Intermediate 📐 Grammar · #291 of 305

Passive Gerunds and Infinitives

Use being done and to be done.

Examples

  • I hate being interrupted.
  • She wants to be invited.

Key rules

  • Passive gerund: being + past participle (I hate being interrupted)
  • Passive infinitive: to be + past participle (She wants to be invited)
  • Use after verbs and prepositions that need -ing or to
  • The doer is not important or is unknown

Common mistakes

  • I hate to interrupted → I hate being interrupted
  • She wants being invited → She wants to be invited
💡 Tip: Check if the verb takes -ing or to first.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Intermediate quiz
← It as Preparatory SubjectLinking Words of Contrast →

Related Intermediate topics

See all Intermediate grammar lessons →

Present Perfect Continuous

have been + -ing stresses duration up to now.

Past Perfect

had + past participle for an earlier past action.

Past Perfect Continuous

had been + -ing for duration before a past moment.

Future Continuous

will be + -ing for actions in progress at a future time.

Future Perfect

will have + past participle for completion before a future time.

Future Perfect Continuous

will have been + -ing for duration up to a future point.