GIVEN YOU WON'T HAVE BEEN GIVEN WE WON'T HAVE BEEN GIVEN THEY WON'T HAVE BEEN GIVEN HE WON'T HAVE BEEN GIVEN SHE WON'T HAVE BEEN GIVEN IT WON'T HAVE BEEN GIVEN


RARELY USED

RARELY USED

RARELY USED

PASSIVE VOICE INTERROGATIVE SIMPLE TENSES SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE FUTURE

WAS I GIVEN? WAS HE GIVEN? WAS SHE GIVEN? WAS IT GIVEN? WERE WE GIVEN? WERE YOU GIVEN? WERE THEY GIVEN? AM I GIVEN? ARE YOU GIVEN? ARE WE GIVEN? ARE THEY GIVEN? IS HE GIVEN? IS SHE GIVEN? IS IT GIVEN? WILL I BE GIVEN? WILL YOU BE GIVEN? WILL WE BE GIVEN? WILL THEY BE GIVEN? WILL HE BE GIVEN? WILL SHE BE GIVEN? WILL IT BE GIVEN?


WAS I BEING GIVEN? WAS HE BEING GIVEN? WAS SHE BEING GIVEN? WAS IT BEING GIVEN? WERE WE BEING GIVEN? WERE YOU BEING GIVEN? WERE THEY BEING GIVEN? AM I BEING GIVEN? IS HE BEING GIVEN? IS SHE BEING GIVEN? IS IT BEING GIVEN? ARE WE BEING GIVEN? ARE YOU BEING GIVEN? ARE THEY BEING GIVEN?

RARELY USED


HAD I BEEN GIVEN? HAD YOU BEEN GIVEN? HAD WE BEEN GIVEN? HAD THEY BEEN GIVEN? HAD HE BEEN GIVEN? HAD SHE BEEN GIVEN? HAD IT BEEN GIVEN? HAVE I BEEN GIVEN? HAVE YOU BEEN GIVEN? HAVE WE BEEN GIVEN? HAVE THEY BEEN GIVEN? HAS HE BEEN GIVEN? HAS SHE BEEN GIVEN? HAS IT BEEN GIVEN? WILL I HAVE BEEN GIVEN? WILL YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN? WILL WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN? WILL THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN? WILL HE HAVE BEEN GIVEN? WILL SHE HAVE BEEN GIVEN? WILL IT HAVE BEEN GIVEN?


RARELY USED

RARELY USED

RARELY USED

1.Grammar:Traditional Rules, Word Order, Agreement, and Case

56.shall / will

the traditional rules.The traditional rules state that you use shall to show what happens in the future only when I or we is the subject: I shall (not will) call you tomorrow. We shall (not will) be sure to keep in touch. Will, on the other hand, is used with subjects in the second and third persons: The comet will (not shall) return in 87 years. You will (not shall) probably encounter some heavy seas when you round the point. However, you can use will with a subject in the first person and shall with a subject in the second or third person to express determination, promise, obligation, or permission, depending on the context. Thus I will leave tomorrow indicates that the speaker is determined to leave. You shall leave tomorrow has the ring of a command. The sentence You shall have your money expresses a promise (I will see that you get your money), whereas You will have your money makes a simple prediction.1

the reality.The English and some sticklers about usage are probably the only people who follow these rules, and then not with perfect consistency. In America, people who try to adhere to them run the risk of sounding pretentious or haughty. Americans normally use will to express most of the senses reserved for shall in British usage. Americans use shall chiefly in first person invitations and questions that request an opinion or agreement, such as Shall we go?, and in certain fixed expressions, such as We shall overcome. In formal style, Americans use shall to express an explicit obligation, such as Applicants shall provide a proof of residence, though must or should works just as well here. In speech you can get the distinctions in meaning delineated in the traditional rules by putting stress on the auxiliary verb, as in I will leave tomorrow (I intend to leave). You can also choose another auxiliary verb, such as must or have to, that is less open to misinterpretation, or you can make your meaning clear by adding an adverb such as certainly.

