Types of Passive Constructions

Transitive verbs may be used in Passive, because the object is replaced with the subject.There are various types of passive constructions:

1) Direct Passive – when direct object acts as subject:

§ He was carried to the hospital. (Who?)

§ The window was being opened. (What?)

But: intransitive verb is used in this pattern:

§ Christ is risen. – He is risen indeed.

 

Direct Passive is always part of complex subject:

§ She is said to be a first-class teacher.

§ I was not allowed to chat.

Direct Passive is part of construction with formal it as subject:

§ It was known that he would not tolerate any criticism.

§ It is said that she gave up the job.

 

Some transitive verbs are not used in passive:

§ The boy resembled his father.

§ The hat suits (fits, becomes) you.

§ He has (possesses) a sense of humour.

§ He lacks confidence.

 

2) There are verbs which take two ob­jects — direct and indirect. These verbs may have two passive constructions:

a) Direct Passive:

§ Some news was told to me. (What?)

 

b) Indirect Passive - indirect object becomes the subject.

§ I was told some news. (Whom?)

 

3) Prepositional Passive – when verbs require a prepositional object is found very often.

§ She was much spoken of in the village.

§ The doctor was sent for.

 

* There is another (unusual) prepositional passive construction possible:

§ The room looked as if it had not been lived in for years.

§ The chairs looked as if they had once been sat in by cardinals.

 

EXERCISES:

 

Ex. 51. Turn the following active constructions into passive omitting all mention of the agent of the action:

 

1. No one has made any mistakes. 2. What do you call it? 3. They asked us to stay a little longer. 4. One expects him to obey the regulations. 5. People have made great progress in physics. 6. They are discussing the possibility of new negotiations. 7. Everybody thought that Jack was clever but lazy. 8. People use coal for making artificial materials. 9. People say it is difficult. 10. What books are people reading this year? 11. They elected him President of the Club last year. 12. They are rehearsing a new play at the National Theatre. 13. Someone found the children in the morning. 14. Nobody has ever treated me with such kindness. 15. He knew that they had sent the invitations out two weeks earlier. 16. They can arrange all things. 17. People expect you to meet the chief. 18. Are they sending for you? 19. They have always passed his telephone calls through to the Minister without questions. 20. They never took any major decision without his knowledge or advice. 21. I knew that they had told him of the meeting at once. 22. The trouble started when they told me to change the way we were running this department. 23. There was a tear in his trousers which someone had already darned. 24. In his circle they looked on the police as enemies. 25. They took the child to the hospital for the poor. 26. Ever since I started asking questions about my sister they have lied to me. 27. I'm sure they will look better after him in an army hospital. 28. When the situation called for a lie, he lied firmly and well. 29. No one has ever beaten my brother at tennis. 30. They gave his little daughter a present, too. 31. They will show the visitors all the new pictures. 32. They promised the workers higher wages. 33. The others told the new pupils where to sit. 34. We must look into the matter. 35. They gave me two shillings change at the shop.

 

Ex. 52. Supply the required passive forms of the verbs in brackets:

 

