Using passive voice

ugs.gif (980 bytes) Passive voice or be + adjective page 2 of 5

Three points on the continuum

Quirk et al in A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language recognise the following three points along the continuum from passive verb forms to be + adjective forms:

Central passives

This violin was made by my father.
Semi-passives

Leonard was interested in linguistics.
Pseudo-passives

The building is already demolished.

The following pages of this file consider each of these categories.

04conten.gif (549 bytes) Introduction
square.gif (58 bytes) Three points on the continuum
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Central passives
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Semi-passives
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Pseudo-passives