The Difference Between will and shallReader Eric wonders about the uses of will and shall.When do you use will and shall? I know that [they] mean the same thing, but I would like to know when to use them in the correct grammatical sense.In modern English will and shall are helping verbs. They are used with other verbs, but lack conjugations of their own.Both are signs of the future tense.The old Walsh English Handbook that I used in high school gives this rule for forming the future:Use shall in the first person and will in the second and third persons for the simple future tense:I shall sing this afternoon.You will succeed.He will stay at home.My observations suggest that shall is rarely used by American speakers.The two words existed as separate verbs in Old English, the form of English spoken from 450-1150 C.E.The verb willan meant wish, be willing, be about to.The verb sculan (pronounced [shu-lan], had the meanings be obliged to, have to, must, be destined to, be supposed to.In modern usage traces of the old meanings persist for speakers who use both forms.Will can imply volition or intention, while shall can imply necessity:I will scale Mount Everest. (and no one can stop me!)You shall take the garbage out before you do anything else. (You have no choice, Junior!)A second element enters into the use of shall and will. As a matter of courtesy, a difference exists according to whether the verb is used with a first or second person subject. Which to use depends upon the relationship between speakers.Parents, teachers, employers, and staff sergeants are within their rights to tell someone You shall complete this assignment by 9 p.m. Such a construction offers no alternative. It is the same as saying You must complete this assignment. In speaking to an equal, however, the choice is left up to the other person: I shall drive to Tulsa today. You will follow on Tuesday. (Its still up to you.)Heres a frequently quoted joke that illustrates the consequences of using shall and will incorrectly: A foreign tourist was swimming in an English lake. Taken by cramps, he began to sink. He called out for help:Attention! Attention! I will drown and no one shall save me!Many people were within earshot, but, being well-brought up Englishmen and women, they honored his wishes and permitted him to drown.All of which is the short answer to Erics question. For the long answer, take a look at Fowler (Modern English Usage) and the OED.By the way, the verb will in the sense of bequeath derives from the noun will in the sense of wish. A will expresses the wishes of the person who writes it. The verb will (bequeath) does possess a complete conjugation.

English Grammar 101: Parts of SpeechA word is a part of speech only when it is used in a sentence. The function the word serves in a sentence is what makes it whatever part of speech it is.For example, the word run can be used as more than one part of speech:Sammy hit a home run. (run is a noun, direct object of hit)You mustnt run near the swimming pool. (run is a verb, part of the verb phrase must (not) run)Here is a simple overview of the English parts of speech and what they do. Each part of speech is linked to an DWT article that tells more about it. NOUN - Nouns are naming words. We cant talk about anything until we have given it a name.PRONOUN - A pronoun is a word that stands for a noun.VERBS - The verb is the motor that runs the sentence. A verb enables us to say something about a noun. ADJECTIVE - An adjective is a word that describes a noun.ADVERB - An adverb adds meaning to a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. PREPOSITION - a preposition is a word that comes in front of a noun or a pronoun and shows a connection between that noun or pronoun and some other word in the sentenceCONJUNCTION - a conjunction joins words and groups of words.INTERJECTION An interjection is a word or phrase thrown into a sentence to express an emotion, for example, Homer Simpsons Doh!

shall or willShall and will are both used as auxiliary verbs to form the future tense. In standard British English, the traditional difference between the two is that shall is used with I and we: I shall leave and will is used with nouns and you, he, she, it and they: You will stay. In practice, though, shall is going out of use in this role, and will is widely used for the first person: I will leave. This is now widely accepted as part of standard English. In American English, will is the norm in all persons for the future tense. A parallel development has been the gradual decline of will in the first person and shall in the second and third persons to express determination, promises or commands. I will leave now indicates merely intention, not, as in the past, determination; and usages like Cinderella, you shall go to the ball now sound rather old-fashioned.The first person shall does survive as a way of making a suggestion or asking a question: Shall I put the light on? means 'Would you like me to put the light on?', not 'Am I going to put the light on?'

