1.1. The 'Big Five' can be found here
Reflexión
These are the passive sentences with modal verbs found in the text in the previous section:
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| By Arno & Louise, C. Commons |
1. A great variety of animals can be contemplated here.
2. Some hippos might be found too.
3. Animals can't be fed.
4. Packed meals would be prepared.
5. A lion can be seen while it is devouring a zebra.
How is this passive voice formed?
Solved exercise
Let's watch the following video to see again how the passive voice with modal verbs is formed, and to remember that sentences with two objects can be transformed into two different passive sentences:
| ACTIVE | You can give money to them. |
| PASSIVE 1 |
They can be given money. |
| PASSIVE 2 |
Money can be given to them. |
Which of the two passive sentences is normally preferred?
AV - Actividad de Espacios en Blanco
1. Hunters gave the name 'Big Five' many years ago.
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2. People can visit the park on foot or on a camel too.
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3. Paco and the other tourists will take a lot of photos.
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4. You must apply insect repellent if you are outdoors at night.
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5. You don't have to book the safari a week in advance.
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6. The tourists might see a hippo.
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Important
As you already studied in topic 3 and revised in topic 5, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject in the passive. Therefore, only sentences with transitive verbs (requiring one or more objects) can be transformed into the passive form.
However, NOT ALL sentences with objects can be made passive. There are a few exceptions. For example:
- Verb 'have': Paco has a new camera. (*A camera is had by Paco)
- Verb 'resemble': Paco resembles his father. (*His father is resembled by Paco)
- Verbs with a reflexive pronoun as object: The little boy dressed himself. (*He was dressed by himself)
Further knowledge
Do the following exercises to practice the passive voice with modal verbs:
| Exercise 1 |
Exercise 2 |
Exercise 3 |
After doing these exercises, note the following sentences:
- He was shot with a gun.
- Jacuzzi was included in the price.
- The watch was made of steel.
As you know, when the agent is mentioned, it is preceded by the preposition 'by'. But, as you have just seen in the previous sentences, there are other prepositions that can appear in passive sentences.