Results 1 to 5 of 5
Like Tree7Likes
  • 1 Post By ManSeek
  • 3 Post By emsr2d2
  • 1 Post By TheParser
  • 1 Post By ManSeek
  • 1 Post By Tdol

Thread: Passive Question

  1. #1
    ManSeek is offline Newbie
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Portuguese
      • Home Country:
      • Brazil
      • Current Location:
      • Brazil
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    6

    Default Passive Question

    Is it permissible for me to use passive without auxiliary verb?
    TheParser likes this.

  2. #2
    emsr2d2 is online now VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    9,039
    Teacher

    Default Re: Passive Question

    Quote Originally Posted by ManSeek View Post
    Is it permissible for me to use passive without auxiliary verb?
    Please give an example and then we'll comment. Thanks.
    bhaisahab, TheParser and 5jj like this.

  3. #3
    TheParser is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    4,348

    Default Re: Passive Question

    Quote Originally Posted by ManSeek View Post
    Is it permissible for me to use passive without auxiliary verb?
    ***** NOT A TEACHER *****


    (1) I think that in most cases, the answer is NO.

    (2) The passive is usually defined as a form of "to be" + the past participle:

    You can speak English. > English is spoken by you.

    The teachers here treat all members with respect. > All members are treated with

    respect by the teachers here.

    You should study your lessons with great diligence. > Your lessons should be

    studied with great diligence (by you).

    P.S. In informal English, you may sometimes omit the auxiliary. For example,

    if you own a store that sells things to English-speaking tourists, it's fine to put

    this sign in the window: English spoken here. (Instead of "English is spoken here

    by the staff.")
    ManSeek likes this.

  4. #4
    ManSeek is offline Newbie
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Portuguese
      • Home Country:
      • Brazil
      • Current Location:
      • Brazil
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    6
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: Passive Question

    Quote Originally Posted by TheParser View Post
    ***** NOT A TEACHER *****


    (1) I think that in most cases, the answer is NO.

    (2) The passive is usually defined as a form of "to be" + the past participle:

    You can speak English. > English is spoken by you.

    The teachers here treat all members with respect. > All members are treated with

    respect by the teachers here.

    You should study your lessons with great diligence. > Your lessons should be

    studied with great diligence (by you).

    P.S. In informal English, you may sometimes omit the auxiliary. For example,

    if you own a store that sells things to English-speaking tourists, it's fine to put

    this sign in the window: English spoken here. (Instead of "English is spoken here

    by the staff.")
    You have helped me twice. Thank you!
    TheParser likes this.

  5. #5
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • Philippines
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    35,345
    Teacher

    Default Re: Passive Question

    You can also use get instead of be sometimes- The house got painted, instead of The house was painted.
    TheParser likes this.

Similar Threads

  1. Active to Passive Tense Question Has/Have
    By eslstudentinpb in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 25-Jan-2011, 11:58
  2. Passive question
    By medoos in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 21-Oct-2009, 20:16
  3. Passive Tense Sentence Question
    By colloquium in forum Text Analysis and Statistics
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 22-Jun-2008, 09:04
  4. passive question
    By tamero in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 24-Mar-2007, 10:23
  5. a question of passive voice
    By Anonymous in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 11-Oct-2004, 04:11

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0