1. Aunt Dinah (not to like) by my father's family; she (to con­sider) vulgar. 2. After his brother's departure Paul sat for a long time think­ing about what (to say). 3. "I'm not prepared," my father said, "to listen to your sugges­tions that you never (to treat) fairly at school." 4. In the drawing-room the music of Mozart (to play) by an or­chestra seen on the screen. 5. "Remember I (to pay) by the hour," grumbled the driver. 6. But there were signs that order (to restore) in the town. 7. I (to receive) by one of the chiefs and (to take) for lunch to the canteen. 8. Well, what (to do) about it, Ted? 9. He went into the bedroom. The bed (to turn) down for the night by the maid many hours before. 10. I said we yet (not to teach) anything. 11. Please find out if your father (to see) to leave. 12. She could have gone to Cambridge if she had wanted, she (to offer) a scholarship. 13. He arrived just after the electricity (to cut), and Joseph was lighting the oil-lamps. 14. On Friday she (to give) two weeks notice at the works. 15. Then the voice announced that the passengers (to beg) to pass through the Customs. 16. I wondered to what extent she (to influence) by his name to accept the offer. 17. Meg (to look) upon as the perfect wife for a clergyman. 18. Such are the matters that (to deal) with in Mr Gibson’s book. 19. He (to see) entering the school building just when the first student (to call) upon to read aloud from Beowulf. 20. Ahead of us the port lay in a flood of lights. Two cargo-ships (to unload). 21. I found the idea of going to Hereford very upsetting because I (to promise) a very nice job a couple of weeks before. 22. Not far away she noticed the film manager in whose office she once (to make) to feel so ridiculous. 23. "You must be very prosperous, Eustace, to own a car like that." "This car (to lend) me by an American woman." 24. I felt I (to catch) out boasting. 25. I could not tell him that I had spent the money I (to leave) in order to get myself a house. 26. After lunch, we heard that Charles (to send) for. 27. She (to operate) on at seven o'clock next morning. 28. Their engagement (to announce) and a number of parties (to give) for the young couple. 29. I said, "Our dog (to run) over, but we're going to have an­other." 30. The days that followed afterward (to look) back on by Philip as a kind of nightmare. 31. The scene (to put) an end to abruptly by the arrival of their father. 32. I discovered that a similar message (to send) to my office. 33. After the two women (to show) over the house they (to take) for a walk round the garden. 34. Our garden was all weeds, but the one next door (to look) after to perfection. 35. You have hardly any right to talk to me about the children. They (to see) to all right, and it will be me that sees to them, not you. 36. Somewhere from far away in the town came the sound of shots. "Somebody (to kill)," I said. 37. Joe (to try) and (to sentence) to five years in New Caledonia. 38. He watched Jack while the film (to run). 39. The boy who put a frog in the teacher's desk (to ask) to return the frog to the pool. 40. Our ability to use English subtly or precisely continually (to interfere) with by our need to use language simply and impre­cisely for everyday purposes.

 

Ex. 53. Translate the following sentences into English using passive constructions:

 

1. Ниже на этой улице строится новый жилой массив. 2. Его еще никогда не принимали за англичанина. 3. В твоей комнате ничего не трогали с тех пор, как тебя послали в санаторий. 4. Представляет ли для тебя интерес работа, которую тебе предложили? 5. За каждый пенни нужно отчитаться. 6. Вас когда-нибудь учили, как надо вести себя? 7. Его пришлось оперировать. 8. Детей угостили мороженым. 9. У меня украли коллекцию марок. 10. Со мной так никогда не разговаривали. 11. Посмотри! Кто-то пролил чай на скатерть. 12. Уроки нужно сделать более интересными. 13. Надо что-то сделать для этих людей. 14. В футбол играют во всем мире. 15. Боюсь, что этот замок нельзя починить. 16. На день рождения ей подарили коробку шоколадных конфет. 17. О его приятеле хорошо отзываются. 18. Студентам велели подождать за дверью. 19. Моего дядю произвели в капитаны. 20. Постороннего попросили уйти с собрания. 21. Тебе скажут, когда отправляется поезд. 22. Она чувствовала, что от нее что-то скрывают. 23. Там будет так темно, что вас совсем не будет видно. 24. Я почувствовал, что ему уже задавали этот вопрос раньше. 25. Меня отослали спать. 26. Он не слышал, о чем говорили. 27. Мы узнаем, хорошо ли за ним смотрели. 28. Ему дали первоклассное образование. 29. Что-нибудь делается, чтобы восстановить это здание? 30. Говорят, что его не видно уже три месяца. 31. Он включил радио. Исполняли фортепианный концерт Брамса. 32. Я не знал, кому меня представляют. 33. На приеме на профессора не обращали внимания, но носились с его хорошенькой женой.

 

Ex. 54. Translate the following sentences into English, using passive con­structions with it as subject wherever necessary:

 

1. По радио объявили, что к вечеру ожидается похолодание. 2. Я сомневаюсь, что это явление можно объяснить. 3. Ему показали эту женщину, и он подошел к ней. 4. Договорились, что она подождет его в гостинице. 5. Сообщение было объявлено по радио. 6. Ей объяснили, кто мы такие. 7. Ожидали, что он вернется как раз к заседанию. 8. Было решено, что он вернется в пятницу. 9. Замечали, что он никогда не звонит к себе домой с работы. 10. Ему объяснили, почему он не прав. 11. Ему указали на его ошибки. 12. К юго-западу от города были обнаружены значительные запасы руды. 13. Ожидались большие изменения в производственных пла­нах компании. 14. Не думал, что он долго проработает с ними. 15. Говорили, что ему не легко было сделать это. 16. Ходят слухи, что он уехал в Канаду. 17. Было решено, что выплата была незаконной. 18. О потере документа доложили руководству. 19. Ему было указано, что курить в зале не разрешается. 20. Его храбрость была хорошо известна в полку. 21. В разговоре его приезд был упомянут мимоходом. 22. Мне предложили сначала поесть. 23. Хорошо известно, что Фрэнк признал свою ошибку.

