Unit 5.2
Passives Voice Verbs with Infinitive + Object
Syntax
The passive form expresses the idea of something or someone receiving an action or experiencing a particular event or effect. {see Passive Structure, B1 level and Passive Voice of Verbs, Level B2}
After passive verbs, we could find the infinitive + object structure.
Sometimes we find the Object + Infinitive structure after the passive form.
This structure has this formula:
Subject + passive verb* (of saying) + to + verb + object…
We usually find verbs of saying before the to-infinitive structures.
Verbs of saying are: advise, agree, ask, encourage, expect, invite, order, persuade, promise, refuse, remind, say, tell, warn…
*{See Passive structure, Level B1}
- I am asked to deliver a private letter.
- They are asked to make a comment about the topic.
- The editor of the newspaper is persuaded by them to write an article about communication.
We use the Infinitive + Object with passive forms, to focus the attention on the subject, and not on the agent.
We use it also to create a more complex sentence in terms of syntax.