Never Passive
Intransitive Verbs With No Passive Form
If an object is not used with a verb, then the verb cannot be made passive.
Intransitive vs. Transitive Verbs
| INTRANSITIVE VERB | TRANSITIVE VERB |
|---|---|
An intransitive verb is an action that happens by itself. The verb is not used with an object; therefore, no passive form can be used. |
A transitive verb is an action that someone or something does to something or someone. The verb is used with an object. A passive form can be used. |
The earthquake happened on April 6, 2009 in Italy. |
The earthquake killed hundreds of people. |
The earthquake was
happened on April 6, 2009 in Italy. |
Hundreds of people were killed by the earthquake. |
Other intransitive verb contrasts: lie-lay sit-set rise-raise
Some Intransitive Verbs
These verbs do not occur with objects; therefore, they cannot be used in the passive voice.
agree |
collapse |
emerge |
laugh |
occur |
sit |
appear |
collide |
fall |
lie |
remain |
stand |
arrived |
consist of |
go |
live |
resemble |
swim |
awake |
cost |
happen |
look |
rise |
wait |
become |
disappear |
have* |
last (endure) |
sleep |
vanish |
belong |
die |
|
|
|
*Except: I was had. (slang) – someone took advantage of me.
Other Intransitive Verbs
Stative Verbs (States of Being)
Stative Verbs with No Passive Form
| E.G. | INTRANSITIVE VERB | TRANSITIVE VERB |
|---|---|---|
|
A stative verb cannot be made into a passive sentence. |
An active verb with an object can be transformed into a passive sentence. |
weigh (has two meanings) |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Active |
Arnold weighs 250 lbs. (stative) |
The doctor weighed the baby. (active verb + has an object) |
Passive |
(no passive possible) |
The baby was weighed by the doctor. |
(Do not confuse the stative verbs with their "active" forms. See stative verbs.)
Some Stative Verbs
Most stative verbs do not take passive form.
| MENTAL STATES | EMOTIONAL STATES | STATES OF POSSESSION | SENSE PERCEPTIONS | OTHER STATES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
know / think / believe |
love (can be passive) |
have |
taste |
seem / appear / look |
want / need / desire |
like (can be passive) |
belong |
smell |
resemble / look like |
feel / suppose / imagine |
appreciate (can be passive) |
own |
hear |
cost / owe / weigh / equal |
understand / recognize |
prefer (can be passive) |
possess |
see |
be / exist / matter |
forget / remember |
fear (can be passive) |
|
smell |
consist of / contain / include |
Also see Stative Verbs (especially note the contrast of passive and active states for some verbs)
Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
*The accident was
happened a week ago. |
The accident happened a week ago. |
*My
mother bore me in 1981. |
I was born in 1981. |
*The College of San Mateo locates on a hilltop. |
The College of San Mateo is located on a hilltop. (exists) |
Practice
Earthquake
Select the word that best complete the sentence.
- Select your responses from the pull-down menus.
- Afterwards, compare your responses to the feedback by clicking the check buttons.