 

Ex. 55. Use the required passive forms in the following sentences, observ­ing the difference between the passive of action and the passive of state:

 

1. The house (to lock) up when they set off. 2. The house (to lock) up before they set off. 3. Не wished to know if his instructions (to carry) out. 4. Talking of Susan, Milly (to remind) of something she once (to tell). 5. The officials usually make careful inquiries into the applicant's character. Then he (to give) a trial, discreetly (to watch), and if the impression is unfavourable politely (to thank) and (to tell) that his services no longer (to need). 6. Wherever I went I found that the camp (to leave) in a disgrace­ful condition. 7. Wherever I went I found evidence that the camp (to leave) only a short while before we arrived. 8. From where I stood the house (to hide) by lime trees. 9. Everything (to prepare) for the ball. The front lawn (to floor) and (to tent); palms and azaleas (to place) round it. 10. Dan had a car waiting, and open country easily (to reach) in those days. 11. Looking over his shoulder I saw that the note (to write) in pencil and on a whole sheet of paper. 12. We went to the back of the house and he tried another door. "Everything (to shut) up," he said. 13. Sometimes he would drive away for a whole day. His errands never (to explain). 14. "How do you find the cooking?" "Unchanged." "When the cook (to hire), your aunt gave her ten menus, and they never (to vary) since." 15. "I am so sorry to miss so much of your visit. You (to look) after properly?" Mr Ryder asked me. 16. I've just been to the garage trying to get a car but everything (to lock). 17. Then dinner (to announce), and we went to the dining-room where the subject (not to mention). 18. The idea, however, seemed to take root in his mind; when, a few days later, we spoke of the matter again it firmly (to establish). 19. When I arrived the family were in the sitting-room. Tea (to clear) away and the curtains (to draw). 20. When I stayed at the hotel I always (to give) the room I had had on my first visit. 21. His house in Hertford Street was large enough for them both and lately (to furnish) and (to decorate) by the most expensive firm. 22. His house was large, and it completely (to furnish) and (to decorate). 23. "It's the first time I ever (to take) out to dinner at a restau­rant," she said. 24. Then he looked round furtively to see if he (to observe). 25. He was lying in bed. His eyes (to close). 26. At the beginning of May the engagement (to announce). Rex (to dismay) and (to perplex) by this new development. 27. The date for her wedding (to fix)? 28. After his aunt (to bury) her will (to read). 29. I never knew where he (to bury). 30. He came to tell me that the work (to do). 31. I wandered down the corridor trying doors that (to lock). 32. Two men badly (to injure) in the accident. 33. "Can we have three clean glasses?" "In a moment. They (to wash) up." 34. The event (to describe) in detail in his book. 35. I don't have many things to pack because lots of my old clothes (to dispose) of. 36. While my car (to fix) I made a telephone call to my office. 37. Luckily, my car (to park) some distance from the front door of the house, so I didn't get very wet in the rain.

 

 

CHAPTER II

MODAL VERBS

UNIT 10

Mood

Mood shows the relation between the action of the predicate verb and reality. Actions as real facts are expressed by In­dicative Mood, i.e.tense-aspect-phase forms in Active or Passive Voice.

 

Commands and requests are expressed by Imperative Mood, whichmay be affirmative, negative and emphatic:

§ Listen to me. Don't g o there. Do listen to him.

§ You don’t worry.

§ Let him go there at once.

§ Let's not talk about it.

§ Don't let's talk about it.

 

Unreal actions are expressed by many forms, among them – Subjunctive and Conditional Moodand modal phrases, i.e. combinations of modal verbs with the in­finitive.

 

Modal Verbs

There are the following modal verbs: can (could), may (might), must, ought to, shall, should, will, would, need and dare. Modal verbs are always used with infinitives. Modal verbs are defective verbs as they lack many forms. Modal verb + infinitive form a modal compound predicate. Different forms of infinitive may be added:

 

forms	Infinitive
Simple (Indefinite)	Active	(to) take
Continuous	(to) be taking
Perfect	(to) have taken
Perfect Continuous	(to) have been taking
Indefinite	Passive	(to) be taken
Perfect	(to) have been taken

 

CAN/COULD

 

Can (could) has the following meanings:

1) ability, capability = to be able

§ Even a child can answer your question.

