The construction for passive voice (in verbs and nominalizations thereof) involves an optional [p en/by]-PP; the object of [p en/by] alternates with the subject in active voice.
While a variety of scene roles can be expressed with this phrase, the <i>functions</i> associated with passive [p en/by] are limited to [ss Agent] and [ss Force] (for participants within the event) and [ss Causer] (for a participant in a causing event):
- [ex 001 "the decisive vote [p en/by Agent] the City Council ([ss Agent])"]
- [ex 002 "the devastation wreaked [p en/by Force] the fire ([ss Force])"]
- [ex 008 "The horse was jumped over the fence [p en/by Causer] Claire. ([ss Causer])"]
- [ex 003 "This story was told [p en/by Originator--Agent] my grandmother. ([ss Originator--Agent])"]
- [ex 004 "The news was not well received [p en/by Recipient--Agent] the White House. ([ss Recipient--Agent])"]
- [ex 005 "Mr. Dursley is employed [p en/by Org--Agent] Grunnings. ([ss Org--Agent])"]
- [ex 006 "The window was broken [p en/by Instrument--Force] the hammer. ([ss Instrument--Force])"]
- [ex 007 "scared [p en/by Stimulus--Force] the bear ([ss Stimulus--Force])"]