Gerundios e Infinitivos Pasivos (being done / to be done)
being done y to be done.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use passive gerunds and infinitives when the 'receiver' of an action is the focus of a secondary verb phrase.
- Passive Gerund: Use 'being + past participle' after verbs like enjoy, hate, or avoid (e.g., 'I enjoy being pampered').
- Passive Infinitive: Use 'to be + past participle' after verbs like want, hope, or need (e.g., 'I want to be heard').
- Perfect Forms: Use 'having been' or 'to have been' for actions that happened before the main verb.
Overview
being directed (siendo dirigida) por alguien más? ¿O tal vez estás esperando ese mensaje de Slack de alta prioridad to be sent (para ser enviado) antes de poder desconectarte? Si alguna vez has sentido el aguijonazo de being ghosted (ser ignorado/ghosteado) o la alegría de being invited (ser invitado) a una fiesta secreta, ya estás usando gerundios e infinitivos pasivos.How This Grammar Works
-ing) o un infinitivo estándar (to + verbo) y le encajas una pieza pasiva. Para los gerundios, esa pieza es being.to be. Una vez que tienes eso, añades el participio pasado (la tercera columna de tu lista de verbos). La lógica es simple: el sujeto de la oración no está haciendo nada.Odio being interrupted (ser interrumpido) durante mi maratón de Netflix, tú no eres el que interrumpe. Eres la víctima.
Formation Pattern
being y añade el Past Participle (V3).
to, añade be y luego el Past Participle.
having been + Past Participle.
to have been + Past Participle.
When To Use It
being humbled (ser humillado/puesto en tu sitio) por un niño pequeño, ahí tienes tu gerundio. Usa el infinitivo pasivo cuando hables de metas, expectativas o posibilidades.I expect to be challenged (espero ser desafiado). No olvides el truco del inglés británico donde need + -ing es pasivo: My car needs washing significa en realidad que necesita to be washed.
Common Mistakes
I hate being interrupten lugar de
I hate being interrupted. Otro clásico es mezclar los significados activo y pasivo. I want to invitesignifica que tú eres el anfitrión.
I want to be invited significa que esperas la invitación. Cuidado también con la doble pasiva. The work is needed to be donees torpe. Quédate con
The work needs to be done.Contrast With Similar Patterns
The cake was eaten) es una oración completa.
reducidas que encajan dentro de otras oraciones. Actúan como sustantivos o adjetivos. Compara to be done con to do.Tengo deberes to do (yo los hago). Hay deberes to be done (enfoque en la tarea).Quick FAQ
P: ¿Puedo usar being con cualquier verbo?
R: Casi siempre, pero debe ser un verbo transitivo.
P: ¿Es needs cleaning lo mismo que needs to be cleaned?
R: ¡Sí! La versión en -ing es más informal y común en el Reino Unido.
Formation of Passive Gerunds and Infinitives
| Type | Structure | Example Verb: 'Watch' | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Passive Gerund
|
being + V3
|
being watched
|
I hate being watched.
|
|
Passive Infinitive
|
to be + V3
|
to be watched
|
I want to be watched.
|
|
Perfect Passive Gerund
|
having been + V3
|
having been watched
|
He mentioned having been watched.
|
|
Perfect Passive Infinitive
|
to have been + V3
|
to have been watched
|
He claimed to have been watched.
|
|
Negative Gerund
|
not being + V3
|
not being watched
|
I enjoy not being watched.
|
|
Negative Infinitive
|
not to be + V3
|
not to be watched
|
I prefer not to be watched.
|
Meanings
These structures allow us to use the passive voice within gerund (-ing) and infinitive (to-) phrases, shifting the focus from the doer to the receiver of the action.
Standard Passive Gerund
Used after verbs, prepositions, or as subjects where the action is done to the subject.
“Being chosen for the team was a huge honor.”
“She is tired of being treated like a child.”
Standard Passive Infinitive
Used after verbs that require an infinitive to show an action happening to the subject.
“The documents need to be signed immediately.”
“I hope to be promoted by the end of the year.”
Perfect Passive Forms
Used to indicate that the passive action occurred before the time of the main verb.
“He was proud of having been selected for the award.”
“The suspect claimed to have been framed by the police.”
