HANOI PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY N0. 2
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FACULTY

NGUYEN THI HIEN

COMMON ERRORS IN THE USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
MADE BY THE FIRST-YEAR ENGLISH
MAJOR STUDENTS AT HANOI PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY
N0 2
(SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH)

Hanoi, 2013

Hanoi, 2013

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to take this chance to express my greatest gratitude to Mr.
Nguyen Van Den, M.A., my supervisor, for his patience in providing continuous
and careful guidance as well as encouragement, indispensable suggestions and
advice.
Also, I would like to express my particular thanks to all my beloved
lecturers, who always motivated and encouraged me to finish my thesis early.
Especially, I would like to show my sincere thanks to the junior students in class
K38 in the Foreign Language Faculty, who helped me with my questionnaire.
I am particularly grateful to all my friends for their precious assistance
throughout the process of writing this thesis.
Last but not least, I owe a debt of gratitude to my beloved family, for their


Student

Nguyen Thi Hien

Supervisor

Mr Den, M.A

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements

i

Abstract…………………. ............................................................................................................ .ii
Statement of authorship…

iii

Table of contents………..

.................................................................................................... iv

PART ONE
INTRODUCTION

I. Rationale .................................................................................................................................... 1

I.2.2. Classification 7
I.2.3. Structural differences between active voice and passive voice ............................................ 8
I.3. Passive voice in English

8

I.3.1. Passive voice from the theoretical view ............................................................................... 8
I.3.1.1. Definition

8

I.3.1.2. Passive voice of transitive ordinary verbs ............................................................................ 8
I.3.1.3. The passive transformation................................................................................................ 11
I.3.1.3.1. S- V- O structure

................................................................................................... 11
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I.3.1.3.2. S- V- O- O structure 13
I.3.1.3.3. S- V- C structure
I.3.1.4. Passive types

................................................................................................... 14

15

I.3.1.5. The phrase with by and with ........................................................................................ 16
I.3.2. Passive voice from the practical view ................................................................................ 17
I.3.2.1. Introduction


32

II.1.2. Population of the survey 32
II.1.3. Type of the survey

32

II.1.4. Construction of the test 32
II.1.5. Preparation of the survey 33
II.1.5.1. Test items

................................................................................................................... 33

II.1.5.2. Arrangement of the test items .......................................................................................... 33
II.1.6. Administration of the try-out .............................................................................................. 34
II.1.6.1. Preparation of the try-out ................................................................................................. 34
II.1.6.2. Try-out

........................................................................................................................ 34

II.1.7. Method of data analysis 35
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II.1.8. Results of the survey

................................................................................................... 35

II.2. Common errors and causes ................................................................................................ 37

INTRODUCTION

I. RATIONALE
English is the international language which is spoken and understood almost everywhere
in the world and has become the key instrument of globalization. By 2012 there could be around
2 billion people learning English, according to a new report commissioned by the British
Council.
In Vietnam, English also plays an important role in all walks of life and in all economic
sectors. Therefore, more and more Vietnamese people are learning English as a foreign
language.
Learners of English, however, have to encounter a great variety of difficulties in
obtaining both grammatical rules and language skills due to the interference of the learners’
mother tongue.
It is proved that English grammar is complex and often causes embarrassment to students
especially in communication. Passive voice is one of the grammatical items that play an
important role in learning and communicating as well. Passive voice is used widely. The uses of
passive voice are preferred in English than those in Vietnamese, especially in daily
conversations.
However, using these passive correctly and effectively is rather complex. Passives consist
of plentiful meanings, forms and characteristics as well. Of course, in learning English in general
and passive voice in particular, being influenced by the mother tongue is unavoidable. Due to its
various uses, it is assumed that there are many errors which may be made.
This thesis is accomplished in hopes of making a contribution to the process of studying
of passive voice. For the reasons above, this study is conducted with the aim of focusing on
errors in using passive voice

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II. RESEARCH PRESUPPOSITION

voice in English. On the basis of the findings, some suggested teaching methods
are sought to minimize the students’ errors
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VI. RESEARCH METHODS
To achieve the objectives of the study, the following methods have been applied:
1. Collecting data from books
2. Consulting the supervisor, experienced teachers and friends
3. Synthesizing theoretical materials on English grammar
4. Conducting a survey and analyzing the results

VII. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
Errors in any language teaching and learning, particularly in English as a foreign
language, are sometimes predictable and sometimes unpredictable. Therefore, it is essential for
teachers to give better treatment to anticipate errors. After the research, it is hoped that the result
will be helpful to provide:
1. Input for learners of English in order to have better understanding about passive voice
in English
2. Input for learners in order to minimize their errors in using passive voice.
3. Input for teachers of English with information on error types and solutions to the
problems in order to help their students have a deep insight into passive voice.
This study is also beneficial to anyone who is interested in the passive voice in English.

