Using passive voice

ugs.gif (980 bytes) Passive voice with possession verbs page 1 of 3

Introduction

Coursebooks and school grammar books tend to exemplify the use of passive voice mainly with verbs which represent actions :

This restaurant was built in 1958.

Is your classroom cleaned every day?

However, passive voice can also be used with other kinds of verbs, including some verbs that represent various kinds of "having", such as have, own, and compose, which may be referred to as possession verbs. This file deals with the use of passive voice with such possession verbs.

For information about use of passive voice with other kinds of verbs, see 04conten.gif (549 bytes) Using passive voice: Passive voice with linking verbs and 04conten.gif (549 bytes) Using passive voice: Passive voice with attitude verbs and 04conten.gif (549 bytes) Using passive voice: Passive voice with thinking and saying verbs.

You may either read through this file page by page or jump to a specific page by clicking on one of the choices below.

square.gif (58 bytes) Introduction
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Have, own and possess
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Part-whole relationships