English grammar
Passive: the person as subject (are informed) vs the thing as subject (for sale)
Understand official notices that put the person first (residents are informed) and the ones that put the thing first (flats for sale).
From the scene Residents are hereby informed
In short
In formal notices, the person is the subject of the passive: Residents are hereby informed that…
Your turn
Which one goes with person as subject: notify someone?
Options: residents are kindly asked · tenants are hereby notified · residents are hereby informed
Show answer
person as subject: notify someone → tenants are hereby notified
How it works
Verbs like inform, notify and ask can take both a person and a thing (inform someone of something).
Good to know
In formal notices, English makes the PERSON the subject of the passive, not the thing: Residents are hereby informed that... (never 'it is informed to residents').
Good to know
When only a thing is involved, the thing becomes the subject: Flats with a lift for sale.
Good to know
Stressing the object pronoun underlines who is affected: nobody evicts ME.
person as subject: inform someone residents are hereby informed
Nuria
"Residents are hereby informed that the building has a new owner."
"Se informa a los vecinos de que la finca tiene nuevo propietario."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"(blank) that the building has a new owner."
Options: Residents are kindly asked · Residents are hereby informed · Tenants are hereby notified
Show answer
Nuria
"Residents are hereby informed that the building has a new owner."
"Se informa a los vecinos de que la finca tiene nuevo propietario."
person as subject: notify someone tenants are hereby notified
Javi
It goes on: "Tenants are hereby notified that they have a period of six months."
Aquí sigue: "Se comunica a los inquilinos que tienen un plazo de seis meses."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
It goes on: "(blank) that they have a period of six months."
Options: Residents are kindly asked · Tenants are hereby notified · Residents are hereby informed
Show answer
Javi
It goes on: "Tenants are hereby notified that they have a period of six months."
Aquí sigue: "Se comunica a los inquilinos que tienen un plazo de seis meses."
person as subject: ask someone (politely) residents are kindly asked
Javi
And at the bottom: "Residents are kindly asked not to tear down this notice."
Y al final: "Se ruega a los vecinos que no arranquen este aviso."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And at the bottom: "(blank) not to tear down this notice."
Options: Residents are hereby informed · Tenants are hereby notified · Residents are kindly asked
Show answer
Javi
And at the bottom: "Residents are kindly asked not to tear down this notice."
Y al final: "Se ruega a los vecinos que no arranquen este aviso."
person as subject: the passive of evict the tenants will be evicted
Javi
"Once that period is over, the tenants will be evicted."
"Pasado el plazo, se desalojará a los inquilinos."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"Once that period is over, (blank)."
Options: the tenants will be evicted · residents are hereby informed · tenants are hereby notified
Show answer
Javi
"Once that period is over, the tenants will be evicted."
"Pasado el plazo, se desalojará a los inquilinos."
stressed object pronoun nobody evicts ME
Common mistake
Not are being or have here. The future passive.
"Once that period is over, the tenants will be evicted."
"Pasado el plazo, se desalojará a los inquilinos."
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| person as subject: inform someone | residents are hereby informed |
|---|---|
| person as subject: notify someone | tenants are hereby notified |
| person as subject: ask someone (politely) | residents are kindly asked |
| person as subject: the passive of evict | the tenants will be evicted |
| stressed object pronoun | nobody evicts ME |
More lines from the story
- ElenaIt says "kindly asked", dear. And asking isn't ordering.Pone "se ruega", cariño. Y rogar no es obligar.
- NuriaSix months? A deadline for what?¿Seis meses? ¿Un plazo para qué?