Guided Practice

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN TRUE PASSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS AND STATIVE PASSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS

In the exercise below, you are to distinguish between true passive voice constructions and stative passive constructions. After reading each sentence, record your choice by clicking on either the word TRUE or on the word STATIVE. You will then be shown the answer.

Remember that a true passive construction indicates that an action is performed on the subject of the sentence, whereas a stative passive construction merely describes the state or condition of the subject.

1. A complete system of computer logic was devised by Charles Babbage. TRUE  STATIVE

2. Charles Babbage was excited about his accomplishment. TRUE  STATIVE

3. Unfortunately, Babbage's achievements were ignored by many people because Babbage had a difficult personality. TRUE  STATIVE

4. Charles Babbage was disappointed when people failed to acknowledge his accomplishment. TRUE  STATIVE

5. In 1793, a new kind of cotton-cleaning machine was built by Eli Whitney. TRUE  STATIVE

6. Whitney was thrilled because he felt certain that he would make a fortune with his new machine. TRUE  STATIVE

7. Unfortunately, one night his cotton-cleaning machine was stolen out of the carriage house where he kept it.
TRUE  STATIVE

8. After the theft of his machine, Whitney was depressed for a long time. TRUE  STATIVE

9. He was determined to find a way to become rich.
TRUE  STATIVE

10. During the war of 1812, the first precision rifles were mass-produced by Eli Whitney. TRUE  STATIVE

11. President Thomas Jefferson was delighted to have precision rifles in the hands of his army. TRUE  STATIVE

12. Whitney's rifles were the most perfect fire arms that had ever been manufactured. TRUE  STATIVE

13. In 1849, gold was discovered in California.
TRUE  STATIVE

14. People were excited about the discovery of gold, and they traveled to California in droves in hopes of becoming rich. TRUE  STATIVE

15. Before long, the new Californians realized that they were isolated from the East There was no longer any way for them to receive timely news from there. TRUE  STATIVE

16. The mail took several weeks to be delivered.
TRUE  STATIVE

17. People were dissatisfied with the slowness of the mail.
TRUE  STATIVE

18. In April of 1860, a new kind of mail service was established by three wealthy tycoons. TRUE  STATIVE

19. With this new service, the mail could be delivered to the west in ten days. TRUE  STATIVE

20. The new Californians were relieved because they could now receive news from the east. TRUE  STATIVE

21. The first electronic computer was built in England during World War II. TRUE  STATIVE

22. It was powered by five kinds of vacuum tubes.
TRUE  STATIVE

23. It was used by the British to break German codes.
TRUE  STATIVE

24. Immediately after the war, it was destroyed so that other countries would never find out how the British broke codes. TRUE  STATIVE

25. Since World War II, the electronic computer has been developed to a great extent in the United States.
TRUE  STATIVE

26. A significant number of electronic computers have been built in Great Britain, as well. TRUE  STATIVE

27. Today computers are manufactured in many cities of both Europe and North America. TRUE  STATIVE

28. Most modern computers are advanced, complicated, and sophisticated. TRUE  STATIVE

29. Today, millions of computers all over the world are connected to the internet. TRUE  STATIVE

30. Many of the countries of Europe are industrialized.
TRUE  STATIVE