They expect to be invited
Here, this sentence is a passive voice. What is the active voice of it. If it haven't then give reasons please.
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3What do you think? – BillJ Jun 16 '18 at 18:25
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1It really is not a passive. Generally, passives with action verbs. Not stative (aka state aka static) verbs. grammaring.com/state-verbs-and-action-verbs That is a beginner's guide. – Lambie Jun 16 '18 at 21:54
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But @Lambie, both verbs here can be passivised: e.g. "that was not expected", "they were invited". The main verb here is active, but the verb in the infintive clause "invited" is passive. – user178049 Jun 17 '18 at 2:36
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The active voice of the infinitive clause should be "They expect someone to invite them" – user178049 Jun 17 '18 at 2:38
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Your sentence is called a 'short'' passive, i.e. one without an agent. There can be no active version unless a by phrase is added, e.g. "They expect [to be invited by the mayor]" ~ "They expect [the mayor to invite them]". Note that only the bracketed subordinate clause can be passivised. – BillJ Jun 17 '18 at 5:38
The sentence you give is in the active voice.
The passive version of the sentence could be something like:
An invitation is expected.
If you're actually talking about the passive infinitive of to be invited then a similar change could be made to the original sentence:
They expect an invitation.
Or, to assume more about the context and keep the second verb:
They expect their friends will invite them.
answered Jun 16 '18 at 20:03
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1The main verb is active, but contains a passive infinitive. OP may be thinking of how does one turn that infinitive into an active sentence – eques Jun 16 '18 at 20:55
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@eques Noted. It's not clear from the question if that's the issue (I hadn't assumed so). But I've updated my answer. – Jason Bassford Jun 16 '18 at 21:24
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The OP's example is a 'short'' passive, i.e. one without an agent. Adding a by phrase gives, for example "They expect [to be invited by the mayor]" which does of course have the active ~ "They expect [the mayor to invite them]". Note that only the bracketed subordinate clause can be passivised in this instance. – BillJ Jun 17 '18 at 5:44
