Лекции по теоретической грамматике английского языка. Тивьяева И.В. - 44 стр.

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6. Verbs that realize their passive meaning only in special contexts: to live,

to sleep, to sit, to walk, to jump.

Three types of passive constructions can be differentiated: 1) direct primary

passive; 2) indirect secondary passive; 3) prepositional tertiary passive.

Some English verbs can admit only one object – the direct one: e.g. Mary

saw him.

When such an object becomes the subject of a passive construction, the

latter is called direct primary passive: e.g. He was seen by Mary.

There are many verbs in English that take two objects in the active

construction (direct and indirect): e.g. I gave him a book. She told the story to her

sister.

These verbs admit of two passive constructions:

a) A book was given to him. The story was told to her sister. (the direct

primary passive)

b) He was given a book. Her sister was told the story. (the indirect secondary

passive)

The indirect (secondary) passive is not infrequent in verb-phrases with the

verb to give, such as: to give credit, to give command, to give a chance, to give a

choice, to give an explanation, to give an opportunity, to give orders, to give

shelter, and the like.

e.g. He was given a good to chance to argue.

She is given an opportunity to go to the south in summer.

Suppose, you are given a choice. What would you prefer?

However, many verbs in English may take a direct and an indirect object in

the active construction but admit only one passive construction — the direct

passive, e.g.: to bring, to do, to play, to telegraph and many others. The list could

be extended.

Next come constructions with the so-called prepositional or tertiary passive.

The subject of the passive construction corresponds to the prepositional object of

the active construction. This “detached” preposition retains its place after the verb.