Learning English

Not being direct

Sometimes active verbs are not the best forms, even if they are grammatically correct.

You might seem to be too demanding or even rude. One way to avoid this potential problem is to use the passive. In our video Tim explains this point in more detail, with a little help from... Tim!

Watch the video and complete the activity

Summary

Using the passive can sound more polite because it is less direct. It means that you don't have to use a personal pronoun such as you. This is less personal and sounds less like an order, accusation or criticism.

• Have you done it? => Has it been done?
• You moved it! => It's been moved

We also use it to avoid mentioning another person's name.

• Peter told me to rearrange the meeting => I was told to rearrange the meeting

It's also useful when you don't want to emphasise your own responsibility for something.

• I dropped your phone => Your phone was dropped

To do

In the quiz you need to rearrange the words to make these sentences into passive versions:

1. You haven't done the washing-up.
2. I smashed a plate.
3. You didn't call me.
4. Elena told me you were leaving.
5. Why didn't you tell me?

End of session

Well done! That's the end of this session.

Thanks to the staff and students of International House London for their help with this feature.

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