Index
The complex passive form: structure and advanced uses
The passive form complex is used to express actions passate, necessity or possibility throughso an order of words that highlights the object (i.e. Who suffers the action).
La passiva con i verbi modali
When using a verb modal (as can, must, should, may, might, etc.), the passive form follows this one structure:
Subject + Modal + be + Past Participle
This structure is used to express duty, necessity, possibility or chance of an action in this or in the future.
| Verb modale | Form active | Passive form | Significato |
|---|---|---|---|
Must (Duty) | You must finish the work. | The work must be finished. | The work must essere finished. |
Can (Possibility) | She can solve the problem. | The problem can be solved. | The problem can essere risolto. |
Should (Advise) | We should clean the kitchen. | The kitchen should be cleaned. | The kitchen shouldbe essere clean. |
May (Permitso/Prob.) | They may publish the report. | The report may be published. | The report couldbe essere publiccato. |
La passiva con i tempi composti
The passive can essere applicata a qualsiasi tempo composto (tempi Perfect e tempi Continuous) semplicemente aggiungendo il past participle of verb to be, which is been or form ing, being.
Passiva del Present Perfect
Used for completeate actions in the past that have an effect on this.
Subject + have/has + been + Past Participle
| Form active | Passive form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
Someone has stolen my wallet. | My wallet has been stolen. | My wallet it was stolen. |
They haven't finished the job yet. | The job hasn't been finished yet. | The work it hasn't been finished yet. |
Passiva del Past Perfect
Used for actions completedate before another past event.
Subject + had + been + Past Participle
| Form active | Passive form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
I realized someone had moved my car. | I realized my car had been moved. | I realized that my car had been moved. |
Passiva dei tempi continuous
Used for actions in corso (Present Continuous or Past Continuous). It adds being between to be and the Past Participle.
| Time | Structure passive | Esempio passiva | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Continuous | is/are+being+PP | The house is being renovated. | The house it is under renovation. |
| Past Continuous | was/were+being+PP | The bridge was being repaired. | The bridge it was under repair. |
La passiva con i verbi modali al passato (perfect modals)
Questa è la structure più avanzata e si usa per fare ipotesi, esprimere critiche o rammarico su azioni passate che non si sa (o non si vuole dire) chi le abbia compiute.
Soggetto + is/are + being + Past Participle
| Modale perfetto | Form attiva (Deduzione) | Passive form (Deduzione) | Significato |
|---|---|---|---|
Must have been | Someone must have built this castle 500 years ago. | This castle must have been built 500 years ago. | Questo castello must essere stato costruito 500 anni fa. |
Should have been | They should have delivered the package yesterday. | The package should have been delivered yesterday. | Il pacco avrebbe dovuto essere consegnato ieri (ma non lo è stato). |
Might have been | Perhaps the fire started by an accident. | The fire might have been started by an accident. | L’incendio couldbe essere stato causato da un incidente. |
La passiva con verbi a doppio oggetto (double object verbs)
Alcuni verbs, as give, offer, tell, send, award, possono avere due oggetti nella phrase attiva:
- Oggetto indiretto (la persona).
- Oggetto diretto (la cosa).
In questo caso, si può costruire la passiva usando entrambi gli oggetti as nuovo soggetto. Tuttavia, l’uso della persona as soggetto è molto più comune e naturale.
| Form active | Passiva con oggetto diretto (La cosa) | Passiva con oggetto indiretto (La persona) |
|---|---|---|
The company gave her a raise.(L’azienda le ha dato un aumento.) | A raise was given to her by the company. | She was given a raise by the company. |
Regola: La form più comune e fluente è:
Soggetto + was/were + being + Past Participle
Example: I was told the secret. (Mi è stato detto il segreto.)
Riepilogo strutture passive complesse
| Tipo di passiva | Structure formula | Esempio chiave |
|---|---|---|
| Modale semplice | Modal + be + Past Participle | The letter must be sent. |
| Present Perfect | have/Has + been + Past Participle | The door has been locked. |
| Continuous | is/are/was/were + being + Past Participle | Dinner is being prepared. |
| Modale perfetto | Modal + have been + Past Participle | The meeting should have been cancelled. |