TOO and ENOUGH - grammar help.Online activities at 'too-enough quiz'Back to primero bat.1. TOO.It is an adverb and is there followed by adjectives or adverbs: denotes a quality in excess:Coffee is too hot, I can't drink itIt is usually continued through a 'to - infinitive':Coffee is too hot to drink.Actions in the infinitive can refer to a different subject from the first in the sentence:Coffee is too hot FOR THE OLD MAN to drink. Quite another different usage is that you may find when followed by nouns, in that case MUCH and MANY are required.They drink too much wineThey invite too many people to their parties.ENOUGHa. as an adjectiveappears before nouns and expresses sufficiency :They have enough books in the house , they don't have to buy any.b. as an adverbappears after adjectives or adverbs and also expresses a degree in sufficiency.He is strong enough, he will cross the dessert.The same as with 'too', a 'to-infinitive usually follows'He is strong enough to cross the dessert.And for is used to refer the action to another subject:Our flat is not big enough to hold 20 people.

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVESCOMPARISONS OF QUANTITYTo show difference: more, less, fewer + thanExamples: With countable nouns: more / fewer Eloise has more children than Chantal. Chantal has fewer children than Eloise. There are fewer dogs in Cardiff than in Bristol I have visited fewer countries than my friend has. He has read fewer books than she has. With uncountable nouns: more / less Eloise has more money than Chantal. Chantal has less money than Eloise. I spend less time on homework than you do. Cats drink less water than dogs. This new dictionary gives more information than the old one. So, the rule is:MORE + nouns that are countable or uncountableFEWER + countable nounsLESS + uncountable nouns To show no difference see next page.Active and Passive Voice Sentences can be written or spoken in the active or passive voice. In the active voice, the subject of the sentence acts upon something or someone. In the passive voice, the subject is acted upon.For example:Active Voice: The twister left a path of destruction.Passive Voice: A path of destruction was left by the twister.Writers should usually use the active voice rather than the passive. Its considered to be a more powerful and straightforward form of expression. The active voice also uses less words to convey the same message.The following sentences are written in the passive voice. Rewrite them in the active voice.1. James was chosen by Kathy to be her assistant.2. This awful mess was made by your friends!3. Everyone in need is helped by Michael.4. You will be made well by this medicine!5. Many inventions were created by Edison.6. The article was written by my friend.7. Many fine sites are hosted by Software Workshop.8. Claudia was enraged by Richards sarcastic comments.

Active Voice vs. Passive Voice

by Tina BlueJuly 5, 2002

If there is one thing most people remember from their high school or college composition classes, it's that you are not supposed to use the passive voice in your writing.

But like most of the "rules" of writing (and many of the "rules" of grammar and usage), this one isn't really a rule. There are some times when the passive voice is appropriate, and some times when it is even needed.

In general, it is best to think of writing not as rule-driven, but rather as context-sensitive.* Even if a "rule" is useful 99% of the time, rigidly applying it in the rare case where it isn't appropriate will undermine the effectiveness of your writing. I prefer to think of most of the so-called rules of writing as guidelines, some more generally applicable than others.

The rule against using the passive voice happens to be an appropriate guideline most of the time. You are more likely to write badly by ignoring it than by following it. But it's still better to make your writing choices consciously than to go on automatic pilot and let the "rules" do all your writing for you.

What is the passive voice, and what is it used for?

Verbs in English are inflected to show five main traits: person, number, tense, voice, and mood.

Voice is determined by whether the subject of the sentence is the agent or the receiver of the action of a transitive verb. (A transitive verb is one that takes a direct object.**)

~I broke the window.

~The boys ate all of the pie.

~With the money from her mother's life insurance Diane bought a new car and took a trip to Europe.

In the preceding examples, which are in the active voice, the agent of the action is the subject of the sentence. But in the next set of examples, which are in the passive voice, the receiver of the action is the subject of the sentence.

~The window was broken. ~The window was broken by me.

~All of the pie was eaten. ~All of the pie was eaten by the boys.

~With the money from her mother's life insurance a new car was bought and a trip to Europe was taken.~With the money from her mother's life insurance a new car was bought and a trip to Europe was taken by Diane.

Notice that when a sentence is written in the passive voice, the agent of an action can be omitted. That is part of the appeal of the passive voice to certain writers. If the writer wishes to obscure responsibility for an action, then the passive voice allows him to eliminate all reference to the person who committed the act. Think of how often statements coming out of the Nixon White House during Watergate were couched in the passive voice: e.g., Mistakes were made.

