When to use it · by or not? · Was it…? It wasn't… · I was given… · It was called off
Building on A2
You know the form — now choose it well
At A2 you learned is made and was built. At B1 you decide when the passive is the better choice, and use it in questions, and negatives, and with two-object and phrasal verbs.
My car was stolen last night.
We don't know who did it.
Why use the passive?
Three good reasons
the doer is unknown
My wallet was taken.
the doer is obvious
He was arrested. (by the police, of course)
the thing is the topic
This museum was opened in 1990. It has 300 paintings.
If the doer is important, use the active: Picasso painted it.
by — or not?
Only when the doer is new or important
The park was designed by a famous architect.
Useful information → keep by.
The road is cleaned every day.
by people / by someone adds nothing → leave it out.
Questions and negatives
Move be — the participle stays
?
Was the window broken? · Are credit cards accepted?
wh-
When was it built? · Where are they made?
–
The tickets weren't sold. · Dogs aren't allowed.
Two objects · phrasal verbs
I was given… · It was called off
Someone gave me a present. → I was given a present.
The person usually becomes the subject.
They sent her a message. → She was sent a message.
The match was called off because of rain.
Phrasal verb: the particle stays with the verb.
The children are looked after by their grandparents.