More examples of Verbs with no passive: Part 4

Rise

Wrong : show that the inflation rate rose by 2%.
Correct: There is no passive form for rise.

There is no passive form for rise.

Start

Wrong : The District Board Election will be started at nine tomorrow morning.
Correct: The District Board Election will start at nine tomorrow morning.

We use the active form for start when referring to activities
e.g. election, meetings, press conferences.


take place

Wrong : A ribbon-cutting ceremony was taken place at the site to commemorate the opening of the new exhibition centre.
Correct: A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the site to commemorate the opening of the new exhibition centre.

There is no passive form for the expression take place.
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More examples of Verbs with no passive: Part 3

Disappear
Wrong : When the police arrived at the scene, they found the suspects were disappeared.
Correct: When the police arrived at the scene, they found the suspects had disappeared.

There is no passive form for the verb disappear.

Discharge (to release from hospital, prison or the armed forces)
Wrong : As she recovered very quickly, she discharged from hospital the following week.
Correct: As she recovered very quickly, she was discharged from hospital the following week.

We use the passive form for the verb discharge because the patient does not perform the action.

End
Wrong : The meeting was ended at 2:30pm.
Correct: The meeting ended at 2:30pm.
We use active form of the verb end when talking about activities such as meetings, exhibitions, presentations.

Exist
Wrong : Tenancy holders must provide documents to prove that the factory was existed before the implementation of the redevelopment plan.
Correct: Tenancy holders must provide documents to prove that the factory existed before the implementation of the redevelopment plan.

There is no passive form for the verb exist.

Happen
Wrong : The accident was happened when the shop owner arrived at his shop at around 10:00 am.
Correct: The accident happened when the shop owner arrived at his shop at around 10:20 am.

There is no passive form for the verb happen.

Increase
Wrong : The number of cars in the territory has been increased significantly in the past three years.
Correct: The number of cars in the territory has increased significantly in the past three years.

We use the active when talking about numbers rising because the event is not usually deliberately caused by someone; it is a natural progression of events.

Occur
Wrong : A traffic accident was occurred at the junction of Nathan Road and Prince Edward Road this morning.
Correct: A traffic accident occurred at the junction of Nathan Road and Prince Edward Road this morning.

There is no passive form for occur.
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More examples of Verbs with no passive: Part 2

base

Wrong: The report based on research of various educational systems in South East Asia.
Correct: The report was based on research of various educational systems in South East Asia.

We use the passive form for the verb base because the report cannot perform this action.

begin
Wrong: The orientation programme will be begun early next week.
Correct: The orientation programme will begin early next week.
We use the active form for the verb begin when referring to the start of a programme, lesson, film etc. because this is considered to be the natural outcome of a plan rather than an event caused by outcome.

Break Out
Wrong: A quarrel was broken out between the lorry driver and the motorcyclist.
Correct: A quarrel broke out between the lorry driver and the motorcyclist.

There is no passive form for the phrasal verb break out.

cease
Wrong: The doubling appointment will be ceased when his supervisor resumes duty.
Correct: The doubling appointment will cease when his supervisor resumes duty.

There is no passive form for the verb cease.
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Verbs with no passive -Part 1

Some verbs do not have a passive form. Here are some examples:

Verbs without Passives:
- break out
- let
- die
- occur
- disappear
- pass away
- escape
- race
- exist
- resemble
- flee
- suit
- get
- survive
- happen
- take place


Some common errors in the use of active and passive are as follows:

admit (to take into hospital to receive treatment)

Wrong - The driver admitted to hospital after the traffic accident.
Correct - The driver was admitted to hospital after the traffic accident.

We use the passive form for the verb admit here because the driver
does not perform the action.
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ACTIVE and PASSIVE

When to use the passive
Verbs can be used in active or passive form. This depends on whether you would like to emphasize the performer of an action or that someone or something is affected by an action.

(Passive) He was forced to resign.
(Here the emphasis is on the he being affected by the resignation.)

(Active) The senior management forced him to resign.
(Here the senior management is emphasized as the performer or the initiating party of the resignation.)

The passive is also used when the performer is unknown or, too obvious to mention or when the action is more important than the performer. Such cases are often seen in law, medicine or scientific reports.

However, for general use, especially when communicating with members of the public, you should avoid overusing the passive. Use the active voice whenever possible, this helps you to create a more direct, personal and forceful tone in writing.
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Why use the passive and not the active?

Why use the passive and not the active?

The question we must ask is what is the sentence about?

The structure- active or passive - depends on how the sentence starts.

Sometimes the passive is the more natural choice. Think of the situations where you would read the following and you will see why the passive is the obvious choice:

1. Children must be carried.
2. Outdoor shoes must not be worn in the gym.
3. These gates will be locked at 8pm daily.
4. Hard hats must be worn at all times.

No. 1 is a sign in the London Underground at the top and bottom of escalators. It
has more impact than If you have a child with you, please carry him or her.

No. 2 is a sign in a school outside the gymnasium. It is more direct than You mustn't
wear your outdoor shoes in the gym.

No. 3 is a sign on the gates of a park warning people to be out of the park before
the gates are locked. Warning signs are always as short as possible.

No. 4 is a common sign on building sites. Again, it is an important safety sign and
needs to be as short as possible. You must wear a hard hat at all times does not have
the impact or authority of the passive.


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What is the passive?

What is the passive?
A passive structure uses part of the verb (be) plus the past participle form of the verb:
A dog bit Peter.

Peter was bitten by a dog.

In one sense they have the same meaning. Each contains the same three ideas of
Peter -+ dog + bite: The second sentence, however, is 'not just another way' to say
the first one.
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PASSIVE VOICE

Method of Formation of Passive Voice
- using present simple tense; ‘is/are’ + past participle

Examples
He is advised to exercised to exercise regularly and sleep early everyday.

Method of Formation of Passive Voice
- using past simple tense; ‘was/were’ + past participle

Examples
I was encouraged to take up the course by my family

Method of Formation of Passive Voice
- using present continuous tense; ‘is/are being’ + past particle

Examples
Our house is being renovated.

Method of Formation of Passive Voice
- using past continuous tense; ‘was/were being’ + past particle

Examples
The floor was being mopped when we came home.

Method of Formation of Passive Voice
- using present perfect tense; ‘has/have been’ + past particle

Examples
They have been told of the increase in tuition fees already.

Method of Formation of Passive Voice
- using past perfect tense; ‘had been’ + past particle

Examples
The corrupt official had been bribed to keep his mouth shut.

Method of Formation of Passive Voice
- using future tense; ‘shall/will be’ + past particle

Examples
Our new home will be built soon.

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