The passive infinitive, though often overlooked, is a crucial element of English grammar that enhances precision and formality in writing and speech. Understanding its structure and usage allows you to express actions where the subject is acted upon, rather than performing the action.
This comprehensive guide is designed for English language learners of all levels, from intermediate to advanced, who seek to refine their grammatical skills and achieve greater fluency. By mastering the passive infinitive, you’ll be able to construct more sophisticated sentences and convey meaning with increased clarity and nuance.
Whether you’re preparing for an English proficiency exam, writing academic papers, or simply aiming to improve your overall communication skills, this article will provide you with the knowledge and practice you need.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of the Passive Infinitive
- Structural Breakdown
- Uses of the Passive Infinitive
- Examples of Passive Infinitive Usage
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of the Passive Infinitive
The passive infinitive is a form of the verb that combines the infinitive form (to + base verb) with the passive voice. It indicates that the subject of the verb is receiving the action, rather than performing it. The basic structure of the passive infinitive is to be + past participle. This grammatical structure allows us to shift the focus of a sentence from the actor to the recipient of the action.
In essence, the passive infinitive allows us to express an action that is contemplated, desired, or necessary to be done to something or someone, rather than by them. Recognizing and correctly using the passive infinitive is essential for constructing grammatically sound and stylistically varied sentences. While the active infinitive focuses on the subject performing the action (e.g., to write), the passive infinitive emphasizes the subject receiving the action (e.g., to be written).
The passive infinitive is particularly useful in formal writing, academic contexts, and situations where the actor is unknown, unimportant, or obvious. It allows for a more objective and impersonal tone, which can be crucial in certain types of communication.
Understanding the nuances of the passive infinitive will significantly enhance your ability to express complex ideas with precision and clarity.
Structural Breakdown
The structure of the passive infinitive is relatively straightforward, consisting of two key components: the infinitive marker “to,” the auxiliary verb “be,” and the past participle of the main verb. Let’s break down each element:
- To: This is the infinitive marker, indicating that the verb is in its base form and not conjugated for tense or person.
- Be: This is the base form of the verb “to be,” which is essential for forming the passive voice. It acts as an auxiliary verb, connecting the infinitive marker “to” with the past participle.
- Past Participle: This is the form of the verb that typically ends in “-ed” for regular verbs (e.g., walked, painted) and has irregular forms for irregular verbs (e.g., written, seen). It indicates that the action has been completed.
Therefore, the complete structure is: to + be + past participle. For example, to be seen, to be heard, to be understood. This structure remains consistent regardless of the tense or aspect of the main verb in the sentence.
Understanding this structure is crucial for both recognizing and forming passive infinitives correctly. It provides a clear framework for constructing grammatically sound sentences that effectively convey the intended meaning.
By mastering the structural elements, you can confidently use the passive infinitive in your writing and speech.
Uses of the Passive Infinitive
The passive infinitive serves several important functions in English grammar. Here are some of its primary uses:
After Modal Verbs
Modal verbs (e.g., can, should, must, might) are often followed by infinitives. When the action needs to be expressed in the passive voice, the passive infinitive is used. For example: “The report should to be submitted by Friday.”
After Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Certain verbs, such as want, need, like, expect, and hope, are commonly followed by infinitives. When the passive voice is required, the passive infinitive is used. For example: “The car needs to be washed.”
After Adjectives
Adjectives can also be followed by infinitives to express a quality or characteristic. When the passive voice is appropriate, the passive infinitive is used. For example: “The instructions were easy to be followed.”
Expressing Purpose or Intention
The passive infinitive can be used to express the purpose or intention of an action, emphasizing that something is meant to be acted upon. For example: “These documents are to be signed by the manager.”
Impersonal Constructions
The passive infinitive is often used in impersonal constructions, where the actor is unknown or unimportant. This allows for a more objective and formal tone. For example: “It is important to be informed about the latest developments.”
