oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

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The passive
103 Summary
The use of the passive • 104
Compare the active and passive sentences.
Active: The secretary typed the report.
Passive: The report was typed (by the secretary).
When the person doing the action (the secretary) is the subject, we use an active
verb. When the subject is what the action is directed at (the report), then we use a
passive verb. We can choose to talk about the secretary and what he/she did, or
about the report and what happened to it. This choice depends on what is old or
new information in the context. Old information usually comes at the beginning of
the sentence, and new information at the end.
In a passive sentence the agent can be the new and important information (...by
the secretary.), or we can leave it out if it does not add any information. We say The
report was typed because the fact that the typing is complete is more important
than the identity of the typist.
The passive is often used in an official, impersonal style.
Form
A passive verb has a form of be and a passive participle.
Tenses and aspects in the passive • 105
The letter was posted yesterday.
Modal verbs in the passive • 106
All tickets must be shown.
The passive with get •107
Sometimes we use get instead of be.
The letter got lost in the post.
Special patterns
The passive with verbs of giving • 108
The pupils were all given certificates.