Passive 3 | Unit 44 | PrepMyEnglish

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Unit 44 — Passive 3

Unit 44 · Grammar Lesson

Unité 44 · Leçon de Grammaire

Passive 3
Two Objects · I don't like being … · I was born · Get passives — Complete Guide Passif 3
Deux Compléments · I don't like being … · I was born · Passif avec Get — Guide Complet

Master verbs with two objects in the passive (I was offered, you will be given…), the being done passive gerund, I was born, and the informal get passive

Maîtrisez les verbes à deux compléments au passif (I was offered, you will be given…), le gérondif passif being done, I was born, et le passif avec get (style informel)

B1 – B2 4 Rules · 4 Exercises · 200-Q Quiz · PDF 4 Règles · 4 Exercices · Quiz 200 Q · PDF 🇬🇧 EN / 🇫🇷 FR

This unit covers four special passive structures: verbs that take two objects (ask, give, offer, pay, show, tell), the passive gerund (being done), the fixed expression I was born, and the informal get passive (got hurt, get invited).

Cette unité couvre quatre structures passives particulières : les verbes à deux compléments (ask, give, offer, pay, show, tell), le gérondif passif (being done), l'expression figée I was born, et le passif avec get (style informel) (got hurt, get invited).

I was offered … / We were given … — Verbs with Two Objects

I was offered … / We were given … — Verbes à deux compléments

Some verbs can have two objects. For example, give: My grandfather gave me this watch. (object 1 = me, object 2 = this watch). It is possible to make two passive sentences:

Certains verbes peuvent avoir deux compléments. Par exemple, give : My grandfather gave me this watch. (complément 1 = me, complément 2 = this watch). Il est possible de former deux phrases passives :

Active: My grandfather gave me this watch.
Passive 1: I was given this watch (by my grandfather). — begins with the person
Passive 2: This watch was given to me (by my grandfather). — begins with the thing

Other verbs which can have two objects (and be used the same way):

Autres verbes pouvant avoir deux compléments (et s'utiliser de la même façon) :

ask offer pay show tell give

When we use these verbs in the passive, we most often begin with the person:

Quand on utilise ces verbes au passif, on commence le plus souvent par la personne :

I've been offered the job, but I don't think I want it.

→ somebody has offered me the job (person first)

→ quelqu'un m'a proposé le travail (la personne d'abord)

You will be given plenty of time to decide.

→ we will give you plenty of time (person first)

→ nous vous donnerons beaucoup de temps (la personne d'abord)

I didn't see the original document, but I was shown a copy.

→ somebody showed me a copy (person first)

→ quelqu'un m'a montré une copie (la personne d'abord)

Tim has an easy job — he's paid a lot of money to do very little.

→ somebody pays him a lot (person first)

→ quelqu'un lui paie beaucoup (la personne d'abord)

Person as subject (most common)

La personne en sujet (le plus courant)

I / you / he / she… + passive verb + thing

I / you / he / she… + verbe passif + chose

I was given this watch.

I've been offered the job.

We were told the news.

She was asked a difficult question.

Thing as subject (less common)

La chose en sujet (moins courant)

thing + passive verb + to + person

chose + verbe passif + to + personne

This watch was given to me.

The job has been offered to me.

The news was told to us.

A difficult question was asked of her.

I don't like being … — The Passive Gerund

I don't like being … — Le gérondif passif

The passive of doing/seeing etc. is being done / being seen etc. We use it after verbs and prepositions that require the -ing form.

Le passif de doing/seeing etc. est being done / being seen etc. On l'utilise après les verbes et prépositions qui requièrent la forme en -ing.

Active -ing: I don't like people telling me what to do.
Passive -ing: I don't like being told what to do.

I remember being taken to the zoo when I was a child.

= I remember somebody taking me to the zoo

= je me souviens que quelqu'un m'a emmené au zoo

Steve hates being kept waiting.

= he hates people keeping him waiting

= il déteste que les gens le fassent attendre

We climbed over the wall without being seen.

= without anybody seeing us

= sans que personne nous voie

I like giving presents and I also like being given them.

= I like people giving me presents

= j'aime que les gens me fassent des cadeaux

💡

Key pattern:Schéma clé : Use being + past participle after verbs like like, love, hate, enjoy, mind, remember, avoid, prefer and after prepositions: without being seen, afraid of being hit, used to being told. Utilisez being + participe passé après les verbes comme like, love, hate, enjoy, mind, remember, avoid, prefer et après des prépositions : without being seen, afraid of being hit, used to being told.

I was born …

We say 'I was born …' (past simple passive) — not 'I am born' — when talking about our own birth or someone's birth in the past.

On dit 'I was born …' (passif au passé simple) — et non 'I am born' — quand on parle de sa propre naissance ou de la naissance de quelqu'un dans le passé.

