Answer Sheet: Passive (2)

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Q1 - It has been drawn to my attention that some staff are leaving early on Friday. This shall stop

The speaker probably uses the passive as a way of not giving the name of the person who told him
The speaker uses the passive to sound clever and educated

Q2 - It is supposed to be really good

The speaker isn't certain
The speaker is certain

Q3 - The bridge is being widened

The work is finished
The work is unfinished

Q4 - The Prime Minister is rumoured to be about to resign

The speaker wants to associate themselves with the rumour
The speaker wants to put some distance between themselves and the rumour

Q5 - It might get done

GET is an informal passive construction
GET is a formal passive construction

Q6 - The pills should be taken after meals

The passive is used because it is not known who is going to take the pills
The passive is used as a way of making the instructions less like an order and more polite

Q7 - My wallet was stolen

The passive is used to focus on what is really important to the speaker; their wallet
The passive is used because the speaker does not wish to tell us who stole the wallet

Q8 - Jenny was born in North Yorkshire

We use the passive because we do not know who bore her
We use the passive to focus on Jenny rather than her Mother

Q9 - 'Catch 22' was written by Joseph Heller

The speaker is talking principally about Joseph Heller
The speaker is talking principally about 'Catch 22'

Q10 - It is said to be the best restaurant in the area

This is the speaker's opinion
This is not necessarily the speaker's opinion

Q11 - The government was elected last year

We are more interested in the government than the voters
We are as interested in the government as the voters

Q12 - The painting was sold for a fortune

We are more interested in the buyer
We are more interested in the picture

Q13 - I was born in 1969

It is unnecessary to say who bore the speaker
We don't know who bore the speaker

Q14 - The letters are posted at five o'clock every day

It is important who posts the letters
The time they are posted is important

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