VIII. RESEARCH DESIGN
The research work has three main parts: Introduction, Development, and Conclusion. The
part Development consists of two chapters.
Chapter one, Theoretical Background, consists of three sections. Section one presents
literature review in brief. The section two shows the concept of voice in English in definition,
classification and structural differences between active voice and passive voice. Section three

passive tenses from the theoretical view and introduces beginning university students to the
study of English linguistics, with a strong focus on linguistic analysis and argumentation;
especially, Ingo Plag shows major methods of tense – formation such as forms, uses,
characteristics of passives, and clauses and features of passive voice.
Azar (1996) in Understanding and Using English Grammar refers to the formation of the
passive and also the use of passives. He pays much attention to passive voice in indirect objects
used as passive subjects, the passive form of modals and phrasal modals and stative forms.
In the book Macmillan English Grammar in Context, Vince (1994) only focuses his
attention on the uses of passives. Moreover, he pays much attention to passives with causative
“have”, verbs with two objects and passive reporting verbs.
In the book Passive Resistance, CLS no 7, Lakoff, R (1971) traces the development of
the English language in grammar and passive voice. The author explains the definition, origin of
passive voice as well as gives precise illustrations for them.
Thomson, A.J. and Martinet, A.V. (1986) in Practical English Usage only gives the
forms of passive verb forms. He also mentions the differences between active and passive voice.

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Sinclair (2009) in Easy Learning Grammar and Punctuation only pays much attention to
the function of passive voice and the subject of a passive sentence. Also, he gives some special
passive structures.

In short, much research has been done on the passive voice about definition,
formation, classification and meanings of passive voice in English. However, the
research about common errors in the use of passive voice made by the first - year
English majors at Hanoi Pedagogical is a new aspect. In order to help us find better
learning solutions for English major students at Foreign Language Faculty, it is
essential to have a comprehensive study of Common Errors in the Use of Passive
Voice made by the first-year English major students at Hanoi Pedagogical

passive voice.

 Active voice
Active voice is used in a clause in which the subject expresses the agent of the main verb.
Thus, the subject does the action designated by the verb. A sentence in which the agent is
marked as the grammatical subject is called an active sentence.
Somebody cleaned the window.
The subject “somebody” is the agent of the action performed by the verb “cleaned”. This
sentence is called an active sentence.

 Passive voice
A sentence is called passive when it serves to show that the person or thing denoted by
the subject of the sentence is not the agent (doer) of the action expressed by the predicate verb
but is the object of this action. The subject of a passive verb does not act but is acted upon; it
receives the action of the verb.
The window was cleaned by somebody. (1)
The subject “the window” itself cannot express the action of cleaning. It receives the
action of the verb “clean”. Sentence (1) is a passive sentence.
I.2.3. Structural differences between active voice and passive voice
It is certain that active voice and passive voice are used to express the same fact reported.
They, however, are different from each other in terms of structure and semantic and lexical field.
Now we are coming to analyze an example
The police arrested the criminal. (1)
The criminal was arrested by the police. (2)
Firstly, in this example, sentence (1) is different from sentence (2) in verb form. In
sentence (1), the main verb is in the active form “arrested”. In sentence (2), on the other hand,
the verb of the active sentence is superseded by the verb phrase which is the combination of the
verb “to be” in the same tense with the active verb and the past participle of the active verb.
Secondly, sentence (1) and sentence (2) are different from each other in the position of
the components. In sentence (1) – an active sentence, the agent plays the role of the subject “the

(Present tense and perfective aspect)
The room is being cleaned at the moment.
(Present tense and progressive aspect)
The house was being cleaned.
(Past tense and progressive aspect)
The negative and interrogative forms of passive sentences are made up in the same way
as in active sentences.
Negative: The disease has not been found for many years.
The machine was not fixed by the mechanical engineer.
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In the sentences above, “not” comes after the auxiliaries “has” and “was”.
Question: Has the house been painted?
When were the mails sent?
There is also inversion of the subject and the first auxiliary.
It is noted that “by” is contained in the question about the agent.
Who was this novel written by?
Therefore, passive voice of transitive ordinary verbs occurs in almost all tenses in
English. Passive forms of English ordinary verbs together with examples are shown in the
following table: Table 1
12 kinds of passive voice corresponding with 12 tenses
Tense
Present simple

Structure
Is/am/are + p.p

Examples
The house is cleaned every


Was/were + being + p.p

Our conversation was being
recorded.

Past perfect

Had + been + p.p

The room hadn’t been cleaned.

Past perfect progressive

Had + been + being + p.p

The wall had been being
painted since then.

Future simple

Will + be + p.p

You will be asked a lot of
questions at the interview.

Future progressive

Will + be+ being + p.p



Object

has cleaned

the room

has been cleaned

Subject

Passive verb

by Dung
Agent

The idea is taken from such traditional linguists as Thomson and Martinet, Murphy, and
Quirk and Green Baum. Of all the sentence patterns, only three types which contain transitive
verbs, allow passive transformation including S-V-O, S-V-O-O, and S-V-O-C.
I.3.1.3.1. S- V- O structure
The object of this pattern can be classified into a noun phrase, a finite clause and nonfinite clause.
The object is a noun phrase.
It is certain that the object of an active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
equivalent
The bear caught the fish.
→ The fish was caught by the bear.
The object is a finite clause (that-clause)
The corresponding passive is commonly formed by the use of introductory “it”. The
finite clause as an object still remains.
He saw that the car was useless.

and introductory “it”.
We decide to move to the suburbs.
→ It is decided to move to the suburbs.
Moreover, some verbs such as advise, insist, propose, recommend, suggest followed by
an in-participle with an object, a finite clause “that….should” is used in the passive.

