Grammar Notes

1. Forming the Passive
The passive is formed of be-verb + past participle. The be-verb takes the tense of the original active verb. The object becomes the subject. The verb agrees in number with the new subject.
- The manager bought dinner for the staff.
→ Dinner for the staff was bought by the manager.

2. Intransitive Verbs

- Intransitive verbs cannot be used in the passive voice because they do not take a direct object. 
- Intransitive verbs include arrive, come, die, go, look, happen, occur, itch, rain, rise, appear, disappear; and sit.
- Allison came to breakfast early this morning. 
- The model employee arrives at work on time every day.
- Something strange has happened to my computer.
- The guests arrived ten minutes before the start of the tour.

4. Impersonal Passive

- The impersonal passive is only used with verbs referring to perception or opinion such as say, think, know, and consider.
- These verbs are put into the passive using an impersonal construction such as it is said, it is believed, and it is felt.
- It is said that Fillmore News Corporations has the largest subscriber base in the country.
- It is believed that shorter working hours promote higher productivity.

5. Sentences with Two Objects
When a sentence contains two objects, both the active and passive sentences can take two forms.

A. Active Voice

B. Passive Voice

In the passive, the doer of the action is referred to as the agent. The agent is often introduced by the preposition by.
Note: An agent is not always stated.
- Tony was fired by the committee. (committee = agent)
- Tony was fired. (no agent)