The houses are not built

Дополнение с предлогом by в страдательном залоге часто опускается, если оно выражено личным местоимением.

Не broke the cup. – The cup was broken (by him). – Чашку разбили.

My brother broke the cup. – The cup was broken by my brother. – Чашка была разбита моим братом.

Если сказуемое в страдательной конструкции выражено глаголом с предлогом, то подлежащее переводят дополнением с соответствующим предлогом, а сказуемое – неопределенно-личной формой глагола:

She was waited for. – Ее ждали.

She was listened to. – Ее слушали.

She was looked at. – На нее посмотрели.

She was talked about. – О ней говорили.

She was sent for. – За ней послали.

She was laughed at. – Над ней смеялись.

The house was not lived in. – В доме не жили.

The bed was not slept in. – В кровати не спали.

Если сказуемое действительного залога выражено сочетанием модального глагола с инфинитивом, то в страдательном залоге ему соответствует сочетание того же модального глагола с инфинитивом в страдательном залоге:

Не must do it today. – It must be done today.

She should write the letter today. – The letter should be written today.

We must wash our hands before eating. – Our hands must be washed before eating.

Система видовременных форм глаголов (Passive Voice)

Исходная форма	Present	Past	Future
Indefinite to be written	The letters are written regularly. Письма пишутся регулярно.	The letters were written yesterday. Письма были написаны вчера.	The letters will be written tomorrow. Письма будут написаны завтра.
Continuous to be being writing	The letters are being written at the moment. В данный момент письма пишутся.	The letters were being written when he asked for them. Письма писали, когда он спросил о них.
Perfect to have been written	The letter has just been written. Письмо только что написано.	The letters had been written when he asked for them. Письма уже написали, когда он спросил про них.	The letters will have been written when he asks for them. Письма напишут к тому времени, когда он спросит о них.

Exercises

Practice saying these sentences and answer the questions.

1. a) The secretary will mail these letters tomorrow, b) These letters will be mailed tomorrow, and what about these ones? 2. a) Someone ought to wash those dishes right away, b) Those dishes ought to be washed right away, and what about these ones? 3. a) The factory pro­duced 5.000 cars every day last year, b) 5.000 cars were produced every day last year, and what about this year? 4. a) People drink a great deal of tea in England, b) A great deal of tea is drunk in England, and what about your country? 5. a) Craftsmen make many beautiful objects of paper in Japan, b) Many beautiful objects of paper are made in Japan, and what about India? 6. a) They used to sell medicine here, b) Medicine is used to be sold here, and where is it sold now? 7. a) You must return these books within a fortnight, b) These books must be returned within a fortnight, and what about those ones? 8. a) A gang of workmen built this house in 1840, b) This house was built in 1840, and what about that one?

Put the sentences into the Passive Voice where possible.

1. Someone will drive you to the airport.

2. Goldfish live in fresh water.

3. The Egyptians built pyramids.

4. We walked 4 miles yesterday.

5. They arrived at 7 last night.

6. They informed me about it.

7. I slept till 8.

8. It's raining.

9. You must obey the rules.

10. He's sneezing again.

11. You can buy videos like this anywhere.

12. Someone has to write the history of this place.

13. They have sold their car to pay the debts.

14. They hold a meeting in the village hall once a week.

15. They have proved that there is no life on the Moon.

16. They owe a lot of money to the bank.