39. Focus on: passive phrasal verbs, 3

As we saw in Section 13, the passive is formed with be and the past participle of the verb. A number of modal auxiliary verbs and similar constructions are commonly used with be:

The meat will be chopped up by the cook.

Mark would never be picked up at the airport by a limo.

This mess can be straightened out only by me.

Such a huge country couldn't be taken over easily.

Her name should be crossed off the list.

The gas tank ought to be filled up before you return the car.

The concert might be sold out.

Your paychecks may not be picked up until after 5:00.

The enemy must be wiped out.

I have to be picked up on time.

The fruit has to be chopped up with a clean knife.

This screwup had better be straightened out soon or you will be fired!

This stuff was supposed to be taken over to Nancy's house yesterday.

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Recall from Section 28 that phrasal verbs in the passive cannot be separated by an object because in a passive sentence there is no object.

1. chop... up p.v. When you chop something up, you cut it into small pieces with a knife or other sharp instrument.

Does this meat have to be chopped up?

Chop it up into pieces about half an inch in size.

chopped up part.adj. After something has been cut into small pieces with a knife or other sharp instrument, it is chopped up.

Mix the chopped-up onions and celery with the mayonnaise.