Even if the agent of an action is mentioned in a passive voice sentence, the emphasis is not on the actor, but on the receiver of the action. The subject slot in a sentence is the starring role. Anyone or anything relegated to a little sidecar of a prepositional phrase tacked on at the end of the sentence is not being emphasized at all.

~The window was broken. ~The window was broken by me.

~All of the pie was eaten. ~All of the pie was eaten by the boys.

In these sentences, the fact that the window was broken or that the pie was eaten sits front and center. In the examples without agents, no one in particular appears to be responsible for the broken window or the devoured pie. And even in the sentences where the guilty parties make an appearance, they do so in a way that does not call attention to them.

But sometimes the agent of an action needs to be omitted. For example, the textual conventions*** governing lab reports do not permit the use of the first person ("I" or "we") at all, and in fact any mention of the researchers, even in the third person, is frowned upon. Thus, lab reports are filled with clauses like these: the pigeons were observed over a period of three weeks; the subjects were divided into three groups; members of the control group were given a placebo. . . .

The reason for this convention is that science is supposed to be objective, and removing all reference to the researchers emphasizes that stance of objectivity. It's almost as if disembodied hands are performing the experiments, and disembodied eyes are observing the results.****

The use of the passive voice in lab reports also keeps the spotlight focused on the experiment itself, rather than yanking it over to the researchers. It's a matter of emphasis.

Now, here are a few passive voice sentences from earlier in this very article, and one from another article on this website:

~Notice that in these sentences, the fact that the window was broken and the pie was eaten sits front and center.

~Anyone or anything relegated to a little sidecar of a prepositional phrase tacked on at the end of the sentence is not being emphasized at all.

~Another problem with many English classes is that students are usually taught by teachers that think writing is "rule-driven."

Now watch what happens to my intended meaning and emphasis if I try to recast these as active voice sentences:

~Notice that in these sentences, the fact that someone broke the window and someone ate the pie sits front and center.

~When anyone or anything is relegated to a little sidecar of a prepositional phrase tacked on at the end of the sentence, then the writer is not emphasizing that person or thing at all.

~Another problem with many English classes is that the teachers usually think that writing is "rule-driven."

Obviously, the sentences using the passive voice convey my meaning more precisely. In the first two, switching to the active voice moves the emphasis away from the points I wish to emphasize. And in the third sentence, I have completely lost the reference to the students.

The 95% "rule"

I think of the passive voice as one of the tools available to me as a writer. A handyman has many tools, and some of them are needed more often than others. But just because hammers and screwdrivers are appropriate for more tasks than some of the more exotic tools in his toolbox, that doesn't mean he should just throw away all of the other tools. At some point he is bound to come across a task that calls for that weird little thingamajig he almost never uses, and when that happens, he will use that very thingamajig, not a hammer or a screwdriver. On the other hand, he would be very foolish to try using that odd little tool when all he wants to do is drive a nail or tighten a screw.

Even though it is true that the passive voice is sometimes needed, that doesn't mean it should be used very often. I tell my own students to make sure that at least 95% of their verbs are in the active voice.*****

In fact, even that may be too generous. No passive voice verb should be allowed to stand unless it can justify itself. In other words, every time you use a passive verb, ask yourself why you are using a passive construction there. If you don't have a good reason for it, then rewrite the sentence to use the active voice. Many, even most, of your essays will have no need at all for the passive voice, so keep it tucked away in the bottom of your toolbox and bring it out only to do those jobs that can't be done by the active voice.

Active and Passive VoiceBy Stacie HeapsProfessional Writer and Editor

In most cases and with most styles of writing, the active voice is preferred to the passive voice. The active voice is stronger than the passive, and it therefore produces more powerful sentences.If the subject of the sentence is the person or thing doing the acting, then the verb is in active voice.Examples:My boss made the decision yesterday.Doug coordinated the meeting in Pauls absence.We proposed the change last week.The computer just crashed.

