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Passive Voice

ENGLISH 4th LEVEL


UNIVERSIDAD DEL SINU
WHEN TO USE?
• We use the passive in both speech and writing, but it is more
common in writing.
• We see it especially in textbooks and reports. We use it to
describe activities in industry, science and technology, and
also for official rules.
NOTICE THE DIFFERENCES
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL THE TELEPHONE
• A British inventor who went to • An apparatus with which
live in Canada and then the people can talk to each other
USA. Bell invented the over long distances. The
telephone. telephone was invented by
Alexander Graham Bell.
• When the subject is the person • When the subject is not the
or thing doing the action (the
agent), then we use an active agent (is not doing the action),
verb. then we use a passive verb.
THE PASSIVE (BY*)
• On our way home we were stopped by the
police(*)
• The cheque must be signed by the manager.
• The medals were presented by Nelson Mandela.
519263

• The concerts are usually held at the university.


• The telephone was invented in 1876

• All the documents have been destroyed.


WE DO NOT MENTION THE
AGENT IF….
The passive and the agent
• 1. All our money and passports were stolen. A man was arrested
last night.

• 2. The streets are cleaned every day.


Oil has been discovered at the North Pole.

• 3. This kind of jacket is considered very fashionable these days.


EMPTY SUBJECTS (THEY, PEOPLE…)

ACTIVE PASSIVE
They clean the streets every day. The streets are cleaned
every day.
The new and important information is how often the streets are cleaned.
We can use in Active the empty subjects people, you, one and someone

ACTIVE PASSIVE
You/One should check the details. The details should be checked
Someone took my purse. My purse was taken
Passive Voice
Structure

• There are two main rules to all Passive Voice forms


1. Add the verb “Be” in the same tense as the sentence in
its active voice form
2. Use the Past Participle form of the main verb
• There are two additional rules for the Passive Voice
1. In Continuous tense sentences add the continuous form
of “Be” which is “being”
• Ex: More homes are being built this year.
2. In all Perfect tenses and Perfect Modals use the Past
Participle form of “Be” which is “been”
• Ex: Gifts have been given out already.
• Ex: My sister should have been told about the party.
RULES
1- The agent is often omitted in the passive sentence when the
subject of the active sentence is one of the following words:

A: Somebody has rearranged the furniture


P: The FURNITURE has been reaaranged

2- But the agent is not omitted when it is a specificor important


person or it is essential to the meaning of the sentence

A NEW LAW HAS BEEN PASSED BY THE GOVERNMENT


THE MONA LISA WAS PAINTED BY DA VINCI
3- With verbs which takes 2 objects such as:
• BRING, TELL, SEND, SHOW, TEACH,PROMISE, BUY,
THROW, WRITE, AWARD, HAND, SELL, OWE, GRANT,
ALLOW, FEED, PASS, POST, READ, TAKE, OFFER, GIVE,
PAY & LEND.

• A: Patrick gave Laura some flowers


• P: Laura was given some flowers
• Some flowers were given to Laura by Patrick
4- When we want to find out WHO or WHAT did
stg, then the passive question form is:

• WHO WAS AUSTRALIA DISCOVERED BY?


• WHAT WAS THE FIRE CAUSED BY?
Passive Voice
Simple Present

Active Passive
• I walk the dogs • The dogs are walked
everyday. everyday.

• Millions of people • The Super Bowl is


watched by millions of
watch the Super Bowl. people.

• People write many • Many letters are written


letters to the President. to the President.
Passive Voice
Present Continuous

Active Passive
• I am walking the dogs. • The dogs are being
walked.
• Millions of people are • The Super Bowl is being
watching the Super watched by millions of
Bowl.
people.

• People are writing


many letters to the • Many letters are being
President. written to the President.
Passive Voice
Simple Past

Active Passive
• I walked the dogs. • The dogs were walked.

• Millions of people • The Super Bowl was


watched the Super watched by millions of
Bowl. people.

• People wrote many • Many letters were


letters to the President. written to the President.
Passive Voice
Present Perfect

Active Passive
• I’ve walked the dogs • The dogs have been
already. walked already.

• Millions of people have • The Super Bowl has


watched the Super Bowl. been watched by
millions of people.
• People have written
many letters to the
President. • Many letters have been
written to the President.
ACTIVE VS PASSIVE
KEEP IN MIND
Ready to put it into practice?
Active or Passive?
Tell whether the sentence is Active or Passive

• The man was hunted by the police.


• The great battle was fought in 1814.
• The soft grass cushioned my fall.
• The doughnuts were made by the new baker.
• A car ran over my cat.
• The clown’s funny antics reduced us to
laughter!
Active or Passive?
Tell whether the sentence is Active or Passive

• A number of horses had been stolen by


thieves.
• The fire burned the house to the ground.
• The kidnappers stole John’s baby.
• Everyone received presents at the party..
• You shouldn’t have been stressed out by this
quiz.
CLASS ACTIVITY

PAGES 62: (1,2,4) & 63 WB


PAGES 94 , 95(4-5-7)
96-97 SB

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