Advanced grammar/進んでいる文法

Hello!

On this page I will show some points of advanced grammar (進んでいる文法). I will add more as I go along. 

Passive forms/受動態

What is the passive form? I will show you here!

The passive voice is used when we want to talk about an action. It is not important, or even known who or what is performing the action.

例えば: I lost my Suica card. 

The important thing is that my Suica card is lost. But - I don't know howit happened.

So I can say - My Suica card was lost.

Sometimes saying something in passive is more polite than in the active voice.

例えば: A mistake was made.

In this case, a mistake was made, but I do not say that someone else did it (as in, "you have made a mistake").

例えば:

ACTIVE-PASSIVE 

He left his keys on the table.
His keys were left on the table. 

She couldn't find her wallet.
Her wallet couldn't be found.

I forgot my bad feelings over time.
My bad feelings were forgotten over time.

They delivered the books to the room.
The books were delivered to the room.

Someone uploaded software on some computers.
Some software was uploaded on the computers.

Examples of passive sentences taken and modified from http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive

Present perfect tense/現在完了


What is the present perfect tense? It is used for actions from the past that still have an impact now.

I have worked at my university since 2009.

You have been students here since last year.

They have started their new jobs from this morning.

2. It is also used for talking about life or working experiences without saying any time period or point.

I've (= I have) worked at a number of universities, colleges, and schools.

He's (= he has) traveled around many countries in Europe and Asia.

She's gone back and forth between the Philippines and Japan.

3. We can also use it in time expressions that connect the past to the present.

So far, I've worked every weekend this month.

Over the last few days, they'vehad a lot to do.

I will add more to this page when I can. Keep checking!