MASTER ENGLISH SENTENCES WITH S+V (8) : Two verbs to create the passive ...
TWO VERBS CONNCETED IN A SENTENCE: THE BASIC PASSIVE
English verbs are a must in a complete English sentence. Different verbs are possible to be followed by different elements (nouns, verbs, adjectives or adverbs). In this lesson we will explore a special two verb combination, be/get + V and create a special pattern, called 'passive'. If you read English articles, you can start paying attention to this kind of two verb structure. I am showing you what I found in English news of different countries.
-The virus was compared to the SARS pandemic that killed 774 people in Asia in 2002 and 2003. (adapted from '5 Things' CNN, Sep. 23, 2020)
-An announcement is expected sometime soon. (adapted from '5 Things' CNN, Sep. 23, 2020)
-She was inspired by an experience with her daughter, who was diagnosed with coeliac disease in June 2019. (adapted from 'CEO Secrets: Juggling kids and a new lockdown business' BBC Business, Oct. 22, 2020)
-A marine engineer believed to have caught Covid-19 while visiting a ship is thought to have then passed on the virus to at least two other people. (adapted from 'Covid 19 coronavirus: What we know of the latest cases before the long weekend' NZ Herald, Oct. 23, 2020)
If you observe the verb part in those sentences combined with my S+V pattern, you can easily spot the rule:
(S) Subject + (V) Action / State
was compared
is expected
was inspired
was diagnosed
is thought
VERB FORMS
All of the first verbs above are 'be verbs' and the second verbs are all changed into a certain form. Which form? We need to learn all the forms of verbs so we can successfully grasp this passive pattern. I have mentioned in previous lessons that English verbs usually have five forms but there are exceptions. Look at the following examples.
-V1:expect, V2:expected, V3:expected, V4:expecting, V5:expects
(V2 and V3 forms of 'expect' have 'ed' endings so they are called 'regular' verbs.)
-V1:think, V2:thought, V3:thought, V4:thinking, V5:thinks
(V2 and V3 have no 'ed' endings so they are 'irregular' verbs.)
-V1:be, V2:was/were, V3:been, V4:being, V5:am/is/are
(These are 'be' verbs. You can see 'is' in V5 is used in the news for something at present and 'was' in V2 also appears in the news for something that happened in the past.)
-V1:may, V2:might
(These are 'helping verbs' and they have only two forms.)
RULES & SOUNDS OF THE ENDING -ED
In the passive pattern, the second verb uses V3 form. Some V3 forms have regular 'ed' endings, which means there are rules to follow, so it is important to know how to add 'ed' to a verb.
[Rule 1] Add 'ed'.
Ex. help-helped
[Rule 2] When the end of a verb is letter 'e', add 'd'.
Ex. like-liked
[Rule 3] When there are a consonant letter and letter 'y' at the end of a verb, delete 'y' and add 'ied'.
Ex. fry-fried (consonant 'r' and letter 'y')
Note: play-played (vowel 'a', not a consonant, and letter 'y')
[Rule 4] When you see 'a consonant, a vowel and a consonant' combination at the end of a verb, double the final consonant letter and then add 'ed'.
Ex. plan-planned
Ex. transfer-transferred
Note: When the end of the verb is consonant+vowel 'e"+ consonant 'l' and the stress of the pronunciation is not at the end of the word, like 'travel' with stressed sound 'tra', you do not double 'l' before 'ed' if you use American English.)
Ex. rebel-rebelled (the stressed sound is at the end 'bel')
Ex. travel-travelled (British English) / traveled (American English) (the stressed sound is 'tra' instead of the ending 'vel')
[Rule 5] When the final letter of a verb is 'c', add 'k' and then 'ed'.
Ex. picnic-picnicked
Not only do we need to know how to add 'ed' to a verb, but we also need to know how to pronounce 'ed'. There are three different sounds.
[Sound 1] When the final sound of a verb is /t/ or /d/, 'ed' is pronounced /Id/. (You can watch my videos about vowels and consonants to learn pronunciation.)
Ex. want-wanted /~tId/
Ex. need-needed /~dId/
[Sound 2] If the final sound of a verb is not /t/ or /d/ but a voiceless sound (you cannot hear the sound), 'ed' is pronounced /t/ (also voiceless).
Ex. talk-talked /~kt/
[Sound 3] If the final sound of a verb is not /t/ or /d/ but a voiced sound (you can hear the sound), 'ed' is pronounced /d/ (also voiced).
