Blog about English
Using passive infinitives and passive -ing forms.
Practice: build the sentences →Passive infinitives and passive gerunds describe actions received by their understood subject rather than performed by it.
The main forms are to be + past participle, being + past participle, to have been + past participle, and having been + past participle.
The report needs to be written.
Отчёт нужно написать.
Passive infinitive: to be + past participle.
She hates being ignored.
Она ненавидит, когда её игнорируют.
Passive gerund: being + past participle.
He is believed to have been informed.
Считается, что его проинформировали.
Perfect passive infinitive: to have been + past participle.
The passive to-infinitive is formed with to be followed by a past participle.
For example, The work needs to be completed and She wants to be informed.
The work needs to be completed.
Работу нужно завершить.
to be + past participle after "need".
She wants to be informed.
Она хочет, чтобы её информировали.
to be + past participle after "want".
The car needs to be repaired.
Машину нужно отремонтировать.
Passive to-infinitive.
The passive bare infinitive is formed with be followed by a past participle after structures that require a bare infinitive.
For example, The device must be repaired and They saw him be arrested is possible in restricted constructions, although other passive perception patterns are often preferred.
The device must be repaired.
Устройство должно быть отремонтировано.
Bare infinitive after modal: be + past participle.
They saw him be arrested.
Они видели, как его арестовали.
Bare passive infinitive after perception verb (restricted).
The rules must be followed.
Правила должны соблюдаться.
Bare infinitive after modal.
Passive to-infinitives commonly follow verbs, adjectives, nouns, and other structures that require an infinitive.
Examples include expect to be invited, ready to be used, and a chance to be promoted.
She expects to be invited.
Она ожидает, что её пригласят.
After verb "expect".
The documents are ready to be signed.
Документы готовы к подписанию.
After adjective "ready".
He has a chance to be promoted.
У него есть шанс получить повышение.
After noun "chance".
Some verbs can be followed by passive infinitives when the subject receives the action.
For example, She expects to be promoted and He wants to be included.
She expects to be promoted.
Она ожидает, что её повысят.
Passive infinitive after "expect".
He wants to be included.
Он хочет, чтобы его включили.
After "want".
They hope to be invited.
Они надеются, что их пригласят.
After "hope".
Adjectives can be followed by passive infinitives when describing something that should, can, or needs to be done.
For example, This form is easy to complete and The documents are ready to be signed.
This form is easy to complete.
Эту форму легко заполнить.
Adjective + active infinitive with passive meaning.
The documents are ready to be signed.
Документы готовы к подписанию.
Adjective + passive infinitive.
The problem is difficult to be solved.
Эту проблему трудно решить.
Adjective + passive infinitive (formal).
The passive perfect infinitive is formed with to have been followed by a past participle.
It describes an action that happened before the time of the main verb or reference point.
He is believed to have been killed.
Считается, что он был убит.
to have been + past participle.
She seems to have been invited earlier.
Кажется, её пригласили раньше.
Perfect passive infinitive.
The project is reported to have been completed.
Сообщается, что проект был завершён.
Reporting structure with perfect passive infinitive.
Passive perfect infinitives commonly occur after reporting verbs and other structures that refer to earlier events.
For example, He is believed to have been killed and She seems to have been invited earlier.
He is believed to have been killed.
Считается, что он был убит.
After reporting verb "believe".
She seems to have been invited earlier.
Кажется, её пригласили раньше.
After "seem".
The manuscript is thought to have been written in 1600.
Считается, что рукопись была написана в 1600 году.
After "think".
The passive gerund is formed with being followed by a past participle.
It describes an action or process that is received by the subject of the gerund construction.
She hates being ignored.
Она ненавидит, когда её игнорируют.
being + past participle.
He remembers being told.
Он помнит, как ему говорили.
Passive gerund after "remember".
They enjoy being praised.
Они любят, когда их хвалят.
Passive gerund after "enjoy".
Some verbs that are followed by gerunds can take passive gerunds when the subject receives the action.
For example, She hates being ignored and He remembers being told about the problem.
She hates being ignored.
Она ненавидит, когда её игнорируют.
After "hate".
He remembers being told about the problem.
Он помнит, как ему говорили о проблеме.
After "remember".
I don't like being interrupted.
Я не люблю, когда меня перебивают.
After "like" in negative.
A passive gerund can follow a preposition when the action is passive.
For example, He was criticized for being late and She left without being seen.
He was criticized for being late.
Его критиковали за опоздание.
After preposition "for".
She left without being seen.
Она ушла незамеченной.
After preposition "without".
He apologized for being rude.
Он извинился за грубость.
After "for".
Certain adjective and fixed expressions can be followed by passive gerund structures.
For example, She is tired of being treated unfairly and He is afraid of being recognized.
She is tired of being treated unfairly.
Она устала от несправедливого обращения.
After adjective + preposition "tired of".
He is afraid of being recognized.
Он боится, что его узнают.
After "afraid of".
They are used to being ignored.
Они привыкли к тому, что их игнорируют.
After "used to" (accustomed to).
The perfect passive gerund is formed with having been followed by a past participle.
It refers to a passive action that happened before the action or situation expressed by the main clause.
She apologized for having been treated unfairly.
Она извинилась за то, что с ней несправедливо обошлись.
having been + past participle.
He denied having been informed.
Он отрицал, что был проинформирован.
Perfect passive gerund after "deny".
Having been warned, he left.
Будучи предупреждённым, он ушёл.
Perfect passive participial clause.
