Using passive voice

Passive voice or be + adjective

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Central passives

Central passives have the following characteristics:

They can have agents following the preposition by:

For a minute I thought I was going to be kissed by that wild McAvan girl.
(Bank of English)

They can have an active version:

For a minute I thought that wild McAvan girl was going to kiss me.

The -ed/en form cannot be preceded by an adverb such as very:

For a minute I thought I was going to be very kissed by that wild McAvan girl.

The verb be cannot be replaced by another linking verb such as seem or become:

For a minute I thought I was going to seem kissed by that wild McAvan girl.

Introduction
Three points on the continuum
Central passives
Semi-passives
Pseudo-passives