Passive -ing forms
Definition
A passive -ing form presents the person or thing affected by an action rather than the agent. The basic form is being + past participle. The perfect form is having been + past participle.
being + past participle
Examples
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Maya dislikes being interrupted.
The passive -ing form functions as the complement of dislikes.
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The documents need checking before being sent.
The passive form follows the preposition before.
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Having been warned about the delay, we left early.
The perfect passive form shows that the warning happened before the leaving.
Active vs. passive -ing form
Maya dislikes interrupting people.
Maya performs the action of interrupting.
Maya dislikes being interrupted.
Maya receives the action.
The active form focuses on the performer. The passive form focuses on the person or thing affected.
The perfect form establishes an earlier passive event
Having been + past participle is used when the passive event happened before the event in the main clause. It is especially common in formal written clauses.
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Having been selected for the final, Leo began training harder.
The selection happened before the training began.
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She denied having been told about the change.
The perfect passive form presents the alleged telling as earlier.
Common mistakes
Maya dislikes being interrupt.
Maya dislikes being interrupted.
Use a past participle after being.
Having warned about the delay, we left early.
Having been warned about the delay, we left early.
Include been when the subject received the warning.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence contains a passive -ing form?
Being photographed is being + past participle.Which perfect passive -ing form is correct?
The perfect passive form is having been + past participle.Which sentence shows that the subject receives the action?
In being praised, the subject receives the praise.Nice work — you've completed the quick check.
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