Passive verbs with two objects

Passive verbs with two objects

Exercise 1

Rewrite these sentences in passive voice. Do NOT include the agent: by them, by John, etc.

EXAMPLE: I sent my friends a picture. ⇒ My friends were sent a picture.

1 They offered him a good seat ⇒ He .

2 They offered him a good seat ⇒ A good seat .

3 They told me the truth. ⇒ I .

4 They told me the truth. ⇒ The truth .

5 We will give a copy to our clients. ⇒ A copy .

6 We will give a copy to our clients. ⇒ Our clients .

7 He promised us a better salary. ⇒ We .

8 He promised us a better salary. ⇒ A better salary .

9 The police showed two photos to the suspect. ⇒ Two photos .

10 The police showed two photos to the suspect. ⇒ The suspect .

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Passive verbs with two objects – Grammar chart

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In a passive sentence, the subject is the object of the corresponding active sentence.

• Somebody said something.
• Something was said (by somebody).

Some verbs can take two objects. Some of these verbs are bring, get, give, make, offer, promise, send, show, etc.

• I sent my friends a picture. (= I sent a picture to my friends.)

With these verbs, it is possible to make two different passive sentences because you can use either of the two objects as the subject of the passive sentence:

• My friends were sent a picture.
• A picture was sent to my friends.

It is more common to begin the passive sentence with the person: My friends were sent a picture.

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