Passive Voice

1. Passive Voice

2. When do we use Passive Voice?
 When the agent (active subject)is unknown
People speak English all over the worl
English is spoken all over the world.
 when the agent is understood or not important.
 Don Quixote was written in 1605 (by….)
 Guernica was painted in 1937 (by..)

3. When do we use it?
To make the object of the active verb more important
Christopher Columbus discovered America
subject object
America was discovered by Christopher Columbus
subject

4. We use the passive when:
 we want to make the active object more
important
 we do not know the active subject
FUNCTION SUBJECT VERB OBJECT
Give President was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald
importance to Kennedy
active object
My wallet has been ¿?
Active subject robbed
unknown

6. Structure of the sentence
Subject: Person or object that suffered/enjoyed
Subject
the results of an action.
The verb "to be" in the tense the action ocurred.
be
The Past Participle of the verb that represents
the action itself.
Whatever complements that verb needs.
In a few special cases we can also use by + the
agent.
agent

7. THE PASSIVE VERB
to BE (in the active tense) + Past Participle (main verb)
to BE gives us the tense of the action
the principal verb is always in Past Participle
ACTIVE PASSIVE
She wants an ice-cream An ice-cream is wanted
He sent a letter A letter was sent
We will buy a new car next week A new car will be bought
They have been cutting the grass The grass has been being cut

8. Passive Tenses
passive Form Examples
Present Simple Am/is/ are + PP The house is cleaned everyday
Past Simple Was/ Were + PP The house was cleaned yesterday
Present/Past The house is being cleaned now.
Continuous Am/are/is being + PP
The house was being cleaned
Was/ were being +PP yesterday at 7:00
Present Perfect/ Has been+ PP  The house has been cleaned
Past Perfect Had been + PP today
The house had been cleaned
before we arrived
Will Will be + PP The house will be cleaned
tomorrow

9. Structure of the verb
TENSES EXAMPLES
Present Simple Pigs are often used to find truffles
Present Continuous My house is being redecorated at the moment
Present Perfect I have never been given flowers on my birthday
Past Simple Guernica was painted by Picasso
Past Continuous When I saw him he was being followed by the
police
Past Perfect She was angry because she had already been told
three times
Future Simple When you get there everything will be finished
Going to - Future They are not going to be easily convinced
Conditional Simple You would be punished if they found out
Conditional Perfect If you hadn’t told them would I have been invited?

10. The passive sentence
ACTIVE VOICE
Robert gave a coin
Active Active Direct
Subject Verb Object
Passive Passive Agent
Subject Verb
by
PASSIVE VOICE
was given by

11. The passive sentence (no)
ACTIVE VOICE
Robert gave a coin to Tom
Active Active Direct Indirect
Subject Verb Object Object
Passive Passive Direct Agent
Subject Verb Object
by
PASSIVE VOICE
was given by

12. Examples
1/They built this house in 1466
2/ This house was built in 1466
1/ Swiss people speak French & German
2/ French & German are spoken by Swiss people
1/ This book will change your life
2/ Your life will be changed by this book

13. Examples
1/ They have cut the grass
2/ The grass has been cut
1/ They can’t answer your question
2/ Your question can’t be answered

14. More examples with 2 objects
1/ Someone had to take her to hospital after this
2/ She had to be taken to hospital after the crash
1/ They shouldn’t allow the children to do these things
2/ The children shouldn’t be allowed to do these things
1/ Someone must tell him if we want him to know
2/ He must be told if we want him to know

15. More examples with 2 objects
1/ My mother is going to give me a present
2/ I am going to be given a present by my
mother
1/ Susan wrote an e-mail to him
1/ He was written an e-mail by Susan

16. Active or Passive Quiz
 1 I ate a piece of chocolate cake.
 2 The librarian read the book to the students.
 3 The money was stolen.
 4 They are paid on Fridays.
 5 The movie is being made in Hollywood.
 6 I washed my car three weeks ago.
 7 His hair was cut by a professional.
 8 I will introduce you to my boss this week.
 9 It would have been fixed on the weekend.
 10 The national anthem is being sung by Jason this time.


17. Active or Passive Quiz ANSWERS
 1 I ate a piece of chocolate cake. ACTIVE
 2 The librarian read the book to the students. ACTIVE
 3 The money was stolen. PASSIVE
 4 They are paid on Fridays. PASSIVE
 5 The movie is being made in Hollywood. PASSIVE
 6 I washed my car three weeks ago. ACTIVE
 7 His hair was cut by a professional. PASSIVE
 8 I will introduce you to my boss this week. ACTIVE
 9 It would have been fixed on the weekend. PASSIVE
 10 The national anthem is being sung by Jason this time. PASSIVE

18. Links to activities
o http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/passiv.htm
o http://wiki-u.wikispaces.com/Passive+Voice
o http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/passivesum.html (for advanced students)

19. More passive stuff
GET is used instead of BE with passive
meaning. Informal English.
I got stuck in a traffic jam
She is getting married
After NEED/WANT the -ing form can be used
NEED
with passive meaning
This job needs doing
That room wants cleaning

20. More passive stuff
HAVE/ GET something done: Arranging for or
paying for somebody to do something for you.
(Get is more informal).
HAVE + Object +
He had his hair cut Past Participle
She got her carpet cleaned
We have had our car mended
They had got their book translated

21. More passive stuff
Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say,
Report, Know, Expect, Feel, Understand, Find
1. Introductory IT is used
IT + passive verb + complete subordinate sentence
without changes
It is said that he started the fire
It is thought that she doesn't live in London
It was known that the King is coming tomorrow

22. More passive stuff
Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say,
Report, Know, Expect, Feel, Understand, Find
Subordinate subject + verb passive + subordinate
active verb in INFINITIVE.
It is said that he started the fire (action in the Past)
He is said to have started the fire (Infinitive Perfect)
It is thought that she doesn't live in London (Present)
She is thought to live in London (Infinitive Present)