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Teacher cue
B2 · English Grammar

Passive with
Infinitives & Gerunds

They're not all going to be answered by Dr. Davis.

(to) be + past participle being + past participle
The idea

Passives without a tense

Most passives carry a tense: was answered, has been told. These two do not. The word in front decides which form you need.

From the interview

They're not all going to be answered by Dr. Davis.

Being asked to listen to my own voice is awful.

The test

cover the passive

look at the word before it

Meaning never decides this. Only the trigger word does.

Trigger 1 · 2 · 3

What comes before?

Three kinds of word, three forms. Nothing else changes.

A modal
be + past participle

Not every question can be answered in one episode.

A to-structure
to be + past participle

I would like to be given the chance to find out more.

Gerund verb / preposition
being + past participle

He avoids being introduced to new people.

Form 1

The passive infinitive

After a modal there is no to. After going to, have to, want to and would like to, the to stays.

Listeners should be told in advance. ← modal, no to
They're not all going to be answered by Dr. Davis.
I don't want to be interrupted while I'm recording.
Form 2

The passive gerund

Use being + past participle after gerund verbs and after any preposition. It can also start the sentence.

After a verb

He avoids being introduced to new people.

I remember being told about a man with synesthesia.

After a preposition · as subject

She's afraid of being misunderstood.

Being asked to listen to my own voice is awful.

⚠ Watch out

Common mistakes

He avoids to be introduced to people.

Correct: he avoids being introduced…

The questions must being answered.

Correct: the questions must be answered.

Not all of them will ^ answered today.

Correct: not all of them will be answered.

I'm afraid of be misunderstood.

Correct: I'm afraid of being misunderstood.

Now it's your turn

Let's
practice.

Say the answer out loud — then tap to check.

Practice 1
tap the blank to reveal

Fill the gap

I would like (give — after would like) the chance to find out more.
He avoids (introduce — after avoid) to new people.
I remember (tell — after remember) about a man with synesthesia.
Not every question can (answer — after can) in one episode.
She's afraid of (misunderstand — after of) on live radio.
Practice 2
tap a sentence to reveal the error

Spot the mistake

The documents need to beA signB before Friday, andC copies mustD be filed separately.

Bsign → signed

✓ to be + past participle

She dislikes being interruptedA duringB meetings, althoughC her colleagues does itD constantly.

Dher colleagues does it → her colleagues do it

✓ her colleagues is plural → do

He hates being criticA inB public, soC the manager always speaksD to him privately.

AHe hates being critic → He hates being criticized

✓ being + past participle

Practice 3
tap to reveal a model answer

Make it passive

They should tell the listeners first. →
I hate it when people interrupt me. →
She wants someone to give her a chance. →
He's afraid that people will misunderstand him. →
Speak & write

Your turn

Use be, to be or being + past participle.

What would you like to be given or told?
What do you hate being asked?
Describe a problem: what must be done about it?
What are you afraid of, or looking forward to?
Recap

Remember this

After a modal
be + past participle
After a to-structure
to be + past participle
After a gerund verb
being + past participle
After any preposition
being + past participle

The meaning never decides — the word in front always does.

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