Unit 7 – Grammar : Passive and causative

The Passive

When we don't know who does/did

something

When it’s obvious who does/did something

When it's not important who does/did

something .

To emphasise new information

(which appears at the end of the sentence)

To avoid starting clauses with long

expressions

To produce a formal style

The car was stolen at approximately 1.30

am.

Having been introduced in 1988, the Road

Traffic Act regulates all vehicle use on UK

roads.

The XL500 was designed with young

families in mind, so there’s plenty of room

in the boot.

This type of submarine was developed

during the Second World War by the

Americans.

We were surprised by the number of people

trying to leave the city for the long

weekend.

(More natural than The number of people

trying to leave the city for

the long weekend surprised us.)

All passengers are required to present their

ticket to the inspector.

Impersonal Passive

Form

Common verbs

Example