Reference Table
| Contexto | Forma Activa | Ejemplo Gerundio Pasivo | Ejemplo Infinitivo Pasivo | Enfoque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tras preposiciones
|
*They accused him of* taking a bribe.
|
He was accused *of being bribed*.
|
N/A
|
Acción recibida tras preposición
|
|
Verbos con gerundio
|
*She dislikes people interrupting* her.
|
She dislikes *being interrupted*.
|
N/A
|
El sujeto recibe una acción que le desagrada
|
|
Verbos con infinitivo
|
*He expects his boss to promote* him.
|
N/A
|
He expects *to be promoted*.
|
El sujeto espera recibir la acción
|
|
Tras adjetivos
|
*It's hard for people to see* him.
|
N/A
|
It's hard for him *to be seen*.
|
El sujeto recibe la acción basada en el adjetivo
|
|
Expresar necesidad
|
*Someone needs to fix* the car.
|
The car needs *being fixed*. (UK)
|
The car needs *to be fixed*. (US/UK)
|
El coche necesita que se le aplique una acción
|
|
Evitar al agente
|
*People often misunderstand* the policy.
|
The policy risks *being misunderstood*.
|
The policy is likely *to be misunderstood*.
|
La política recibe la acción; el autor es desconocido
|
|
Tras sustantivos
|
*There's nothing I can do.*
|
N/A
|
There's nothing *to be done*.
|
No queda ninguna acción por realizar
|
Espectro de formalidad
The petitioner requested to be heard by the council. (Communication)
I really want to be heard. (Communication)
I just wanna be heard, you know? (Communication)
I need my voice to be heard, fr. (Communication)
Gerundios e Infinitivos Pasivos
Gerundio Pasivo
- being told She dislikes being told what to do.
- being praised He enjoys being praised for his efforts.
Infinitivo Pasivo
- to be seen It's impossible to be seen in this fog.
- to be fixed The car needs to be fixed.
Activo vs. Pasivo
Eligiendo la forma correcta
¿El sujeto recibe la acción?
¿La palabra anterior es una preposición?
¿La palabra anterior pide infinitivo?
Cuándo usar cada forma
Gerundios Pasivos
- • Tras preposiciones (ej. *of being accused*)
- • Tras verbos de gerundio (ej. *dislikes being told*)
- • Tras 'worth' (ej. *worth being read*)
Infinitivos Pasivos
- • Tras verbos de infinitivo (ej. *expects to be promoted*)
- • Tras adjetivos (ej. *happy to be chosen*)
- • Tras sustantivos (ej. *nothing to be done*)
- • Con 'too/enough' (ej. *too hot to be drunk*)
Ejemplos por nivel
I like being helped.
I like being helped.
I want to be a doctor.
I want to be a doctor.
He likes being with friends.
He likes being with friends.
She wants to be loved.
She wants to be loved.
I hate being late.
I hate being late.
The car needs to be washed.
The car needs to be washed.
She enjoys being told stories.
She enjoys being told stories.
They hope to be invited to the party.
They hope to be invited to the party.
He is afraid of being bitten by a dog.
He is afraid of being bitten by a dog.
The letter needs to be sent today.
The letter needs to be sent today.
I don't mind being asked to help.
I don't mind being asked to help.
She expects to be promoted soon.
She expects to be promoted soon.
He narrowly avoided being arrested.
He narrowly avoided being arrested.
The results are yet to be confirmed.
The results are yet to be confirmed.
I remember being taken to the circus as a child.
I remember being taken to the circus as a child.
The project is considered to be finished.
The project is considered to be finished.
Having been warned about the risks, he proceeded anyway.
Having been warned about the risks, he proceeded anyway.
The candidate resented being questioned about her private life.
The candidate resented being questioned about her private life.
To be seen as a leader, one must act with integrity.
To be seen as a leader, one must act with integrity.
The building is said to have been built in the 12th century.
The building is said to have been built in the 12th century.
The sheer indignity of being overlooked for the role was too much to bear.
The sheer indignity of being overlooked for the role was too much to bear.
The manuscript, having been meticulously restored, is now on display.
The manuscript, having been meticulously restored, is now on display.
He was to have been executed at dawn, but a pardon arrived.
He was to have been executed at dawn, but a pardon arrived.
There is a certain satisfaction in being proven right after so much doubt.
There is a certain satisfaction in being proven right after so much doubt.
Fácil de confundir
Both use 'being', but one is a noun-form and the other is a main verb.
Both have a passive meaning, but 'need + -ing' is more informal.
Learners use the simple form when the action clearly happened earlier.
Errores comunes
I like be helped.
I like being helped.
The car needs wash.
The car needs to be washed.
I am afraid of being forget.
I am afraid of being forgotten.
He claimed to have invited to the party.
He claimed to have been invited to the party.
Patrones de oraciones
I can't stand ___ (being + V3).
The ___ needs to be ___ (V3).
___ (Having been + V3), the subject ___.
It is an honor to be ___ (V3).
Real World Usage
I am comfortable with being held accountable for my team's performance.
I'm tired of being left out of the group chat.
The defendant requested to be represented by a public defender.
I would like to be notified when the item is back in stock.
The samples need to be kept at a constant temperature.
We were lucky to have been upgraded to first class.