They suggested helping people being homeless after the floods.
→ They suggested that people being homeless after the floods should be helped.
I.3.1.3.2. S- V- O- O structure
It is a fact that some verbs in English take two objects. The former is an indirect one and
the latter is a direct one. The indirect object is always a noun phrase and the direct object can be
a noun phrase, a finite or non-finite clause.
The direct object is a noun phrase
In the case both objects are noun phrases
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Tom sent me a letter.
→

I was sent a letter (by Tom.)
A letter was sent to me by Tom.

The preposition “to” is to be contained in the passive sentence with the direct object of
the active sentence as its subject. As for some verbs, the preposition “for” is needed.
They’ve built it an exclusive balcony.
An exclusive balcony has been built for it.
The direct object is a finite clause
An active sentence can be changed into a passive one with either of the objects as the
passive subject.


The object of the active sentence changes into the subject of the passive one and the
adjective is placed after the main verb.
We believed her innocent.
→ She was believed innocent (by us).
The object complement is a to-infinitive clause
I assume you to know some English words.
→ You are assumed to know some English words.
Such verbs includes believe, consider, assume, intend, etc.
However, when active sentences consisting of some verbs such as wish, want, like, love,
the passive is formed with a to-infinitive passive and the object in the to-infinitive clause is put
after the main verb.
I want her to clean the house
→ I want the house to be cleaned by her.
The object complement is a bare infinitive clause
The passive is made by making the active object the passive subject and the bareinfinitive clause is put by a to-infinitive one. The verbs of perception are see, hear, observe, etc.
I saw the thief climb into the house.
The thief was seen to climb into the house.
Of all the causative verbs (let, make, have), only the verb make allows passive
transformation in the same way as verbs of perception.
My parents made me look after my younger brother.
I was made to look after my younger brother.
The object is an ing-participle and ed-participle
When the object is an ing- participle, the subject of the passive sentence is the object of
active voice whereas passive transformation is carried out as usual except for have and get when
the object is an ed- participle as follows:
I heard her singing.
→ She was heard singing
I.3.1.4. Passive types
The passive clause in transitive analysis is sub-grouped in following main types: true


upset

by the news

Medium

Process: mental

Subject

Finite

Doer/agent
Predicator

Adjunct

Beneficiary- passive: effective, beneficiary/subject, and agent: by
Tom

was

Beneficiary

Process

Subject

Finite

sung

by the choir
medium

Predicator

Adjunct

According to Halliday, there are other types of passive structures when “indirect”
participants act as potential subjects. These are circumstantial passives which include locationpassive, manner-passive and others.
The bed has not been slept in (Location-passive).
This pen has never been written with (Manner-passive)
I.3.1.5. The phrase of by and with
According to Halliday, the clauses with features of agency can be put in passive voice by
using an analytic causative or bringing in an agent of the second order. The examples can be
seen in all processes: material, mental, and relational as follows: Table 3
Material process
They

had got

the bomb

exploded

Actor

by the police
Initiator


Tom

voted

by the

captain

team

Identified/token

Identifier/value

assigner

Medium

Range

Agent 1

In terms of semantics and functions, according to functional grammar, the passive
structures have been analyzed. And based on different processes, the passive constructions are
analyzed into different labels, which complement others to have a full analysis of different types
of passive construction
I.3.2. Passive voice from the practical view
I.3.2.1. Introduction
Compare the active and passive sentences.

The case is being called 'the chocolate connection'.
Three men were being questioned by detectives last night.
Will and be going to (future of be + passive participle)
The drugs will be destroyed.
The men are going to be charged with importing cocaine.
For other modal verbs,
We form negatives and questions in the same way as in active sentences. In the negative
not comes after the (first) auxiliary; in questions there is inversion of the subject and the (first)
auxiliary.
Negative: The drugs were not found by customs officers.
The law hasn't been changed.
Question: Where were the drugs found?
Has the law been changed?
NOTE
We use by in a question about the agent.
Who were the drugs found by?
When we use a phrasal or prepositional verb in the passive, the adverb or preposition
(e.g. down, for) comes after the passive participle.
The tree was cut down last week.
Has the doctor been sent for?
Note also verb + adverb + preposition, and verbal idioms with prepositions.
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Such out-of-date practices should be done away with.
The poor child is always being made fun of.
We can sometimes use a participle as a modifier, like an adjective: a broken vase.
We can also put the participle after be. The vase was broken can express either a state or
an action.
State: The vase was broken. It lay in pieces on the floor, (be + complement). The drugs