Examples of Passive Infinitive Usage
To illustrate the usage of the passive infinitive, here are several examples categorized by their function:
Examples After Modal Verbs
The following table provides examples of passive infinitives used after modal verbs. These examples demonstrate how the passive infinitive can be used to express obligation, possibility, or necessity in the passive voice.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The package should to be delivered tomorrow. | Expresses an obligation or expectation for the package to be delivered. |
| The issue can to be resolved with proper communication. | Indicates the possibility of resolving the issue. |
| The contract must to be signed before the deadline. | Expresses a requirement for the contract to be signed. |
| The problem might to be caused by a software glitch. | Suggests a possibility of the problem being caused by something. |
| The letter ought to be sent immediately. | Expresses a moral obligation for the letter to be sent. |
| The food will need to be cooked before the guests arrive. | Indicates a future necessity for the food to be cooked. |
| The car should to be serviced every year. | Expresses a recommendation for the car to be serviced. |
| The task can to be completed by the end of the day. | Indicates the possibility of completing the task. |
| The bill must to be paid on time. | Expresses an obligation for the bill to be paid. |
| The room might to be cleaned later. | Suggests a possibility of the room being cleaned at some point. |
| The plants ought to be watered regularly. | Expresses a moral obligation for the plants to be watered. |
| The report will need to be reviewed by the manager. | Indicates a future necessity for the report to be reviewed. |
| The application should to be submitted online. | Expresses an obligation or expectation for the application to be submitted. |
| The question can to be answered with a simple yes or no. | Indicates the possibility of answering the question. |
| The payment must to be processed before the order is shipped. | Expresses a requirement for the payment to be processed. |
| The mistake might to be corrected easily. | Suggests a possibility of the mistake being corrected. |
| The documents ought to be filed properly. | Expresses a moral obligation for the documents to be filed. |
| The project will need to be approved by the board. | Indicates a future necessity for the project to be approved. |
| The information should to be verified before it is published. | Expresses an obligation or expectation for the information to be verified. |
| The problem can to be solved with teamwork. | Indicates the possibility of solving the problem. |
| The fine must to be paid within 30 days. | Expresses a requirement for the fine to be paid. |
| The situation might to be improved with patience. | Suggests a possibility of the situation being improved. |
| The rules ought to be followed by everyone. | Expresses a moral obligation for the rules to be followed. |
| The results will need to be analyzed carefully. | Indicates a future necessity for the results to be analyzed. |
| The email should to be replied to promptly. | Expresses an obligation or expectation for the email to be replied to. |
Examples After Verbs Followed by Infinitives
The following table provides examples of passive infinitives used after verbs that are commonly followed by infinitives, such as want, need, like, expect, and hope. These examples illustrate how to use the passive infinitive in conjunction with these verbs to express desires, needs, or expectations in the passive voice.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The room wants to be cleaned. | Expresses the need for the room to be cleaned. |
| The car needs to be washed. | Indicates the car requires washing. |
| The dog likes to be petted. | Expresses the dog’s preference for being petted. |
| The package expects to be delivered soon. | Indicates an expectation for the package to be delivered. |
| The letter hopes to be received with joy. | Expresses a wish for the letter to be received positively. |
| The project wants to be completed on time. | Expresses the need for the project to be completed. |
| The clothes need to be folded. | Indicates the clothes require folding. |
| The cat likes to be scratched behind the ears. | Expresses the cat’s preference for being scratched. |
| The email expects to be answered quickly. | Indicates an expectation for the email to be answered. |
| The flowers hope to be watered regularly. | Expresses a wish for the flowers to be watered. |
| The report wants to be reviewed carefully. | Expresses the need for the report to be reviewed. |
| The dishes need to be washed after dinner. | Indicates the dishes require washing. |
| The child likes to be read to before bed. | Expresses the child’s preference for being read to. |
| The document expects to be signed promptly. | Indicates an expectation for the document to be signed. |
| The song hopes to be heard by millions. | Expresses a wish for the song to be heard. |
| The problem wants to be solved quickly. | Expresses the need for the problem to be solved. |
| The floor needs to be swept. | Indicates the floor requires sweeping. |
| The bird likes to be watched from a distance. | Expresses the bird’s preference for being watched. |
| The presentation expects to be delivered with confidence. | Indicates an expectation for the presentation to be delivered. |
| The story hopes to be told for generations. | Expresses a wish for the story to be told. |
| The code wants to be tested thoroughly. | Expresses the need for the code to be tested. |
| The plants need to be pruned regularly. | Indicates the plants require pruning. |
| The students like to be praised for their efforts. | Expresses the students’ preference for being praised. |
| The application expects to be processed efficiently. | Indicates an expectation for the application to be processed. |
| The message hopes to be understood clearly. | Expresses a wish for the message to be understood. |
Examples After Adjectives
The following table provides examples of passive infinitives used after adjectives. This construction allows you to express qualities or characteristics related to being acted upon.