¡Ojo con la palabra anterior!
She enjoys being praised.
No confundas activo con pasivo
The house needs to be cleaned.
Cambia el enfoque
The decision was made to be heard.
Matices formales vs. informales
The report is to be submitted.
Domina los participios pasados
Being taken.Cuidado con 'needs + gerund'
The grass needs to be cut.
Smart Tips
Replace 'I' or 'We' with a passive gerund as the subject.
Use the passive gerund to talk about things that happened to you in the past.
Think of it as a 'past' version of 'being'.
Ask yourself: Is the subject doing the action or is the action happening to them?
Pronunciación
Stress on 'being'
In the phrase 'being done', the word 'being' is often slightly reduced, but the past participle carries the main stress.
Rising on the participle
Do you like being ⤴️praised?
Conveys a genuine question about a feeling.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
BEING is for the feeling (gerunds), TO BE is the goal to see (infinitives).
Asociación visual
Imagine yourself sitting in a chair while a team of robots works on you. You are 'being served' (gerund) because you 'want to be fixed' (infinitive).
Rhyme
When the action is done to you, 'being' or 'to be' is what you do.
Story
A famous actor hates 'being followed' by cameras. He decided 'to be hidden' in a small village. After 'having been found' by a fan, he realized he could never escape 'being recognized'.
Word Web
Desafío
Write three sentences about your dream job using 'being' or 'to be' (e.g., 'I look forward to being given more responsibility').
Notas culturales
British English frequently uses 'needs doing' as a shorthand for 'needs to be done'. This is very common in domestic contexts.
American English almost exclusively prefers 'needs to be done' or 'needs doing' depending on the region, but 'needs to be' is the standard in formal writing.
In academic circles, passive gerunds are used to maintain objectivity and avoid the first person 'I'.
The passive gerund and infinitive evolved as English moved from a highly inflected language (Old English) to an analytic one (Middle/Modern English), requiring auxiliary verbs like 'be' to express voice.
Inicios de conversación
How do you feel about being told what to do at work?
Have you ever risked being caught doing something you shouldn't have?
What is something that absolutely needs to be changed in your city?
Can you think of a time when you were proud of having been chosen for a task?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
The students complained about ___ unfairly.
Find and fix the mistake:
She hopes to give a promotion next month.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /3
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesHe narrowly avoided ___ (hit) by the falling branch.
The suspect denied ___ by the police earlier that day.
Find and fix the mistake:
I want to being invited to the gala.
I remember ___ to school by my mother.
The negative 'not' should be placed between 'being' and the past participle.
A: Why are you so upset? B: I'm tired of ___ like I don't know anything!
Select the correct form.
Active: 'to help'
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesHe dislikes ___ told what to do by his younger brother.
The package expects to deliver by tomorrow.
Choose the correct sentence:
Traduce al inglés: 'El trabajo necesita ser completado pronto.'
Ordena las palabras para formar la oración:
Empareja los verbos/frases con su forma pasiva correspondiente:
I hate ___ watched when I'm eating.
It's important being recognized for your hard work.
Choose the correct sentence:
Traduce al inglés: 'No le gusta que le pidan favores.'
Ordena las palabras:
Empareja según la forma pasiva que suelen tomar:
Score: /12
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
It depends on the verb that comes before it. Some verbs (like 'enjoy') need the -ing form (`being done`), while others (like 'want') need the to-form (`to be done`).
You use `having been` when you want to emphasize that the passive action was completed before the main action of the sentence began.
Yes! In British English especially, `needs + -ing` is a common, informal way to express a passive need. It's the same as `needs to be washed`.
Always at the very beginning of the phrase: `not being seen` or `not to be seen`.
Yes, very often! Phrases like `I hate being told what to do` or `It needs to be fixed` are used every day.
We use `to have been + V3` to talk about past events, often with verbs like 'claim', 'seem', or 'believe' (e.g., 'He seems to have been forgotten').
No, it can also be part of a continuous tense (e.g., 'I am being helpful'), but in this rule, we focus on its use as a gerund.
Yes! For example: `Being elected president changed his life.` Here, the passive gerund is the subject.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ser + participio / se-passive
English uses the -ing form (being) where Spanish would use a reflexive verb or a 'que' clause.
être + participe passé
French does not have a direct equivalent to the English gerund (-ing), usually using the infinitive instead.
werden + Partizip II
The word order is different, with 'werden' coming at the end of the phrase.
〜られる (-rareru)
Passive is a conjugation of the main verb, not a separate phrase.
Internal Passive (Maul)
There is no auxiliary verb like 'be' used to form the passive in Classical Arabic.
被 (bèi) + Verb
Chinese does not have infinitives or gerunds that conjugate, so the 'bèi' structure is used for all such meanings.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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