Perfect passive gerunds are used when the earlier timing of a passive action needs to be made explicit.
For example, She apologized for having been treated unfairly and He denied having been informed.
She apologized for having been treated unfairly.
Она извинилась за то, что с ней несправедливо обошлись.
After "apologize for".
He denied having been informed.
Он отрицал, что был проинформирован.
After "deny".
I regret having been so rude.
Я сожалею, что был так груб.
After "regret".
The choice between a passive infinitive and a passive gerund depends on the grammatical pattern required by the preceding word or structure.
For example, He hopes to be invited but He dislikes being ignored.
He hopes to be invited.
Он надеется, что его пригласят.
Passive infinitive after "hope".
He dislikes being ignored.
Он не любит, когда его игнорируют.
Passive gerund after "dislike".
She wants to be informed.
Она хочет, чтобы её информировали.
Passive infinitive.
Modal and semi-modal constructions can be followed by passive infinitive patterns.
For example, The work must be completed, The problem needs to be solved, and The device is supposed to be tested.
The work must be completed.
Работа должна быть завершена.
Modal + be + past participle.
The problem needs to be solved.
Проблему нужно решить.
Semi-modal "need to" + passive infinitive.
The device is supposed to be tested.
Устройство должно быть протестировано.
Semi-modal "be supposed to" + passive infinitive.
Reporting structures frequently use passive infinitives to report beliefs, expectations, or claims about other events.
For example, He is believed to be living abroad and She is thought to have been informed.
He is believed to be living abroad.
Считается, что он живёт за границей.
Reporting structure with passive infinitive.
She is thought to have been informed.
Считается, что её проинформировали.
Perfect passive infinitive in reporting.
The company is expected to announce the results.
Ожидается, что компания объявит результаты.
Passive reporting structure.
Need and want can be followed by passive infinitive constructions when the subject is the receiver of the action.
For example, The car needs to be repaired and She wants to be invited.
The car needs to be repaired.
Машину нужно отремонтировать.
After "need".
She wants to be invited.
Она хочет, чтобы её пригласили.
After "want".
They need to be informed.
Их нужно проинформировать.
After "need".
Some verbs can take passive gerunds to describe remembered, regretted, or denied experiences.
For example, He remembers being warned and She regrets being treated that way.
He remembers being warned.
Он помнит, как его предупреждали.
After "remember".
She regrets being treated that way.
Она сожалеет, что с ней так обошлись.
After "regret".
I remember being told about it.
Я помню, как мне об этом говорили.
Passive gerund after "remember".
Passive participial clauses can shorten clauses when the relationship between the actions is clear.
For example, Having been warned about the risks, he decided not to continue.
Having been warned about the risks, he decided not to continue.
Будучи предупреждённым о рисках, он решил не продолжать.
Perfect passive participial clause.
Warned about the risks, he decided not to continue.
Предупреждённый о рисках, он решил не продолжать.
Simple passive participial clause.
Having been repaired, the car worked perfectly.
После ремонта машина работала отлично.
Perfect passive participial clause.
Having been + past participle can express a passive action completed before the main clause.
For example, Having been informed of the change, the employees adjusted their plans.
Having been informed of the change, the employees adjusted their plans.
Будучи проинформированными об изменении, сотрудники скорректировали планы.
Having been + past participle.
Having been warned, he left immediately.
Будучи предупреждённым, он сразу ушёл.
Perfect passive participial clause.
Having been repaired, the car worked perfectly.
После ремонта машина работала отлично.
Perfect passive participial clause.
A possessive form can identify the person or thing associated with a passive gerund.
For example, I objected to his being treated unfairly and They were surprised at the company's being sold.
I objected to his being treated unfairly.
Я возражал против несправедливого обращения с ним.
Possessive + passive gerund.
They were surprised at the company's being sold.
Они были удивлены продажей компании.
Possessive + passive gerund.
We appreciated your being honest.
Мы оценили вашу честность.
Possessive + passive gerund (being + adjective).
The simple passive infinitive normally refers to a simultaneous or later action, while the perfect passive infinitive refers to an earlier action.
Compare He is expected to be promoted with He is believed to have been promoted already.
He is expected to be promoted.
Ожидается, что его повысят.
Simple passive infinitive: simultaneous or later action.
He is believed to have been promoted already.
Считается, что его уже повысили.
Perfect passive infinitive: earlier action.
The report is expected to be finished soon.
Ожидается, что отчёт скоро будет готов.
Simple passive infinitive for future.
Passive infinitives and gerunds are common in formal, academic, and professional English.
They allow writers to focus on processes, results, and affected participants without repeatedly identifying agents.
The samples were collected.
Образцы были собраны.
Formal scientific passive.
The results should be analyzed.
Результаты следует проанализировать.
Academic passive.
The data must be protected.
Данные должны быть защищены.
Professional passive.
Use the correct passive infinitive or gerund form according to the grammatical pattern and time relationship.
Common mistakes include using to be after a preposition, using being instead of been in perfect constructions, confusing to be done with being done, and using the active infinitive or gerund when a passive form is required.
The work needs to being done.
Работу нужно сделать.
Incorrect: use "to be done", not "to being done".
She hates to be ignored.
Она ненавидит, когда её игнорируют.
Acceptable but less common than "being ignored".
He is believed to have being killed.
Считается, что он был убит.
Incorrect: use "to have been killed".
I am interested in to be taught.
Мне интересно, чтобы меня учили.
Incorrect: use "in being taught" after preposition.