Grammar-Quizzes.com

Passive Diagnostic

Passive: a tool to help you identify specific points that need review

• Quiz 1: beginning – intermediate
• Quiz 2: intermediate – advanced 

Focus on Object

(beginning – intermed.) 

Focus on the Object: changing the object to the subject of the sentence

• word order
• verb form
• agreement

I was born in 1989.

Focus on Project

(intermed. – advanced) 

Focus on the Project: focusing on the collective work rather than the team

• word order
• verb form
• agreement

The human genome is being mapped by scientists.

By Phrases

By Phrases: deciding when to include the "agent"

• reasons for keeping a by-phrase
• identifying vs. nonidentifying information

Over 3.5 billion chemical letters were sequenced. (by ?)

Focus Ind Object

Indirect Objects as Subjects: placing emphasis on the receiver of the action

• switching focus to receiver of action
• direct objects vs. indirect objects
• list of verbs that take indirect objects

A speech was delivered to Congress by Barack Obama.

Congress was delivered a speech by Barack Obama.

Never Passive

Never Passive: intransitive and stative verbs with no passive voice

• intransitive  versus transitive verbs
• stative versus active verbs

The earthquake happened on April 3, 2009 in Italy.
The earthquake was happened on April 3, 2009 in Italy.

The baby weighed 7 lbs.
The baby was weighed 7 lbs.

Get-Passives

Get Passives: understanding the subtle meanings of using get in passive sentences

• get – misfortune
• get – accomplishment
• get – arrangement or completion
• get – action taken on something

I got hit!   (poor me)

I got an "A" on my test.    (earned, accomplished)

He got the job done!    (arranged and organized)

Part Adj 1 -ed / -ing

Participial Adjectives: describing someone or something as the cause or the receiver of an emotion

• cause    -ing ending
• receiver -ed ending

The act was entertaining.  (present participial adjective)
We were entertained. (past participial adjective)

 Part Adj 2 -ed / -ing

Participial Adjectives: describing things with adjectives indicating ongoing versus completed states

• ongoing process:      -ing ending
• completed process:  -ed ending

Located in Passive Practices

a roasting chicken - still cooking!  (present participial adjective)





a   roasted chicken - done! (past participial adjective)

 Partcpl Adj Quiz

Participial Adjective Quiz: auto-correcting quiz

• source:  -ing ending
• receiver: -ed ending
• ongoing process:  -ing ending
• completed process:  -ed ending

I was surprised to see how much the neighborhood had changed. (past participial adjective)
It was surprising to see how much the neighborhood had changed.  (present participial adjective)

We saw broken windows. (past participial adjective)
We heard breaking news. (present participial adjective)
 

Particpl & Prep

Particpl + Prep Prac

Participial Adjectives and Prepositions:  describing emtional reactions

• interested in
• shocked at
• amused with

President Bush is confused about the issue.

Particpl Phrases1

Participial Phrases 1: reducing clauses to modifying phrases

• passive verb – past participle phrase (-ed)

That + be deletion

The Golden Gate Bridge, [which was] designed by Joseph Stauss, ...
The Golden Gate Bridge, designed by Joseph Stauss, ...

Particpl Phrases2

Participial Phrases 2: reducing clauses to modifying phrases

• passive verb – past participle phrase (-ed)
• active verb –present participle phrase (-ing)

That + be deletion

Alcatraz Island [that was] known as "The Rock", was a maximum...
Alcatraz Island known as "The Rock", was a maximum...

Law enforcement agencies [who knew] about the isolation of Alcatraz ...
Law enforcement agencies knowing about the isolation of Alcatraz

Been / Being

Been / Being: contrast the sounds/words been and being

• been
• being

 These sounds can be played by the default media player in your browser.  (aif files)

We've been quiet.   (present perfect - active)

We're being quiet.   (present progressive - active)

We've been seen by Dr. Allen.   (present perfect - passive)

We 're being seen by Dr. Allen (present progressive - passive)

Passive in Context

Passive in Context: identifying passive sentences in the context of an article

Identify:

• passive phrases
• reduced clauses
• passive tenses

"Mapping the human genome has been compared with putting a man on the moon, ...

The medical benefits of genome science, scientists agree, must be used to benefit all people, not only a privileged few.