ADDITIONAL NOTES ON PASSIVES
1. We sometimes use get instead of be to make passive verbs to show that something happens accidentally or unexpectedly. get usually conveys a negative meaning.
My flat got burgled when I was away. (= a negative event)
I was surprised that I didn't get invited to the party.
John got bitten by a stray dog.
get is used more in an informal style and when speaking.
2. Some verbs, like give, send, offer, show, pay, teach, promise, tell an more, can have two objects, which means that you can make two different passive sentences.
Active voice: Someone gave Jimmy (1st object) the money (2nd object).
Passive Voice 1: Jimmy was given the money.
Passive Voice 2: The money was given to Jimmy.
3. with and by in passive sentences
by + agent - when it is important to say who is responsible for the action (however, the Active Voice is recommended in this case).
with + intrument
I was hit with an umbrella. (BUT I was hit by an old lady, or the same in the Active Voice, An old lady hit me.)
My flat got burgled when I was away. (= a negative event)
I was surprised that I didn't get invited to the party.
John got bitten by a stray dog.
get is used more in an informal style and when speaking.
2. Some verbs, like give, send, offer, show, pay, teach, promise, tell an more, can have two objects, which means that you can make two different passive sentences.
Active voice: Someone gave Jimmy (1st object) the money (2nd object).
Passive Voice 1: Jimmy was given the money.
Passive Voice 2: The money was given to Jimmy.
3. with and by in passive sentences
by + agent - when it is important to say who is responsible for the action (however, the Active Voice is recommended in this case).
with + intrument
I was hit with an umbrella. (BUT I was hit by an old lady, or the same in the Active Voice, An old lady hit me.)