I was born in Chicago.

→ past simple passive — talking about my own birth ✓

→ passif au passé simple — on parle de sa propre naissance ✓

Where were you born?

→ NOT 'Where are you born?' ✗

→ PAS 'Where are you born?' ✗

How many babies are born every day?

→ present simple passive — general fact about babies now ✓

→ passif au présent simple — fait général sur les bébés actuellement ✓

⚠️

Common mistake:Erreur courante : ✗ Where are you born? → ✓ Where were you born? · ✗ I am born in London. → ✓ I was born in London. When referring to a specific birth event in the past, always use the past form was/were born. ✗ Where are you born? → ✓ Where were you born? · ✗ I am born in London. → ✓ I was born in London. Pour désigner un événement de naissance passé précis, utilisez toujours la forme passée was/were born.

Get — Informal Passive

Get — Passif informel

You can use get instead of be in the passive. We use get only when things happen (events, changes of state). We do NOT use get for states.

On peut utiliser get à la place de be au passif. On utilise get uniquement quand des choses arrivent (événements, changements d'état). On n'utilise PAS get pour les états.

get + past participle (informal, events only)
Nobody got hurt. = Nobody was hurt.
I don't get invited to many parties. = I'm not invited.
Liz didn't get offered the job. = Liz wasn't offered the job.

We do NOT use get for states (no event/happening):

On n'utilise PAS get pour les états (pas d'événement) :

Jessica is liked by everybody. ✓ ✗ gets liked

→ 'liked' is a state, not a happening — cannot use get

→ 'liked' est un état, pas un événement — on ne peut pas utiliser get

Very little was known about him. ✓ ✗ got known

→ 'known' is a state, not a happening — cannot use get

→ 'known' est un état, pas un événement — on ne peut pas utiliser get

📌

Get expressions (not passive in meaning):Expressions avec get (pas passives dans le sens) : These fixed expressions use get but are not true passives — they describe reflexive actions: get married / get divorced · get dressed (= put on clothes) · get lost (= not know where you are) · get changed (= change your clothes). Ces expressions figées utilisent get mais ne sont pas de vrais passifs — elles décrivent des actions réflexives : get married / get divorced · get dressed (= s'habiller) · get lost (= se perdre) · get changed (= se changer).

get married / divorcedget married / divorcedse marier / divorcerse marier / divorcer

get dressedget dressed= put on your clothes= s'habiller

get lostget lost= not know where you are= se perdre

get changedget changed= change your clothes= se changer

EX 1

Exercise 1 — Complete using the correct passive form of the verb in brackets

Exercice 1 — Complétez en utilisant la bonne forme passive du verbe entre parenthèses

Verbs with two objects: ask · give · offer · pay · show · tell

Verbes à deux compléments : ask · give · offer · pay · show · tell

I called his office but I that he was in a meeting.I called his office but I that he was in a meeting.

Amy retired recently. She a present by her colleagues.Amy retired recently. She a present by her colleagues.

I didn't know there was a meeting yesterday. I about it.I didn't know there was a meeting yesterday. I about it.

Sarah's salary is very low. I don't understand why she so little.Sarah's salary is very low. I don't understand why she so little.

You will need to use this machine. Have you how it works?You will need to use this machine. Have you how it works?

I had an interview recently. It wasn't easy. I some questions that were very hard to answer.I had an interview recently. It wasn't easy. I some questions that were very hard to answer.

They didn't tell us much about the project. We enough information.They didn't tell us much about the project. We enough information.

I was surprised to get the job. I didn't expect it.I was surprised to get the job. I didn't expect it.

Answers:Réponses : 1. was told · 2. was given · 3. wasn't told · 4. is paid · 5. been shown · 6. was asked · 7. weren't given · 8. to be offered

EX 2

Exercise 2 — Complete using being + the correct verb

Exercice 2 — Complétez avec being + le bon verbe

Use: bite · give · invite · keep · knock down · stick · treat

Utilisez : bite · give · invite · keep · knock down · stick · treat

Verb box:Boîte de verbes : bite · give · invite · keep · knock down · stick · treat

Steve hates waiting.Steve hates waiting.

We went to the wedding without .We went to the wedding without .

I like giving presents and I also like them.I like giving presents and I also like them.

It's a busy road and I don't like crossing it. I'm afraid of .It's a busy road and I don't like crossing it. I'm afraid of .

How do you avoid by mosquitoes?How do you avoid by mosquitoes?

I'm an adult. I don't like like a child.I'm an adult. I don't like like a child.

You can't do anything about in a traffic jam.You can't do anything about in a traffic jam.

