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Verbs with prepositions in the passive

The plan has been looked at carefully.​

The objects of prepositional verbs can become subjects in passive structures.

  • We have looked at the plan carefully. → The plan has been looked at carefully.
  • Nobody listens to her. → She is never listened to.
  • Somebody has paid for your meal. → Your meal has been paid for.

Note the word order. The preposition cannot be dropped.

  • I don’t like to be shouted at. (not I don’t like to be shouted.)
note

For more about prepositions at the ends of clauses, (see here).

Stones were thrown at him.​

If there is already a direct object, the second object (after the preposition) cannot become a passive subject.

  • They threw stones at him. → Stones were thrown at him. (but not He was thrown stones at.)
  • They stole a bicycle from him. → A bicycle was stolen from him. (but not He was stolen a bicycle from.)
  • They poured water on us. → Water was poured on us. (but not We were poured water on.)

Note that possessive nouns or pronouns cannot become passive subjects, either.

  • They called Mr Archer’s name. → Mr Archer’s name was called. (but not Mr Archer was name called.)
  • I broke her mirror. → Her mirror was broken. (but not She was broken her mirror.)

give, send, etc​

Verbs like give, send, lend can have two objects with no preposition (e.g. They gave him a gold watch). For the passive of this structure (e.g. He was given a gold watch, A gold watch was given to him), (see here).

note

For structures with have + object + past participle (e.g. We had water poured on us), (see here), (see here).