Grammar Geek  +  575770 Sun, 12 Oct 08 09:55 PM  For the passive to work, the verb needs an element of action. He bought the car. The car was bought. He dented the car. The car was dented. He stole the car. The car was stolen.  It does not work with "to have" which simply shows possession. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,683 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Verbs

	AlpheccaStars  +  575782 Sun, 12 Oct 08 10:58 PM The verbs which cannot be used in passive voice are called "intransitive" verbs. They do not require a direct object.  Verbs that can be used in both active and passive voice are "transitive" verbs. They require an object. In a good dictionary, you will see in the definition of a verb:  vi. (verb, intransitive)  vt. (verb, transitive). Most English verbs have both transitive and intransitive forms. A good dictionary will give separate definitions for each form.  I swam every morning. (intransitive, there is no direct object, so the sentence cannot be re-written in passive voice) Martha Jones swam the English Channel in record time. / The English Channel was swum in record time by Martha Jones.  (transitive) The curtains caught on fire. (intransitive, there is no direct object, so the sentence cannot be re-written in passive voice) Joe caught the ball. / The ball was caught. (transitive) AlpheccaStars Joined on Sun, Oct 12 2008 Senior Member 3,508 The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) Verbs, Direct Objects

	AlpheccaStars  +  575786 Sun, 12 Oct 08 11:12 PM Have can be transitive and used in passive voice, but is not commonly used. We do say: A great time was had by all.  For possession in the passive voice, we usually use a different verb than have, such as own or hold. The car was owned by him.  The stocks were held in trust.  AlpheccaStars Verbs