Answers:Réponses : 1. being kept · 2. being invited · 3. being given · 4. being knocked down · 5. being bitten · 6. being treated · 7. being stuck

EX 3

Exercise 3 — Complete using get / got + the correct verb

Exercice 3 — Complétez avec get / got + le bon verbe

Use: ask · break · hurt · pay · steal · sting · stop · use

Utilisez : ask · break · hurt · pay · steal · sting · stop · use

Verb box:Boîte de verbes : ask · break · hurt · pay · steal · sting · stop · use

There was a fight, but nobody .There was a fight, but nobody .

Alex by a bee while he was sitting in the garden.Alex by a bee while he was sitting in the garden.

These tennis courts don't very often. Not many people want to play here.These tennis courts don't very often. Not many people want to play here.

I used to have a bike, but it a few months ago.I used to have a bike, but it a few months ago.

Rachel works hard, but she doesn't very much.Rachel works hard, but she doesn't very much.

Please pack these things carefully. I don't want anything to .Please pack these things carefully. I don't want anything to .

People often want to know what my job is. I that question a lot.People often want to know what my job is. I that question a lot.

Last night I by the police as I was driving home.Last night I by the police as I was driving home.

Answers:Réponses : 1. got hurt · 2. got stung · 3. get used · 4. got stolen · 5. get paid · 6. get broken · 7. get asked · 8. got stopped

🎯

Exercise 4 — Mixed: complete each sentence with the correct form

Exercice 4 — Mixte : complétez chaque phrase avec la bonne forme

Choose from: passive forms · being + pp · was/were born · get/got + pp

Choisissez parmi : formes passives · being + pp · was/were born · get/got + pp

I've been the job, but I don't think I'll accept it.I've been the job, but I don't think I'll accept it.

I get invited to many parties.I get invited to many parties.

Which year you born in?Which year you born in?

I haven't been any information yet.I haven't been any information yet.

I didn't know the way, so I got .I didn't know the way, so I got .

He doesn't like being when he's speaking.He doesn't like being when he's speaking.

How did the window get ? What happened?How did the window get ? What happened?

She's a voluntary worker. She doesn't paid.She's a voluntary worker. She doesn't paid.

I born in a small town in the north of the country.I born in a small town in the north of the country.

10.

We had to do what we did. We weren't any choice.We had to do what we did. We weren't any choice.

Answers:Réponses : 1. offered · 2. don't · 3. were · 4. given · 5. lost · 6. interrupted · 7. broken · 8. get paid · 9. was · 10. given

Frequently Asked Questions — Passive 3

Questions fréquentes — Passif 3

Why does "I was offered the job" begin with 'I' and not 'the job'?Pourquoi "I was offered the job" commence-t-il par 'I' et non 'the job' ?

When a verb has two objects (e.g. offered me the job), we can make a passive starting with either object. In English, it is much more natural to begin the passive sentence with the person (indirect object): I was offered the job. Beginning with the thing is grammatically possible but less natural: The job was offered to me. Note the preposition to is needed when the thing is the subject.

Quand un verbe a deux compléments (ex. offered me the job), on peut former un passif à partir de l'un ou l'autre. En anglais, il est bien plus naturel de commencer la phrase passive par la personne (complément d'objet indirect) : I was offered the job. Commencer par la chose est grammaticalement possible mais moins naturel : The job was offered to me. Notez que la préposition to est nécessaire quand la chose est sujet.

What is the difference between "I don't like being told" and "I don't like people telling me"?Quelle est la différence entre "I don't like being told" et "I don't like people telling me" ?

They mean the same thing. I don't like people telling me what to do. (active -ing: people is the agent) and I don't like being told what to do. (passive -ing: I am the receiver). The passive -ing form is often more natural when the agent is unknown, unimportant, or 'people in general'. It follows the same rule as the regular passive.

Elles ont le même sens. I don't like people telling me what to do. (forme en -ing active : people est l'agent) et I don't like being told what to do. (forme en -ing passive : je suis le destinataire). La forme en -ing passive est souvent plus naturelle quand l'agent est inconnu, sans importance ou représente 'les gens en général'.

Why do we say "I was born" but "babies are born every day"?Pourquoi dit-on "I was born" mais "babies are born every day" ?

It depends on the time reference. When you talk about your own birth (a specific past event), use the past simple: I was born in 1990. Where were you born? When talking about birth as a general ongoing process (right now, every day), use the present simple: How many babies are born every day? The common mistake is using 'am born' for a personal birth — always use 'was/were born' for that.

Cela dépend de la référence temporelle. Quand on parle de sa propre naissance (un événement passé précis), on utilise le passé simple : I was born in 1990. Where were you born? Quand on parle de la naissance comme processus général en cours (en ce moment, chaque jour), on utilise le présent simple : How many babies are born every day? L'erreur courante est d'utiliser 'am born' pour sa naissance personnelle — on dit toujours 'was/were born'.

