Verb + -ing or to-infinitive: passive forms

Active patterns with verb + -ing

active pattern: Verb + -ing + object               |              passive
• I enjoyed taking the children to the zoo.           |         • The children enjoyed being taken to the zoo.

Other verbs in this pattern include avoid, consider, delay, deny, describe, imagine, remember,

resent. (Notice that the verbs in this group do not have corresponding meanings in active and
passive sentences.


active pattern: Verb + object + -ing                                 passive
• They saw him climbing over the fence.                           • He was seen climbing over the fence.


Other verbs in this pattern include bring, catch, hear, find, keep, notice, send, show. Passives with these verbs and the verbs in the group above are only possible when the subject and object of the active and the subject of the passive are people.
Some verbs followed by an object+ -ing in the active have no passive:
• I appreciated you coming to see me. (but not You were appreciated...)
Other verbs like this include anticipate, dislike, dread, forget, hate, imagine, like, (not) mind, recall, remember.

Active patterns with verb + to-infinitive

active pattern: Verb + to infinitive + object                           passive
• His colleagues started to respect Tim.                               • Tim started to be respected (by his colleagues)


Other verbs in this pattern include appear, begin, come, continue, seem, tend; also agree, aim, attempt, hope, refuse, struggle, try. The verbs in the first group (and start) have corresponding meanings in active and passive sentences, but the verbs in the second group do not.
Compare:
• People came to recognise her as the leading violinist of her generation, (active) corresponds to :
• She came to be recognised as the leading violinist of her generation, (passive)
• The team captain hoped to select Kevin, (active) does not correspond to :
• Kevin hoped to be selected by the team captain, (passive)

active pattern: Verb + object + to infinitive                      passive
• Mr Price taught Peter to sing.                                        • Peter was taught to sing (by Mr Price).

Other verbs in this pattern include advise, allow, ask, believe, consider, expect, feel, instruct, mean, order, report, require, tell, understand.
Notice that in some contexts it is possible to make both verbs passive:
• Changes to the taxation system are expected to be proposed.
• She was required to be interviewed.
Some verbs followed by an object + to-infinitive in the active have no passive:
• Susan liked Tom to be there, (but not Tom was liked to be there.)
Other verbs like this include (can't) bear, hate, love, need, prefer, want, wish.