The adjectives often describe how easy, difficult, important, or necessary it is for something to be done.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The instructions were easy to be followed. | Indicates that the instructions were simple to understand and execute. |
| The problem was difficult to be solved. | Expresses that the problem presented significant challenges to solve. |
| The information is important to be known. | Highlights the significance of the information. |
| The task was necessary to be completed. | Emphasizes the essential nature of completing the task. |
| The book was interesting to be read. | Indicates that the book was engaging and worth reading. |
| The code is simple to be understood. | Expresses that the code is easy to comprehend. |
| The project was complex to be managed. | Indicates that the project required careful handling. |
| The data is crucial to be analyzed. | Highlights the importance of analyzing the data. |
| The meeting was essential to be attended. | Emphasizes the necessary nature of attending the meeting. |
| The movie was enjoyable to be watched. | Indicates that the movie provided a pleasant viewing experience. |
| The recipe is easy to be made. | Indicates that the recipe is simple to prepare. |
| The question was tricky to be answered. | Expresses that the question was difficult to answer. |
| The news is vital to be shared. | Highlights the importance of sharing the news. |
| The decision was critical to be made. | Emphasizes the essential nature of making the decision. |
| The song was beautiful to be heard. | Indicates that the song provided a pleasant listening experience. |
| The puzzle is hard to be figured out. | Expresses that the puzzle is difficult to solve. |
| The evidence is important to be considered. | Highlights the importance of considering the evidence. |
| The task was urgent to be started. | Emphasizes the necessary nature of starting the task. |
| The play was moving to be seen. | Indicates that the play provided an emotionally impactful experience. |
| The plant is easy to be cared for. | Indicates that the plant is simple to maintain. |
| The problem was challenging to be addressed. | Expresses that the problem presented significant challenges to address. |
| The facts are essential to be verified. | Highlights the importance of verifying the facts. |
| The project was vital to be supported. | Emphasizes the necessary nature of supporting the project. |
| The performance was stunning to be witnessed. | Indicates that the performance provided an impressive experience. |
| The lesson is simple to be learned. | Indicates that the lesson is easy to learn. |
Usage Rules
When using the passive infinitive, it’s important to follow certain rules to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity:
- Use “to be” + past participle: Always use the correct structure of “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb.
- Maintain tense consistency: Ensure that the tense of the passive infinitive aligns with the tense of the main verb in the sentence.
- Avoid unnecessary passive voice: While the passive infinitive is useful, overuse can make your writing sound awkward or unclear. Use it strategically when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the recipient of the action.
- Pay attention to the verb’s form: Some verbs have irregular past participle forms (e.g., written instead of writed). Make sure to use the correct form.
