Active-Passive Verbs

“I play chess”   /     …………………………………..

we use passives :

* when we want to focus on the receiver (recetient) not  performer(agent)

* when agent is less important/ in researces beter to use the procedure not researcher

* when agent is clear from the context

* to avoid mentioning the agent

Be/get

Dynamic (describing activities) / Stative Passives (expression of states or conditons)

“The dead body was found  in the skirts of the mountain Ararat.”

“ This flower is found in the skirts of the mountain Ararat.”

Stative verbs are used to describe:* location/position (located, found, placed, situated)

* characteristics or qualities in science (is filled, covered)

* manner or method in maths/scince (measured/listed)

* part/whole relations (composed, organized, devided, made up)

* purpose (designed, meant)

* connection (attached to, seperated by/from)

* reputation / association (regarded as, thought to be, viewed as

* define / name (labeled, termed)

Complex Passives are passive constructions followed by “that clauses” or “infinitives”

It + passive verb + that clause:to introduce a topic, new information comes in the end.

Subject + passive verb + to infinitive : topic is introduced, it is the subject.

“It has been observed that children learn languages beter than adults.”

“Children have been observed to learn languages beter thatn adults.”     

Contexts for the use of the Complex Passives

* to achieve an impersonal tone/ not using I/We

* explanations/ observations (noted, known)

* desire/ expected behaviour (assumed, expected)

* evaluations/ judgements (ruled, considered)

* to Express information not varified as factual or true (believed)

* past beliefs ( was thought)

* future events ( is expected)