Unit 8 - Grammar - Part A: Active and passive voice

The passive forms are made up of the verb be with a past participle: be past participle English is spoken all over the world The windows have been cleaned Lunch was being served The work will be finished soon They might have been invited to the party We can use the indirect object as the subject of a passive verb: active passive I gave him a book for his birthday >> He was given a book for his birthday. Someone sent her a cheque for a thousand euros >> She was sent a cheque for a thousand euros. We can use phrasal verbs in the passive: active passive They called off the meeting. >> The meeting was called off. His grandmother looked after him. >> He was looked after by his grandmother. They will send him away to school. >> He will be sent away to school. Some verbs very frequently used in the passive are followed by the to-infinitive: be supposed to be expected to be asked to be scheduled to be allowed to be told to John has been asked to make a speech at the meeting. You are supposed to wear a uniform. The meeting is scheduled to start at seven.