C1 Advanced Subjunctive, concession and advanced passive
Advanced passive structures
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can use the passive where the verb carries no tense: being + V3, having been + V3, to be / to have been + V3.
When to use it
- After verbs and prepositions: He hates being criticised.
- Opening a participle clause: Having been warned, he left early.
- After to: It needs to be done. / It is said to have been built in 1910.
- Continuous passive: The road is being repaired.
Form
| Form | Where | Example |
|---|---|---|
| being + V3 | after verbs and prepositions | I hate being ignored. |
| having been + V3 | participle clause, earlier action | Having been told, he left. |
| to be + V3 | after to, at the same time | It needs to be done. |
| to have been + V3 | after to, earlier action | said to have been built in 1910 |
| is / are being + V3 | continuous passive | The road is being repaired. |
| need + V-ing | passive meaning | The car needs washing. |
Step by step
- Identify the slot: after a preposition, after to, or opening a participle clause.
- Ask: is the subject acted on? If so, you need a passive form.
- Then ask: is it simultaneous or earlier?
- Combine: simultaneous → being / to be; earlier → having been / to have been.
Active and passive side by side
| Active | Passive | Slot |
|---|---|---|
| criticising | being criticised | after the verb hate |
| having warned | having been warned | participle clause |
| to do | to be done | sau to |
| to have built | to have been built | after to, earlier action |
Examples
He hates being criticised in public.
She remembers being taken to the zoo as a child.
Having been warned by the police, he slowed down.
The old theatre is being renovated at the moment.
The bridge is said to have been built in 1910.
This window needs cleaning.
Common mistakes
He hates being criticise in public. → He hates being criticised in public.
After being a V3 is required. The ending goes missing because the phrase is long.
Having warned by the police, he slowed down. → Having been warned by the police, he slowed down.
been is missing. Without it the sentence is active: he warned the police.
The road is been repaired now. → The road is being repaired now.
The continuous passive is is being + V3, not is been.
Memory tip
Every passive ends in a V3 and contains some form of be. Check both after writing: whichever is missing is your error.
Summary
- being + V3 after verbs and prepositions · having been + V3 in participle clauses.
- to be + V3 and to have been + V3 after to.
- need + V-ing has passive meaning: needs washing = needs to be washed.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.