Passive voice (Trpný rod)

The active voice: My grandfather (subject) planted (T – transitive) this tree (object).

The passive voice: This tree (subject) was planted (T – transitive) by my grandfather (agent).

→ Transitive verbs are followed by a direct object. (in the accusative case – 4.p.)

– write a letter, read a book … trans.verbs

× to like, to have – nelze vytvořit trpnou větu

→ Intransitive verbs have no object (happen) or have an indirect object ( in the dative case- 3.p.) – to belong sb. – The car belongs to my sister.

If a verb is followed by a preposition, the preposition stays with it in the passive sentence:

E.g. rely on

•       They relied on him. = He was relied on.
•       They laughed at her. = She was laughed at.

Verb + 2 objects:

They handed        me          a note.

obj.ind.     obj.dir.

→ A note was handed to me.

→ I was handed a note.

Agent or no agent:

– it is not always necessary to include the agent in the passive sentence

a. Someone has stolen my bicycle. = My bicycle has been stolen. – There is no point in adding „by

someone“, because the agent is unknown

b. He was arrested. = by police, detective – The agent is obvious

He was dismissed. = by his employer

c. They opened the door with the screwdriver. = The door was opened with a screwdriver. (by them)

= the instrument is more important than the agent

Compare:

•       He was hit with a branch. = someone hit him with (-implies presence of a person) a branch .
•       He was hit by a branch. = a branch hit him
•       Miniskirts are worn again. = a generalised agent

You use the passive with „reporting verbs“:

– say, expect, report, suppose, believe, understand, know… = to avoid impersonal subject „they“ or „people“

e.g. People say(reporting verb) he is rich. = He is said to be rich.

HAVE STG. DONE

a. we speak about services done for us by someone else

•       We are having the bathroom painted. = Právě nám malují koupelnu.
•       We have had new tiles put on the roof.
•       Where did you have your hair cut?

b. The King had his head cut off. = we also speak about misfortune which happened to us caused by an unspecified person

I have had my bike stolen.

!!!   He had his old dog shot. – Zastřelili mu starého psa. i Nechal zastřelit starého psa.

GET STG. DONE

1. expresses urgency: I must get my car serviced.
2. In the end we got the wall painted. = we managed to do this ourselves !!!
3. the imperative (rozkaz) : Get vaccinated before going abroad.

Make, let, hear, see, (help):

• – active voice: They made him leave.
• – passive voice: He was made to leave.

They let him leave. × He was allowed to leave.

ACTIVE VERBS WITH PASSIVE MEANING:

• The book reads well. Ta kniha se dobře čte.
• The new Ford is selling badly.
• There is a lot to see / to be seen.
  • × There is nothing to do. = I am bored.)
  •    There is nothing to be done. = no way of putting it right – už se to nedá napravit
• – want, need, require:
  • The shirt needs washing / to be washed.

THE PASSIVE IS USED:

a. when we want to focus on the action rather than the agent:

J.F.Kennedy assassinated in 1963.

b. for style reasons:

When he came home, a detective arrested him.

he was arrested.= pouze 1 podmět- the same subjects are preferred

c. in scientific report:

The air is separated into hydrogen, oxygen…

d. you want to avoid naming a specific person:

It´s been decided to reduce all salaries by 10 per cent.

• A new shop was opened / has been opened.
• There was a new shop opened.
• New houses were /are built.
• There are new houses being built.