If the subject of the sentence is the person or thing receiving the action, then the verb is in passive voice. The passive voice is created by writing a form of the verb to be with the past participle form of a verb. Such forms often include a by phrase after the verb phrase to indicate who performed the action. In addition to being less direct, the passive voice is also generally wordier than the active voice.Examples:The decision was made by my boss yesterday.The meeting was coordinated by Doug in Pauls absence.The change was proposed (by us) last week.

Using the Passive VoiceThere are times when the passive voice is preferred, however. For example, the passive voice is necessary when the person who acted is unknown.Examples:The package was sent to me last week. (We do not know who sent the package.)The company was founded in 1992.Many acts of service were performed without our knowledge.

The passive voice is also a good choice when the doer of the action is unimportant.Examples:The roads were cleared early this morning.The mess was cleaned up before we arrived.In the business world, important decisions are made every day.The tickets were sold out last month.

Moreover, the passive voice is appropriate when you want the emphasis of the sentence to be on the action, rather than on the person who performed the action. To shift the emphasis to the person acting, we use a prepositional phrase beginning with by. Examples:The message was delivered by John this afternoon.The decision was made by the directors to sell the building.Property in this town has been bought and sold by various investors over the years.Several years ago the company was sold to our competitors by a man from the East.

And finally, the passive voice is useful when you want the doer of the action to remain anonymous.Examples:Last night the announcement was made that 300 employees would be laid off.Three million dollars was donated to the foundation on Tuesday.The cookies and other treats were delivered to the children while they were playing outside.

Also see the article entitled Conciseness.Revising Passive SentencesWhen changing a passive construction to the active voice, make sure that you keep the same verb tense.Original:Every day donuts are bought by our human resources representative.

Not:Every day our human resource representative bought donuts.

But:Every day our human resource representative buys donuts.

Original:That movie was produced by Jonathan Doe, I believe.

Not:Jonathan Doe had produced that movie, I believe.

But:Jonathan Doe produced that movie, I believe.

Original:The decision has already been made by the managers.

Not:The managers had already made the decision.

But:The managers have already made the decision.

Again, when deciding whether to use the active or passive voice, think about the purpose of the sentence and the audience for whom it is intended. Then determine which part of the sentence is more importantthe action itself or the person or thing doing the actingand write accordingly.Passive VoiceExercises on PassiveUse of PassivePassive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.Example: My bike was stolen.In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:Example: A mistake was made.In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).Form of PassiveSubject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)Example: A letter was written.When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following: the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle) the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped) Examples of Passive Level:lowerintermediate TenseSubjectVerbObject

Simple PresentActive:Ritawritesa letter.

Passive:A letteris writtenby Rita.

Simple PastActive:Ritawrotea letter.

Passive:A letterwas writtenby Rita.

Present PerfectActive:Ritahas writtena letter.

Passive:A letterhas been writtenby Rita.

Future IActive:Ritawill writea letter.

Passive:A letterwill be writtenby Rita.

HilfsverbenActive:Ritacan writea letter.

Passive:A lettercan be writtenby Rita.

Examples of Passive Level:upperintermediate TenseSubjectVerbObject

Present ProgressiveActive:Ritais writinga letter.

Passive:A letteris being writtenby Rita.

Past ProgressiveActive:Ritawas writinga letter.

Passive:A letterwas being writtenby Rita.

Past PerfectActive:Ritahad writtena letter.

Passive:A letterhad been writtenby Rita.

Future IIActive:Ritawill have writtena letter.

Passive:A letterwill have been writtenby Rita.

Conditional IActive:Ritawould writea letter.

Passive:A letterwould be writtenby Rita.

Conditional IIActive:Ritawould have writtena letter.

Passive:A letterwould have been writtenby Rita.

Passive Sentences with Two Objects Level:intermediate Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.SubjectVerbObject 1Object 2

Active:Ritawrotea letterto me.

Passive:A letterwas writtento meby Rita.

Passive:Iwas writtena letterby Rita.

. As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. Thats why it is usually dropped.Personal and Impersonal PassivePersonal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.Example: They build houses. Houses are built.Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.Example: he says it is saidImpersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e.g. say, think, know).Example: They say that women live longer than men. It is said that women live longer than men.Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.Example: They say that women live longer than men. Women are said to live longer than men.The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.

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