Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verb Groups › Passive › Project as Subject
The Project as the Subject
Focus on the collective work
Intermediate – Advanced
Agent as Subject vs. Project as Subject
| AGENT AS SUBJECT (ACTIVE VOICE) |
|---|
Reporting information with active sentences is preferred whenever possible because the inclusion of the agent(s) is more personal; and the use of active verbs is more dynamic. However, sometimes there are too many agents to list and the collective work is the actual focus. |
Scientists are researching mRNA vaccines. |
Doctors expect this knowledge to lead to better vaccines. |
Virologists study the process of how mRNA vaccines teach our cells to make a protein. |
Patients experience fewer side effects when receiving mRNA vaccines. |
People avoid getting seriously ill, and more people survive. |
| PROJECT AS SUBJECT (PASSIVE VOICE) |
|---|
In science, business, and other collaborative fields, writers place the project in the subject position and the workers in a by phrase or a list at the end of the writing. This effectively shifts the focus to the interesting, important content and avoids repetition of the agent(s). |
MRNA vaccines are being researched. |
This knowledge is expected to lead to better vaccines. |
The process of how mRNA vaccines teach our cells to make a protein is being studied by virologists. |
Fewer side effects are experienced when receiving mRNA vaccines. |
Serious illness is avoided, and more people survive. |
"Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines." CDC, 4 Mar 2021. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mRNA.html
Also see Passive Context
RELATED GRAMMAR TERMS
Semantic roles: (meanings)
agent—the person or thing that takes action to do something. (He sang a song for them.. The wind blew the leaves.)
patient ("theme")—the person or thing that is affected by the action denoted by the predicate. The thing acted upon. (He sang a song for them..)
beneficiary—the person (or entity) that receives the benefit or enjoyment of the action. (He sang them a song. He sang a song for them.)
recipient—the person (or entity) that is the receiver or endpoint of the action. (He sang her a song. He sang a song to her. )
Functions: (uses)
direct object (DO) — (usually a noun phrase) the person or entity (thing, concept, etc.) that undergoes the action expressed by the predicate. (He sang a song.)
indirect object (IO) — (usually a noun phrase) the people or things that carry the semantic role (meaning) of goal (location), recipient (receiver), beneficiary of (one who receives the benefit of or enjoyment) an action or event. goal—The teacher sent the students home. [to]; recipient—The teacher gave Jason a book. [to]; beneficiary—The teacher saved Jason a book. [for]
Verbs types:
dynamic verb – a verb in which an action takes place (not a static verb or copula)
static verb – (stative verb) a verb that is not dynamic; no action takes place (e.g., be, seem, appear, etc.)
intransitive verb – a verb that does not take an object as its complement (and cannot be passive). (e.g., He lies down.)
transitive verb – a verb that takes an object as its complement. (e.g., He lay the baby down.)
The passive is used when:
- the receiver (object or indirect object) is the focus
- the agents are too many to list
- the agent is or agents are unknown
- the agent is not specific (everyone in general)
- the agent is secret / not being revealed / not wanting to be public
Active / Passive
Word Order
| ACTIVE | ||
|---|---|---|
To change focus, the speaker changes word order by leading with the object and sometimes the indirect object. |
||
| SUBJECT | PREDICATE | OBJECT |
| WORKERS | ACTIVE VERB | PROJECT |
| NP | VP | NP |
Everyone |
expected |
a cure. |
| PASSIVE | ||
|---|---|---|
The agent, the person or thing that causes the action, moves after the verb. The receiver, the person or thing affected by the action, moves before the verb. |
||
| SUBJECT | PREDICATE | OBJECT |
| PROJECT | PASSIVE VERB | WORKERS |
| NP | VP | NP |
 |
||
A cure |
is expected |
(by everyone). |
 |
||
cure (N) – a medicine or therapy to end a health problem
Passive
Agreement & Tense
| SINGULAR |
|---|
| PRESENT |
A cancer cure is discovered. |
| PRESENT PROGRESSIVE |
A cancer cure is being discovered. |
| PAST |
A cancer cure was discovered. |
| PAST PROGRESSIVE |
A cancer cure was being discovered. |
| PRESENT PERFECT |
A cancer cure has been discovered. |
| PAST PERFECT |
A cancer cure hadn't been discovered before then. |
| PLURAL |
|---|
| PRESENT |
Cancer treatments are discovered. |
| PRESENT PROGRESSIVE |
Cancer treatments are being discovered. |
| PAST |
Cancer treatments were discovered. |
| PAST PROGRESSIVE |
Cancer treatments were being discovered. |
| PRESENT PERFECT |
Cancer treatments have been discovered. |
| PAST PERFECT |
Cancer treatments hadn't been discovered before then. |
Also see Irregular Participle Practice
| ACTIVE | PASSIVE |
|---|---|
The present perfect progressive is a complex verb form with two auxiliaries. The passive form is too complex to use. It is simplified to the present progressive passive or the present perfect passive. |
When changing a present perfect progressive sentence to passive, the speaker or writer must decide if the activity is more at the moment (present progressive) or more related to the past (present perfect) |
Explorers have been mapping the land forms under the south pole.
(This complex word from is simplified to present perfect or present progressive.) |
*The land forms have been being mapped. The land forms have been mapped. have been being is just too complicated to use! The land forms are being mapped. |
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution
| ERROR |
|---|
A discovery was happened when they tried a new method. |
The change was lasted for just a few minutes. |
| SOLUTION |
|---|
A discovery happened when… |
The change lasted for just a few minutes. |
Practice 1
Gene Mapping Project
advanced
Read the Context
Completed in 2003, the Human Genome Project (HGP) was a 13-year project coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health.
During the early years of the Human Genome Project, the Wellcome Trust (U.K.) became a major partner; additional contributions came from Japan, France, Germany, China, and others.
Though the Human Genome Project is finished, analyses of the data will continue for many years. Human Genome Project
Project goals were to:
- identify all the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes in human DNA,
- determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA,
- store this information in databases,
- improve tools for data analysis,
- transfer related technologies to the private sector, and
- address the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the project.
analysis (N) – take apart and examine elements
gene therapy – is the use of DNA as a pharmaceutical agent to treat disease
benefits – aspects (things) that are favorable, good, advantageous
the human genome – the complete set of human genetic information, stored as DNA sequences within the 23 chromosome pairs of the cell nucleus
molecular biology – the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity
private sector – nongoverment funded research
Transform the sentence. Place the focus on the project.
- Edit the sentence in the textbox.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or "Check 1-10" button at the bottom.
Practice 2
How Will We Use this Precious Genetic Map?
Read for Errors
The issue of how we will use human genomics divides many people. Health insurance companies could refuse coverage of individuals with genetic illnesses. The U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust supported The Human Genome Project. Everyone expects this to revolutionize the practice of medicine. We must protect individual privacy as science moves forward with this project.
Researchers took a poll to find out if people wanted to know their genome. Sixty per cent of the people said that they want a doctor to inform them of their genetic "defects". Scientists are proposing rules that will govern the use of personal genomes. In the sequencing phase, researchers identified the approximately 3.5 billion chemical letters (A, C, G, T).
genetic defect – faulty genes, imperfect genes
genome – the complete set of human genetic information, stored as DNA sequences within the 23 chromosome pairs of the cell nucleus
issue – subject of disagreement
poll (N) – a sampling or a collection of opinions; (V) to collect opinions
refuse coverage – will not insure, include as an insured item
revolutionize – bring about radical change
Determine which word can complete the sentence.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or "Check 12-20" button at the bottom.