Active & Passive Voice, Conditionals, and Wishes in English Grammar

Posted on Aug 27, 2024 in English

UNIT 3: Active and Passive Forms

The Passive Voice

We form the passive voice with be + past participle. We use be in the same tense that we would use in the active sentence.

Example:

• Active: Consumers buy many products online.
• Passive: Many products are bought online by consumers.

When we form the passive in other tenses, we use be in the same tense as we would in the active sentence:

We use the passive to emphasize the action (the verb) rather than who or what (the agent) did the action.

Example:

• Active: I bought a new phone last week (it is important to say who bought it)
• Passive: Thousands of new phones are bought every day (it isn’t important to say who buys them)

The Passive with ‘by’

In active sentences, the subject of the verb is also the agent. When we change an active sentence into the passive, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject. We add by + agent to the end of the passive sentence to show who is doing the action.

Example:

• Active: Dior designed this coat.
• Passive: This coat was designed by Dior.

We can omit by + agent from a passive sentence:

• When the agent is unknown. Example: My bag has been taken (I don’t know who took it).
• When the agent is very obvious or not important. Example: The thief was arrested (the agent – the police – is obvious).
• If we do not want to name the agent. Example: The mirror was broken while we were moving it (we don’t want to say who broke it).

Passive with Two Objects

When an active sentence has two objects, there are two possible passive sentences. To rewrite this kind of sentence in the passive, one of the objects becomes the subject and the other remains the object. The object that is changed into the subject is emphasized.

Impersonal and Infinitive Forms

News reports often use the following passive construction with the verbs believe, think, rumour, and report:

Form: It + (be) + past participle + that

Example:

• Active: They believe that the thief got away.
• Passive: It is believed that the thief got away.

The Causative

We use have or get + object + past participle when a person does a task for us.

Example: I have/get my grocery shopping delivered.

We use have + object + past participle when a person does something bad to us.

Example: I’ve had my Facebook account hacked.

UNIT 4: Conditionals and Wishes

Alternatives to ‘If’ in Conditional Clauses

Conditional clauses usually start with if. In some situations, we can replace if with unless, providing that, or as long as.

• We can use unless to mean ‘if…not’ in negative conditional sentences. Example: We’ll be late if we don’t leave now = We’ll be late unless we leave now.
• We can use even if instead of if to show that the result will not be affected by the condition. Example: The workers won’t strike if their wages are increased = The workers will strike even if their wages are increased.
• We can use providing that or as long as (usually in the 1st conditional) to mean ‘but only if’. Example: Crime levels will continue to fall (but only if/as long as/providing that) we keep the number of police officers.

First Conditional

Forms:

• if + present simple, will + infinitive
• will + infinitive, if + present simple

Example:

• If you do the race, I’ll sponsor you.
• I’ll sponsor you if you do the race.

Uses:

• To discuss possible or probable future events. Example: If we all take part in the protest, we’ll make a difference.
• To make promises and give warnings. Example: You won’t make a difference if you don’t take part in the protest.

Modals in the First Conditional: We can use modals instead of will in the result clause of a first conditional sentence.

• To show possibility: If you vote for him, he may/might win the election.
• To show permission: If you’ve filled out the form, you can vote immediately.
• To show obligation: If you agree with his policies, you must vote for him.
• To make a suggestion: If you’re interested in politics, you should vote.

Second Conditional

Forms:

• if + past simple, would + infinitive
• would + infinitive, if + past simple

Example:

• If I had a lot of money, I’d set up a commune.
• I’d set up a commune if I had a lot of money.

Uses:

• To discuss imaginary situations in the present. Example: If I was the president, I would change all the government policies.
• To discuss imaginary or improbable events in the future. Example: I’d study economics if I went to Harvard University.

Modals in the Second Conditional: We can use modals instead of would.

• To show ability: If he has time, he could help in the community.
• To show possibility: If you could have any job, what would you do?
• To give permission: If we could wear our own clothes…
• To show possibility: If he won 1 million, he might give it all to charity.

Third Conditional

Forms:

• if + past perfect, would have + past participle
• would have + past participle, if + past perfect

Example: If you had applied, you would have got an interview.

Use: We use the third conditional to discuss hypothetical past events (which didn’t happen). Example: We wouldn’t have missed the bus if we’d got up early.

Modals in the Third Conditional:

• To show ability: If I had posted my form in time, I could have voted in the election.
• To show possibility: If they had known about the election, they might have voted.

Wishes and Regrets

We can use wish in a number of ways.

• To express regrets about the past: Form: wish + past perfect. Example: I wish I hadn’t voted for him.