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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Verb Patterns

Verb Patterns

Grammar or Cocabulary?

Traditionally, we have divided the language into grammar and vocabulary. We always knew that some areas were grey - they seemed like grammar, but students just had to learn them.

Phrasal verbs are a good example.

Most students think of them as part of the grammar of English, but they are fixed verbal expressions.

Learning them is more like learning vocabulary.

You've really got to face up to your problems, you know.
Do you believe in life after death?
I wish you wouldn't insist on calling me Pooh in front of my friends!

There are many expressions using verbs which are best treated like vocabulary. In particular, verbs which can be followed by an infinitive structure or a gerund structure fall into this category:

He refused to do his homework.
I promised to wash the car.
I persuaded her to invite you as well.

Would you consider offering him the job?
I keep forgetting his name.

It is much better for students to learn the grammar of the word when they learn the word rather than build this area up into the 'Infinitives or gerunds problem'.

Students cannot guess which verb takes which structure. It is something they have to learn through meeting lots of examples. Rules do not help in this area.

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Verb Phrase

Verb Phrase

Definition & Usage
This consists of the main verb and the auxiliary/auxiliaries.

Examples

1. My sister is sleeping in her room.

2. I could have completed the work if not for the interruptions.

3. The goods will have been delivered to you next friday

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