When can I use "get" instead of "be" in the passive?Quand peut-on utiliser "get" à la place de "be" au passif ?

Use get only when something happens — an event or a change of state. Nobody got hurt. My bike got stolen. She got offered the job. Do NOT use get for states (things that are simply true without any event): ✗ Jessica gets liked by everybody. (no event) ✓ Jessica is liked by everybody. Also, get is mainly informal/spoken. Be is always correct in both formal and informal contexts.

Utilisez get uniquement quand quelque chose arrive — un événement ou un changement d'état. Nobody got hurt. My bike got stolen. She got offered the job. N'utilisez PAS get pour les états (choses simplement vraies sans événement) : ✗ Jessica gets liked by everybody. (pas d'événement) ✓ Jessica is liked by everybody. De plus, get est principalement informel/oral. Be est toujours correct dans les contextes formels et informels.

Are "get married", "get lost" and "get dressed" passive?"Get married", "get lost" et "get dressed" sont-ils des passifs ?

No — these fixed expressions use get + past participle in form but are not passive in meaning. They describe actions you do yourself (reflexive): get dressed = put on your clothes (you dress yourself); get lost = lose your way (not be lost by someone); get married = marry someone. These expressions cannot be replaced by be + past participle with the same meaning.

Non — ces expressions figées utilisent get + participe passé dans la forme mais ne sont pas passives dans le sens. Elles décrivent des actions que vous faites vous-même (réflexives) : get dressed = s'habiller (vous vous habillez) ; get lost = se perdre (pas être perdu par quelqu'un) ; get married = se marier. Ces expressions ne peuvent pas être remplacées par be + participe passé avec le même sens.

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Passive 3 Quiz

Quiz — Passif 3

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Passive 3
Two Objects · I don't like being … · I was born · Get passives — Complete Guide Passif 3
Deux Compléments · I don't like being … · I was born · Passif avec Get — Guide Complet

I was offered … / We were given … — Verbs with Two Objects

I was offered … / We were given … — Verbes à deux compléments

Person as subject (most common)

La personne en sujet (le plus courant)

Thing as subject (less common)

La chose en sujet (moins courant)

I don't like being … — The Passive Gerund

I don't like being … — Le gérondif passif

I was born …

I was born …

Get — Informal Passive

Get — Passif informel

Passive 3 — Exercises with AnswersPassif 3 — Exercices avec Corrigé

Exercise 1 — Complete using the correct passive form of the verb in brackets

Exercice 1 — Complétez en utilisant la bonne forme passive du verbe entre parenthèses

Exercise 2 — Complete using being + the correct verb

Exercice 2 — Complétez avec being + le bon verbe

Exercise 3 — Complete using get / got + the correct verb

Exercice 3 — Complétez avec get / got + le bon verbe

Exercise 4 — Mixed: complete each sentence with the correct form

Exercice 4 — Mixte : complétez chaque phrase avec la bonne forme

Frequently Asked Questions — Passive 3

Questions fréquentes — Passif 3

Passive 3 — Quiz

Passif 3 — Quiz

⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres du Quiz

Passive 3 Quiz

Quiz — Passif 3

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Evènements

Passive 3Two Objects · I don't like being … · I was born · Get passives — Complete Guide Passif 3Deux Compléments · I don't like being … · I was born · Passif avec Get — Guide Complet

I was offered … / We were given … — Verbs with Two Objects

I was offered … / We were given … — Verbes à deux compléments

Person as subject (most common)

La personne en sujet (le plus courant)

Thing as subject (less common)

La chose en sujet (moins courant)

I don't like being … — The Passive Gerund

I don't like being … — Le gérondif passif

I was born …

I was born …

Get — Informal Passive

Get — Passif informel

Passive 3 — Exercises with AnswersPassif 3 — Exercices avec Corrigé

Exercise 1 — Complete using the correct passive form of the verb in brackets

Exercice 1 — Complétez en utilisant la bonne forme passive du verbe entre parenthèses

Exercise 2 — Complete using being + the correct verb

Exercice 2 — Complétez avec being + le bon verbe

Exercise 3 — Complete using get / got + the correct verb

Exercice 3 — Complétez avec get / got + le bon verbe

Exercise 4 — Mixed: complete each sentence with the correct form

Exercice 4 — Mixte : complétez chaque phrase avec la bonne forme

Frequently Asked Questions — Passive 3

Questions fréquentes — Passif 3

Passive 3 — Quiz

Passif 3 — Quiz

⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres du Quiz

Passive 3 Quiz

Quiz — Passif 3

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Passive 3
Two Objects · I don't like being … · I was born · Get passives — Complete Guide Passif 3
Deux Compléments · I don't like being … · I was born · Passif avec Get — Guide Complet