Ex. call-called /~ld/
SITUATIONS FOR PASSIVE ACTIONS
With the knowledge from above, we can start learning how and when to put two verbs together and create the passive pattern, 'be/get + V3'. Normally people use an 'active action' in a sentence more and it means 'someone does something'. The 'passive action' means 'something is done' and 'who does it' does not matter. The active and passive actions are compared below to help you understand the differences between them.
-[Active action] I ruined the make-up! (Someone did something. I, Sharon, caused trouble!)
-[Passive action] The make-up got ruined! (Something was done. 'Who ruined the makeup' is not important. The point is the makeup looked terrible!)
-[Active action] They drank the wine. (They did something.)
-[Passive action] All of the wine was drink! (The wine was gone and all the wine bottles were empty.)
I understand using the language at the right time and the right place is so important but sometimes difficult unless you have a lot of contact with English speakers. Therefore, I am providing clear instructions for you to learn the appropriate situations for the passive.
Situation 1: 'who does it' is not important or unknown
How to grow grapes in vineyards is a good example because we do not need to know who works in the vineyard but learn what kind of work should be done.
S +Be +V3 +Adv
Ex. The grapevines are planted in late winter.
Ex. The grapevines are planted in early spring.
[V1:plant, V2:planted, V3:planted, V4:planting, V5:plants]
S +Be +V3 +Adv
Ex. The vines are watered consistently.
Ex. The vines are watered on a regular basis.
[V1:water, V2:watered, V3:watered, V4:watering, V5:waters]
S +Be +V3 +Adv
Ex. The vines are fed with a fertilizer.
Ex. The vines are fed in early spring.
[V1:feed, V2:fed, V3:fed, V4:feeding, V5:feeds]
S +Be +V3 +Adv
Ex. The vines are pruned with hands.
Ex. The vines are pruned in winter.
[V1:prune, V2:pruned, V3:pruned, V4:pruning, V5:prunes]
S +Be +V3 +Adv
Ex. Pesticides are applied accordingly.
Ex. Pesticides are applied when necessary.
[V1:apply, V2:applied, V3:applied, V4:applying, V5:applies]
S +Be +V3 +Adv
Ex. The grapes are harvested mechanically.
Ex. The grapes are harvested manually.
Ex. The grapes are harvested in fall.
[V1:harvest, V2:harvested, V3:harvested, V4:harvesting, V5:harvests]
Situation 2: you want to add new or important information about the subject
S +Be +V3 +Adv
Ex. Air for G Sring was composed by Bach.
(The topic or subject everyone is focusing on is the piece of music, 'Air for G String', and important info about the composer is added.)
[V1:compose, V2:composed, V3:composed, V4:composing, V5:composes]
S +Be +Adv +V3
Ex. The meeting is well organized.
(The focus or subject people are discussing is 'the meeting', and new info about the quality of the meeting is added to show it is a good meeting.)
[V1:organize, V2:organized, V3:organized, V4:organizing, V5:organizes]
CONTEXTS TO USE 'GET' IN THE PASSIVE
In the passive action, 'be' or 'get' can be used to connect the second verb (V3 form) and 'be' verbs are used more often. Then when is the right context in which 'get' should be chosen?
S +get +V3
Ex. My makeup will get ruined.
[V1:ruin, V2:ruined, V3:ruined, V4:ruining, V5:ruins]
S +get +V3
Ex. The house got burgled.
[V1:get, V2:got, V3:got/gotten, V4:getting, V5:gets] ('got' is used for something in the past)
[V1:burgle, V2:burgled, V3:burgled, V4:burgling, V5:burgles]
Context 2: when something is difficult or takes time/effort
S +get +V3
Ex. The politician will get elected.
(Politicians need to work hard during the campaign to win the elections!)
[V1:elect, V2:elected, V3:elected, V4:electing, V5:elects]
S +Adv +get +V3 +Adv
Ex. My brother finally got admitted to hospital.
(Some hospitals are so busy that patients have to try or wait for a long time to get a ward/room!)
[V1:admit, V2:admitted, V3:admitted, V4:admitting, V5:admits]
If you have a clear understanding of the passive in this lesson, the next topic on my blog will be easy for you!
You can review all the concepts with the pictures below and listen + speak all the sentences following my video until you are familiar with them because 'sound' is the key to learning a language. Soon you will be able to create your own English sentences naturally!
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