§ Can you write with your left hand?

§ Nora could never play tennis well.

Could may express unreality:

§ She could be secretary to some rich man. (могла бы быть)

§ You could articulate more distinctly with that cigarette out of your mouth. (мог бы говорить более отчетливо)

be able is used in­stead of could to avoid misunderstanding:

§ She was able toexplain the mystery.

 

With perfect infinitive could indicates that the action was not carried out in the past.

§ She could have explained the mystery. Она могла бы объяс­нить эту тайну. (но не объяснила)

2) possibility dueto circumstances:

§ You can (could) see the forest through the window.

§ Anybody can make mistakes.

§ You could have seen the house from there if it had not been so dark.

§ You can see Mrs. Harrison in the park every morning.

Note: Compare with the Russian:

§ Он мог (был способен) переплыть Волгу в юно­сти.

— In his youth he could swim across the Volga.

§ Он смог переплыть Волгу в прошлом году.

— Не managed to swim across the Volga last year.

§ Он не мог (ему не удалось) переплыть Волгу в прошлом году.

— Не failed (didn't manage) to swim across the Volga last

year.

 

With perfect infinitive could expresses a past possibility that was not fulfilled:

§ I could have come earlier — unfortunately I missed the five o'clock train.

§ I am sure you could have won the quiz. Why didn't you take part in it?

3) permission in affirmative, request in interrogative and prohibition in negative:

§ You can take my umbrella.(permission)

§ Can I use your car? (request)

§ You can't cross the street here. (prohibition)

Could is more polite than can:

§ Could I use your car?

4) uncertainty, doubt (in questions with different infinitives). Could expresses more uncertainty than can:

§ Can/could it be true? Неужели это правда!

§ Can/could she be telling lies? Неужели она лжет!

§ Can/could she have told a lie?

§ Can/could he have said it?

§ Can/could she really have been at home all this time?

§ Can/could she have been waiting for us so long?

5) improbability (only in negative sentences). Could is less cate­gorical than can:

§ It can't/ couldn't be true. Это не может быть правдой.

§ She can't/ couldn't be telling lies. He может быть, чтобы...

§ He can't/ couldn't have said it. Вряд ли…

§ She can't/ couldn't have been at home all this time.

§ She can't/ couldn't have been waiting so long.

Note: the following set phrases with can:

a)can't help doing - не могу удержаться от..., не могу не делать (чего-то).

b)can't but do something - ничего другого не оста­ется, как...

c) can't (couldn't) possibly do - просто не могу (не мог) сделать....

EXERCISES:

 

Ex. 56. Turn the following into unreal statements and translate both vari­ants into Russian.

Note: change the form of the infinitive if necessary.

1. He's obstinate. Nothing can move him. 2. No one can ever tell when he is being serious and when he is joking. 3. In the dimness of the room I could not see him very well. 4. You know I can never refuse you. 5. Roger told me that she could run his small establishment better than any paid housekeeper. 6. No one could tell me where he lived. 7. He's very good at all that. You can learn a lot from him. 8. The trouble was I couldn't do anything else. 9. She cannot tell us the truth. 10. She could not tell us the truth then. 11. That's a question nobody can answer.

 

Ex. 57. Make the following sentences containing can more polite or less categorical:

1. "What can I do for you?" he asked in cordial tones. 2. Can I see John now? 3. Pat, my dear, where can you have got such a foolish idea? 4. What difference can it make? 5. I'm hungry. Can I have my tea? 6. I know a very nice little place up the hill where we can have dinner. 7. "We've brought you something!" cried Edward. "Whatever can it be?" 8. "But you don't understand me. Hugh hates me." "He can't " 9. "I don't believe you've forgotten our song. You can't have done it." 10. "But the door is locked." "I expect we can open it." 11. "In the end he insisted on walking in the rain." "He can't be so silly." 12. And I've got a bit of money. We can get ourselves a nice flat. 13. They are all watching the telly, so you can have your supper in peace. 14. Can this woman be Louise? She can't have changed so much. 15. She can't have told you that I don't believe you. 16. What else can we do for you?

