Two passive forms that aren't tenses
Most passives carry a tense: was answered, has been told. These two do not. The passive infinitive and the passive gerund have no tense of their own — the word in front of them decides which one you need.
| Form | Example |
|---|
passive infinitive
(to) be + past participle | They're not all going to be answered by Dr. Davis. |
passive gerund
being + past participle | Being asked to listen to my own voice is awful. |
| passive infinitive | I would like to be given the chance to discover more. |
| passive gerund | He doesn't like being introduced to new people. |
| passive gerund | I remember being told about a man who has synesthesia. |
Notice what these have in common: the subject receives the action. Somebody else answers the questions, introduces him, told her.
The passive infinitive — (to) be + past participle
After a modal verb, there is no to.
must / may / might / can / should + be + past participle
Not every question can be answered in one episode.
Listeners should be told in advance.
Might synesthesia be inherited?
After the other structures in the box, to stays.
going to / (don't) have to / (don't) want to / would like to + to be + past participle
They're not all going to be answered by Dr. Davis.
I would like to be given the chance to find out more.
I don't want to be interrupted while I'm recording.
The passive gerund — being + past participle
Use it after verbs that take a gerund, and after any preposition.
hate / like / love / remember / avoid + being + past participle
He doesn't like being introduced to new people.
I remember being told about a man who has synesthesia.
afraid of / look forward to / insist on + being + past participle
She's afraid of being misunderstood.
We look forward to being invited back.
It can open a sentence. Because a gerund can be a subject, the passive gerund can start the sentence:
Being asked to listen to my own voice is awful. · Being interviewed live still terrifies me.
What decides which one?
Not the meaning — the word in front. Cover the passive and look only at what comes before it.
| Word in front | Form you need |
|---|
| a modal (must, can, should…) | be + past participle — must be answered |
| a to-structure (going to, would like to…) | to be + past participle — would like to be given |
| a gerund verb (avoid, enjoy, remember…) | being + past participle — remember being told |
| any preposition (of, on, to…) | being + past participle — afraid of being asked |
Earlier actions. If the passive happened before the main verb, both forms have a perfect version: She seems to have been told already. · Having been told so late, I couldn't prepare. See Participle Clauses for more on the second one.
Careful: passive verb + active infinitive
One sentence in the coursebook exercise looks like a passive infinitive but isn't:
You were invited to send in questions for Dr. Davis.
Here were invited is the passive, and to send is an ordinary active infinitive — you do the sending. Compare a genuine passive infinitive after the same verb: You were invited to be given a tour of the studio. This pattern is very common after reporting verbs.
She was asked to leave the studio. — she leaves
Guests are expected to arrive by seven. — guests arrive
We were told to wait outside. — we wait
⚠ Common mistakes:
✗ He avoids to be introduced… → ✓ He avoids being introduced… (after avoid, the gerund)
✗ The questions must being answered. → The questions must be answered.
✗ Not all of them will answered. → ✓ Not all of them will be answered.
✗ I'm afraid of be misunderstood. → ✓ I'm afraid of being misunderstood.
✗ I remember being told my mother about it. → ✓ I remember being told about it. (no object after a passive)