Passive Verb Forms Part 2

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Example

Tense

Why is the passive used?

1

Paramedics were called to the singer’s Beverly Hills home

Past simple

It is not important/we don’t know who called the paramedics

2

He was pronounced dead

Past simple

It’s obvious that doctors at the hospital pronounced him dead

3

Jackson had been due to perform a series of comeback concerts

Past perfect

Actually, it is impossible to put this sentence in an active form. To be due to do something is just a fixed passive expression

4

He is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest

Present simple

Obviously, doctors/experts/journalists believe this

5

Jackson’s body was flown

Past simple

We don’t know/it’s unimportant/obvious who flew the plane – and the story is all about Jackson’s body.

6

a post-mortem was carried out

Past simple

Obviously, doctors carried out the post mortem

7

The results have not yet been published.

Present perfect

We don’t know/it’s not important/it’s obvious who publish the reports. Doctors or lawyers or something…

8

Concerns over Michael’s health were raised last month

Past simple

We don’t know – just that people were concerned. Putting the concern at the beginning (as a noun) is better than saying ‘people were concerned’ – the important thing is the concern, not the people.

9

four of Jackson’s planned comeback concerts were postponed

Past simple

Obviously, they were postponed by Jackson’s managers & promotors

10

the dates had been moved

Past perfect

Again, we know who moved them – it was his managers