Common Mistakes
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using the passive infinitive:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| The report needs to being written. | The report needs to be written. | Incorrect use of “being” instead of “be.” |
| The letter should to be send. | The letter should to be sent. | Incorrect past participle form (“send” instead of “sent”). |
| It is important to being informed. | It is important to be informed. | Incorrect use of “being” instead of “be.” |
| The car wants to washed. | The car wants to be washed. | Missing “be” in the passive infinitive structure. |
| The task is easy to doing. | The task is easy to be done. | Incorrect use of “doing” instead of “be done.” |
| The book likes to reading. | The book likes to be read. | Incorrect use of “reading” instead of “be read.” |
| The problem needs solved. | The problem needs to be solved. | Missing “to be” in the passive infinitive structure. |
| The house is wanted to renovated. | The house is wanted to be renovated. | Missing “be” in the passive infinitive structure. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of the passive infinitive with these exercises:
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the passive infinitive.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| The documents need __________ (sign) by the manager. | to be signed |
| The room should __________ (clean) before the guests arrive. | to be cleaned |
| The project is expected __________ (complete) by next week. | to be completed |
| The report wants __________ (review) carefully. | to be reviewed |
| The car needs __________ (wash). | to be washed |
| The letter ought __________ (send) immediately. | to be sent |
| The task is easy __________ (do). | to be done |
| The book likes __________ (read). | to be read |
| The problem needs __________ (solve). | to be solved |
| The house is wanted __________ (renovate). | to be renovated |
Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences
Rewrite the following sentences using the passive infinitive.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Someone needs to wash the dishes. | The dishes need to be washed. |
| The manager must sign the contract. | The contract must to be signed. |
| They should clean the room. | The room should to be cleaned. |
| We expect them to complete the project soon. | The project is expected to be completed soon. |
| Someone needs to review the report. | The report needs to be reviewed. |
| The mechanic should service the car. | The car should to be serviced. |
| You ought to send the letter. | The letter ought to be sent. |
| It is easy to do the task. | The task is easy to be done. |
| Children like someone to read them stories. | Children like to be read stories. |
| Someone needs to solve the problem. | The problem needs to be solved. |
Exercise 3: Error Correction
Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| The report needs to being written. | The report needs to be written. |
| The letter should to be send. | The letter should to be sent. |
| It is important to being informed. | It is important to be informed. |
| The car wants to washed. | The car wants to be washed. |
| The task is easy to doing. | The task is easy to be done. |
| The book likes to reading. | The book likes to be read. |
| The problem needs solved. | The problem needs to be solved. |
| The house is wanted to renovated. | The house is wanted to be renovated. |
| The document is expected to signed. | The document is expected to be signed. |
| The email should be reply. | The email should to be replied. |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, consider these more complex aspects of the passive infinitive:
Perfect Passive Infinitive
The perfect passive infinitive (to have been + past participle) is used to indicate that an action was completed before a certain point in time. For example: “The package was supposed to have been delivered yesterday.”
Continuous Passive Infinitive
The continuous passive infinitive (to be being + past participle) is rare but can be used to emphasize the ongoing nature of an action in the passive voice. For example: “He hates to be being watched so closely.”
Passive Infinitive with Reporting Verbs
The passive infinitive can be used with reporting verbs (e.g., said, believed, reported) to express what is said, believed, or reported about a subject. For example: “The suspect is believed to be hiding in the area.”
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the passive infinitive:
- What is the basic structure of the passive infinitive?
The basic structure is “to be + past participle.” For example, to be seen, to be heard, to be understood.
- When should I use the passive infinitive?
Use it when you want to emphasize the recipient of the action, when the actor is unknown or unimportant, or in formal writing to maintain an objective tone.
- What are some common verbs that are followed by the passive infinitive?
Common verbs include want, need, like, expect, and hope.
- Can modal verbs be used with the passive infinitive?
Yes, modal verbs (e.g., can, should, must) are often followed by the passive infinitive to express obligation, possibility, or necessity in the passive voice.
- What is the perfect passive infinitive and how is it used?
The perfect passive infinitive (to have been + past participle) indicates that an action was completed before a certain point in time. For example: “The package was supposed to have been delivered yesterday.”
- How do I avoid common mistakes when using the passive infinitive?
Ensure you use the correct form of “to be” (not “to being”) and the correct past participle form of the verb. Also, avoid unnecessary use of the passive voice.
- Is the continuous passive infinitive commonly used?
No, the continuous passive infinitive (to be being + past participle) is rare and should be used sparingly, typically to emphasize the ongoing nature of an action in the passive voice.
- Can adjectives be followed by passive infinitives?
Yes, adjectives can be followed by infinitives to express quality. For instance, “The instructions were easy to be followed,” indicating that the instructions were simple to understand and execute.
Conclusion
Mastering the passive infinitive is an essential step in refining your English grammar skills. By understanding its structure, usage, and common pitfalls, you can construct more sophisticated and nuanced sentences.
This guide has provided you with a comprehensive overview of the passive infinitive, complete with examples, exercises, and advanced topics. Remember to practice regularly and pay attention to the context in which you use this grammatical form.
With consistent effort, you’ll be able to confidently and effectively incorporate the passive infinitive into your writing and speech, enhancing your overall communication skills.