Most speech situations in Russian and English do not differ in context. English tenses and the system of verbs are different from those usual for us. But there are nuances that are similar or almost the same. When learning English, you need to take into account the rule of passive and active voice. In the Russian language there is a similar system, only the passive voice in Russian grammar is called passive. Let's analyze the basic principles.
Passive voice
Passive Voice is translated into Russian as "passive voice." A passive or active voice in English tells us how an action is performed in a sentence. With an active voice in most cases, in conversation, the action is performed by the object in the sentence. In the case of a passive voice, the action is performed on the object of the proposal. The object itself is passive.
Let's look at examples:
- My friend sewed me a very beautiful dress. (Active voice: the action is performed by the girlfriend, who is the subject and the current object in the proposal).
- The stylist performed a very complex and beautiful hairstyle. (Active voice: the action is performed by the stylist, who is the subject and the current object in the proposal).
- They gave me a stunning birthday dress. (Passive voice: who gave the dress is not specified, the protagonist is not in the offer).
- Chairs and tables were made in the technique of modern classicism. (Passive voice: who completed the work is not specified, the actor is not in the offer).
Try to determine for yourself which key (active or passive) in these offers:
- The chef cooked a deliciously delicious dinner, the guests were very pleased.
- The cake was not baked enough, the vegetables were raw.
- Workers brought all things intact.
- The cabinet was not assembled correctly; the door did not close.
- The company was ruined, all employees were unemployed.
- The bank offered our company very good credit conditions.
Active voice
Active pledge in an English sentence implies that the action is performed by the subject, the actor in the sentence. The majority of speech turns refers to such cases.
- We broke the mug.
- Children play on the street.
The subject in the offer with active pledge must be an animated subject:
- Maria painted a picture in oil. - Active guarantee.
- Workers went on a break. - Active guarantee.
- But the table broke. - Passive voice.
- The chicken was fried incorrectly, it is dry. - Passive voice.
Exceptions may be fairy tales, where such situations are allowed:
- "The teapot and saucers sang a song." - This will be considered an active action, since in the context of folklore the inanimate object "teapot" acquires the qualities of animate.
Animals are also active persons performing an active action, despite the fact that they are considered inanimate in English:
- The cat broke the dishes, jumping onto the table. - Active guarantee.
- Seal cubs entertained zoo viewers all day. - Active guarantee.
Past Perfect Passive Voice
Each time in the English language system is formed according to a certain rule. For times of passive voice, there is a system of rules. Past Perfect Passive is formed using the auxiliary construction had been plus the main verb. The diagram looks like this:
- Affirmative sentence: subject - had been - the main verb with the ending -ed or in the third form *.
- Interrogative sentence: had - subject, been - the main verb with the ending -ed or in the third form *.
- Negative sentence: subject - had not (hadn't) been - the main verb with the ending -ed or in the third form *.
* In English, there are two types of verbs - regular (regular verbs) and irregular (irregular verbs). For the formation of past forms of regular verbs, we add to them the ending of the past tense -ed. For example: play-played . The formation of past forms of irregular verbs occurs according to the approved list of irregular verbs. You can familiarize yourself with all the options for changing verbs in the corresponding list (Irregular verbs list). This list contains two types of past forms: Past Simple and Pst Participle and one infinitive. For the times of Perfect, the third form of Past Participle is used. For example: swim-swam-swum .
In terms of context, Past Perfect Passive has the same meaning as Past Perfect Active. The first is used in the case of a description of actions that have occurred in the past tense and have a finished result. These actions occurred in a more past tense than the actions that we describe by the time Past Simple. Two actions usually stand in one sentence. Accordingly, in such an English sentence there will be two grammatical bases.
For example: First we bought a dress, then we found it at a lower price. (The active guarantee, the action "bought a dress" happened earlier, that is, in the more distant past than the action "saw the price"). - At first we had bought the dress, then found lower price dress. ("had bought" Past Perfect Active, "found" Past Simple).
Past Perfect Passive: sample offers
For better memorization, you need to get acquainted with real examples from colloquial speech:
- The soup didn't tasty good because it had been boiled too long. - The soup was not very tasty, as it cooked for too long.
- I saw clean car may be it had been cleaned. - I saw a clean car, probably washed it.
- I found your mug, it hadn't been broken. - I saw your mug, it is not broken.
- There was a fire on the plant, but everybody had left this place much earlier. - There was a fire at the factory, but everyone left earlier.
- We had seen so beautiful picture, but somebody unfortunately bought it. - We saw such a beautiful picture, but someone, unfortunately, bought it.
Do it yourself
These offers are written in active voice. Translate them into Russian and remake them using Past Perfect Passive. Exercises:
- I came home and watched that my mother cleaned the room.
- When we got to the stadium we found that director had canceled the game.
- I didn't believe that he had recorded our conversation.
- I wanted to read but my brother had broken the lamp.
- They came here but he had given the wrong address.
- Last night I went to the airport, but government delayed the flight.
- I found the key but somebody had brought another.
- She brought the book for me, but I had already but a new one.
- I got hungry and mother had cooked the dinner.
The keys
Verify your suggestions with the correct options:
- I came home and watched that room had been cleaned. - I came home and saw that the room was cleaned.
- When we got to the stadium we found the game had been canceled. - When we arrived at the stadium, we found that the game was canceled.
- I didn't believe that our conversation had been recorded. - I do not believe that our conversation was recorded.
- I wanted to read but the lamp had been broken. “I wanted to read, but the lamp was broken.”
- They came here but the wrong address had been given. “They came, but they were given the wrong address.”
- Last night I went to the airport, but the flight had been delayed. - Last night I arrived at the airport, but the flight was canceled.
- I found the key but another had been brought. “I found the key, but another was already found.”
- She brought the book for me, but new one had been already bought. “She brought me a book, but another was already bought.”
- I got hungry and the dinner had been cooked. “I got hungry and dinner was ready.”