Brief presentation of passive voice for pre-intermediate students of English

1. PASSIVEVOICE

2. I bought a present for your sister.
Subject
Verb
Direct Object
Indirect Object

3. Sometimes we don’t want to use the
“established” word order in the sentence.
There are some cases in which you can put
the object first or, just, we don’t want to say
who did something.This can happen for lots
of reasons.
In these cases we use PassiveVoice.

4. I bought a present for your sister.
A present was bought for your sister (by me)

5. HOW TO MAKE THE PASSIVE
We make the passive by putting the verb 'to be' into
whatever tense we need and then adding the past
participle.

6. HOW TO MAKE THE PASSIVE
Present simple I make a cake. A cake is made.
Present Continuous I am making a cake.
A cake is being
made.
Past Simple I made a cake. A cake was made.
Past Continuous I was making a cake.
A cake was being
made.
Present Perfect I have made a cake.
A cake has been
made.
Future I will make a cake. A cake will be made.

7. WHEN SHOULD WE USE THE PASSIVE?
When we want to change the focus of the sentence:
!
The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo DaVinci.
(We are more interested in the painting than the artist in this
sentence)

8. WHEN SHOULD WE USE THE PASSIVE?
When the subject in the active sentence is unknown
or unimportant or obvious or 'people in general’:
!
He was arrested (by the police). (obvious agent)
My bike has been stolen (by someone). (unknown agent)
The road is being repaired (by some workers). (unimportant agent)
The form can be obtained from the post office (by anyone). (people
in general)

9. WHEN SHOULD WE USE THE PASSIVE?
In formal writing and headlines instead of using
someone/ people/ they (these can be used in
speaking or informal writing):
!
The brochure will be finished next month.
The application has to be sent by email.
The president has been attacked.

10. WHEN SHOULD WE USE THE PASSIVE?
When the subject is very long:
!
I was surprised by how well the students did in the test.
(More natural than: 'how well the students did in the test surprised
me’)

11. VERBS WITH TWO OBJECTS
He gave me the book.
!
The book was given to me.
I was given a book.

12. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
USING A PASSIVE
The phone calls ... (usually /answer) by the receptionist.
!

13. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
Questions should ... (ask) to the teacher.
!
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
USING A PASSIVE

14. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
Shushi ... (eat) in Japan.
!
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
USING A PASSIVE

15. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
Exams ... (do) last Monday.
!
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
USING A PASSIVE

16. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
Books can ... (borrow) from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
!
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
USING A PASSIVE

17. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
Presents ... (give) at Christmas.
!
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
USING A PASSIVE

18. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
Dinner ... (serve) at 7 p.m every day.
!
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
USING A PASSIVE

19. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
He ... (operate on) next month.
!
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
USING A PASSIVE

20. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino
MAKE A PASSIVE SENTENCE WITH
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED

21. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
Hamlet
Shakespeare
MAKE A PASSIVE SENTENCE WITH
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED

22. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
the light bulb
Edison
MAKE A PASSIVE SENTENCE WITH
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED

23. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
The Lord of The Rings
New Zealand
MAKE A PASSIVE SENTENCE WITH
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED

24. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
2001:A Space Odyssey
Kubrick
MAKE A PASSIVE SENTENCE WITH
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED

25. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
The Guernica
Picasso
MAKE A PASSIVE SENTENCE WITH
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED

26. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
the telephone
Bell
MAKE A PASSIVE SENTENCE WITH
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED

27. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
the radio
Marconi
MAKE A PASSIVE SENTENCE WITH
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED

28. PASSIVEVOICE
QUIZ TIME
Adapted from busyteacher.org
Troy
The Greek
MAKE A PASSIVE SENTENCE WITH
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED

29. PASSIVEVOICE
ONLINE EXERCISES
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