Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

The passive | 797

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AGENT PHRASES

481

Agent phrases most typically begin with by:

I was sort of adopted 

by a wonderful family.

Pollution in cities is also caused 

by cars, lorries, big buses, trains.

Other prepositions are used when the grammatical subject of the equivalent active

clause is not the true active agent of an event. This often occurs with stative verbs:

The instructions are included 

on a separate sheet.

(active equivalent: ‘This sheet includes the instructions.’; the sheet is not the

true active agent – the agent is the person who included the instructions)

Clothes are sold 

in supermarkets these days.

(active equivalent: ‘Supermarkets sell clothes these days.’; the true agent of the

selling is ‘companies’ – supermarkets are the places where the clothes are sold)

I got covered 

in mud when I fell.