 

Ex. 58. Use the required form of the infinitive after can (could) in the following sentences:

1. Her face was quite unlined and she could not (to be) more than thirty. 2. I'm wondering if something can (to do) about it. 3. Неr friend said quickly: "I know where you can (to get) your bicycle fixed." 4. "You couldn't (to worry) too much," Jack was tempted to say, "if you're still out at one thirty in the morning." 5. It's impossible. He can't (to do) it. 6. There wasn't anything wrong with tea. There couldn't (to be). 7. Harry's story disappointed him because if the girl had been with him at half past eight she couldn't (to be) at Huxley at the same time. 8. She lay, raised up rather high upon the pillow, her eyes closed and her hair undone. She could not (to sleep), though it would have been hard to say quite how this was evident. 9. "Have you seen anything of Roberta lately?" "Not for ages. I don't know what she can (to do). " 10. He couldn't (to hear) the news at dinner because his sister hadn't arrived yet. 11. I can easily (to walk) to the railway station. 12. For several seconds Bolt stared at her, terrified. "I can't (to die). I don't want to die."

 

Ex. 59. Translate the following sentences into English using can in all of its possible meanings:

1. Ты мог бы перевести этот текст? 2. Эту книгу можно купить в любом магазине. 3. Он мог бы сделать это на прошлой неделе. Он был не особен­но занят. 4. Он не мог показать нам расчеты, так как они не были готовы. 5. В комнате темно, я не могу найти свои вещи. 6. Не может быть, чтобы она ошиблась. 7. Неужели они ждали нас все это время? 8. Не может быть, чтобы вас послали ко мне. Я не имею к этому никакого отношения. 9. Можно мне чашку чая? 10. Он сказал, что мы можем идти. 11. Я могу вернуться автобусом. 12. Я мог бы вернуться автобусом. 13. Морис уставился на письмо. «И откуда оно могло прийти?» 14. Эванс был настолько неграмотным, что он просто не мог бы написать ни одного слова этого доклада. 15. «Она не поняла тебя», - вскричал Филипп. - «Она поняла меня достаточно хорошо». - «Вряд ли она тебя поняла», - повторил он упрямо. 16. Дорога пешком обратно в гостиницу оказалась очень длин­ной, и он никогда не проделал бы ее без карты. 17. У нее было квадратное лицо, которое, вероятно, никогда не выглядело молодым. 18. «На что ты смотришь, Вилли?» - «Ни на что, дорогая». - «Нельзя смотреть ни на что». 19. Она сказала более громким голосом: «Ты слышишь меня?» 20. Никто не смог бы произвести на меня большее впечатление, чем это сделал ты. 21. В тот момент я мог бы убить его. 22. Ему не могло быть больше тридцати лет, когда мы с ним познакомились впервые. 23. Я умел плавать, когда мне было пять лет. Папа научил меня. 24. Они очень милы со мной. Просто невозможно быть более вежливыми и услужливыми. 25. Уже темнеет. Сколько же сейчас может быть времени? 26. Ты храбрый, раз работаешь с этими людьми. Я бы не мог с ними работать. 27. Он взял меню и сказал: «Ну, я полагаю, что ты проголодалась. Давай посмотрим, что мы можем поесть». 28. А как щенки? Можно мне посмотреть на них?

 

Ex. 60. То practise can, make up situations of your own using the follow­ing patterns:

1. не может быть, чтобы он...

Не can't be that foolish.

He can't be writing a novel.

He can't have gone fishing.

He can't have been walking in the rain.

2. неужели он...

Can he be your brother?

Can he be working so late?

Can he have left?

Can he have been looking for us?

3. и что (где, как, почему...) это он...

What can he mean?

Where can he be hiding?

How can he have done it?

What can he have been doing in there?

4. он просто не может (не мог, не мог бы)...

Не can't possibly do it.

He couldn't possibly afford a car on his present salary.

He can't possibly have done it.

 

5. не могу не...

I can't help thinking she has made a grave mistake.

I couldn't help seeing that she was ill.

6. мне ничего не остается как...

I cannot but ask him for help.

I could not but put him up for the night.

UNIT 11

MAY/MIGHT (might is a milder and more polite form ) havethe following meanings:

1) supposition implying uncertainty[ +,- in positive and negative sentences ]

 

may + Simple Inf. refers the action to the future or present.

§ He may come soon. (возможно, может быть …)

§ He might come a little later. (less certain)

§ He may be ill.

may + Continuous Inf. refers the action to the present.

§ It's too late to phone him now. He may be sleeping.

§ For all I know, he may be writing a book.

 

may + Perfect Inf. refers the ac­tion to the past.

§ He may have fallen ill.

§ He may have been waiting for us.

Might em­phasizes the idea of uncertainty:

§ He might come soon. He might be ill.

§ He might be doing his lessons now.

§ He might have spoken to her yesterday.