Grammar: By Zombies

Last post before Christmas.  And a handy bit of advice from the English Grammar Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GrammarUpdates) page via my sister.  An easy way to identify the passive voice (where the object comes before the subject in the sentence, producing a slightly deadening construction) is to see whether you can add the words ‘by zombies’ after the verb.  Thus:

1. We attended the meeting (by zombies) – Active
2. The meeting was attended (by zombies) by us. – Passive

Or even:

1. Zombies taught (by zombies) us about the passive voice.
2. We were taught (by zombies) by zombies about the passive voice.

Next post on 6^th Jan.  See you in the New Year.

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Who Knew?

I have been reading ‘Grammar for Grown-Ups’ by Katherine Fry and Rowena Kirton. Highly recommended. Now, if a partner says, ‘I have been seeing someone else,’ I will be able to say, ‘I notice you are using the present perfect continuous tense.’