Passive verbs with two objects

Passive verbs with two objects: Grammar chart

Download full-size image from Pinterest

In a passive sentence, the subject is the object of the corresponding active sentence.

• Somebody said something.
• Something was said (by somebody).

Some verbs can take two objects. Some of these verbs are bring, get, give, make, offer, promise, send, show, etc.

• I sent my friends a picture. (= I sent a picture to my friends.)

With these verbs, it is possible to make two different passive sentences because you can use either of the two objects as the subject of the passive sentence:

• My friends were sent a picture.
• A picture was sent to my friends.

It is more common to begin the passive sentence with the person: My friends were sent a picture.