Study: Special care should be taken with the passive forms of verbs and phraseological units taking prepositional objects: the verb and the preposition following it always stay together while the noun-object (or pronoun) becomes the subject of the passive construction.
Active: They laughed at him.
Passive: He was laughed at.
Active: They looked down upon him.
Passive: He was looked down upon.
Active: They did away with the old rules.
Passive: The old rules were done away with.
Note: When phrasal (compound) verbs are followed by a direct object without a preposition, remember to keep the two parts of the phrasal verb together in a passive structure. Active: They knocked down old building}, in the centre of the town.
Passive: Old buildings in the centre of the town were knocked down.
Prepositional verbs in the Passive Voice account for - to give an explanation or reason for
His foolish behaviour could not be accounted for.
arrive at - (a decision, conclusion, agreement) - to reach, to come to
After many hours' talk the decision was arrived at. fask for - to make a request for
Have I been asked for at the hotel? approve of - to consider good, right, wise (disapprove of - to consider bad, wrong, unwise)
His request was disapproved of.
His behaviour can't be approved of. break into - to enter by force: to break into a house
Their house was broken into last night but nothing was
stolen.
bring up - to educate and care for the family until grown up, to bring up children
It was clear that the child had been brought up well. call for - to demand, to call for the waiter, to call for the bill
At the end of the meal the bill was called for. comment on - to make a remark, give an opinion
The election results were widely commented on in the
newspapers. deal with - to do business
This store has been dealt with for twenty years. depend on - to trust (usually someone)
You 'II be depended on to do it. hear from - to receive news from (someone) usually by letter
He hasn't been heard of since he telephoned. hear of - to know of (a fact, existence of something or somebody), to hear about
This young tennis player has been heard of quite a lot
lately.
insist on (upon) - to declare firmly (when opposed)
His going away was insisted on.
interfere with - to get in the way of another, to prevent from happening
He doesn't like to be interfered with while he is working. laugh at - to treat as foolish, worthless or an object of fun
Don't say such foolish things! You 'II be laughed at. listen to - to give attention in hearing
He was listened to attentively. look at - to give attention in seeing
She was looked at with surprise. look after - to take care of someone or something
Are you being well looked after? look for - to try to find
The boy who disappeared from home last week is still being looked for. look into - to examine the meaning or causes of something
The matter will be looked into in the near future. mock at - to laugh at (someone or something) when it is wrong to do so
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His strange way of expressing himself is always mocked at. object to - to be against something or someone
His proposal was strongly objected to. pick on - to choose something or someone
Any student can be picked on to answer the examiners'
questions. provide for - support, supply with necessary things
She was well provided for in her husband's will. read to - to say printed or written words especially to give pleasure to others
Little children like to be read to.
refer to - mention, speak about
Later the Minister's report was referred to. rely on - to trust someone to do something
He can be relied on to help you. send for - to give a command, request
When they found her lying on the floor the doctor was
sent for. shout at - to give a loud cry, speak or say very loudly
/ hate to be shouted at. I like people to be nice to me. to think highly (well, little, poorly) of someone or somebody -to have a good (bad, etc) opinion of someone or something
He was highly thought of in his town.
wait for - to stay somewhere without doing anything until somebody or something comes or something happens
Hurry up. You are being waited for downstairs. write to - to produce and send (a letter)
Will Rill be written to and introduced about the
changes?
