Using passive voice
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Passive voice with linking verbs | page 2 of 6 |
Two types of linking clauses
Clauses in which two noun groups 
are linked by means of a linking verb fall
into two broad classes: those where the noun groups can be reversed (where the
relationship between the two noun groups can be glossed as "equals") and those
where the noun groups cannot be reversed (where the second noun group adds descriptive
information). With most linking verbs when you reverse the two noun groups, you need to
change to passive voice:
"x" symbolises the unknown quantity. (Maths Lesson)
The unknown quantity is symbolised by "x".
Those which cannot be reversed can of course not be passivised:
George Grey remains an unknown quantity. (Bank of English)
An unknown quantity is remained by George Grey.
Linking clauses which can be reversed are known as identifying
clauses ; linking clauses which
cannot be reversed are known as descriptive clauses . The rest of this file will consider
the use of passive voice in identifying clauses.
For further information about linking verbs, see 
Representing
being and having: Using linking verbs.
Two types of linking clauses
