1. ASPAEN ROSARIO SCHOOL
LANGUAGE FUNCTION
THE PASSIVE
EIGHT GRADE A-B
Competence: Analyze verbal patterns to do relation and discuss aspects of their context.
Perform # 1: Recognize the goal of oral texts from their contexts.
The passive
The world keeps
informed with
Reader’s Digest
Reader’s Digest was
founded in 1922. Today it is read by people in every country in
the world. Shouldn’t you be one of them? Subscribe today.
 Check the information you can get from the add
a) The name of the founder.
b) The number of the years the magazine has existed.
c) The price of the magazine.
The passive verb is a form of be + past participle, e.g. is baked, was
worn, will be used.
The passive is divided according to the conjugation of be
Part 1 – Present tense
Tense Sentence Passive sentence
Simple present ( is-are + PP) Once a week, Tom cleans the Once a week, the house is
house. cleaned by Tom.
Present continuous (is-are + Right now, Sarah is writing the Right now, the letter is being
being + PP) letter. written by Sarah.
Exercise # 1
 Write the passive in simple present (SP) or present continuous (PP)

2. the documents / print - SP
the window / open - PP
the shoes / buy – SP NEG
the car / wash – PP NEG
the litter / throw away – SP Quest.
the letter / send – PP Quest.
Exercise # 2
 Change the following sentences to passive. Pay attention to the original tense mode
We set the table
They don't help you.
Does the police officer catch the thief?
She is paying a lot of money
You are not writing the letter.
Is your mum picking you up?
Part 2 – Past tense
Tense Sentence Passive sentence
Simple past( was-were + PP) Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.
Past continuous (was-were + The salesman was helping the The customer was being
being + PP) customer when the thief came helped by the salesman when
into the store. the thief came into the store.
Exercise # 3
 Write the passive in simple past (SP) or past continuous (PP)
the test / write - SP
the table / set - PP
the cat / feed – SP NEG
the lights / switch on – PP NEG
the house / build – SP Quest.
dinner / serve – PP Quest.
Exercise # 4
 Change the following sentences to passive. Pay attention to the original tense mode
Somebody hit me. -
We didn’t stop the bus. -
A thief was stealing my car. -
They didn't let him go. -
She wasn’t winning the prize. -
Did they make their beds
Part 3 – Future tense
Tense Sentence Passive sentence
Simple future ( will be + PP) Someone will finish the work The work will be finished by
by 5:00 PM. 5:00 PM
Going to (is –are going to + Sally is going to make a A beautiful dinner is going to
be + PP) beautiful dinner tonight. be made by Sally tonight.

3. Exercise # 5
 Write the passive in simple future (SF) or going to (GT)
the exhibition / visit - SF
the windows / clean – GT
the message / read – SF NEG
the thief / arrest – GT NEG
the photo / take – SF Quest.
these songs / sing – GT Quest.
Exercise # 6
 Change the following sentences to passive. Pay attention to the original tense mode
Millions of people will visit the museum
Our boss is going to sign the contract
They will not show the new film
They are not going to see Sue.
Will the company employ a new worker?
Is the plumber going to repair the shower?
Part 4 – Perfect tense
Tense Sentence Passive sentence
Present perfect ( have-has Many tourists have visited that That castle has been visited by
+ been + PP) castle. many tourists.
Past perfect ( had + been + George had repaired many cars Many cars had been
PP) before he received his mechanic's repaired by George before he
license. received his mechanic's license.
Exercise # 7
 Write the passive in present perfect (PPF) past perfect (PAP)
the pencils / count – PPF
the door / close - PAP
the money / spend – PPF NEG
the mail / write – PAP NEG
the trees / plant – PPF QUEST
the postcard / send – PAP QUEST
Exercise # 8
 Change the following sentences to passive. Pay attention to the original tense mode
I have eaten a hamburger
They had started a fight
They have not caught the thieves
She had not noticed me.
Has she phoned him?
Had he recorded that song?
Reading

4. Oetzi the Iceman
Oetzi the Iceman is the modern nickname of a well-preserved natural mummy of a man from
about 3300 BC. The mummy was found in 1991 in a glacier of the Otztal Alps, near the
border between Austria and Italy. Oetzi was named after the valley of
his discovery. He rivals the Egyptian "Ginger" as the oldest known
human mummy, and he has offered a unique view of the habits of
Copper Age Europeans.
Oetzi was found by two German tourists on September 19, 1991. The
body was at first thought to be a modern corpse, like several others
which had recently been found in the area. It was roughly recovered by
the Austrian authorities and taken to Innsbruck, where its true age was finally discovered. It is
now being displayed at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bozen-Bolzano, Italy.
The body has been extensively examined, measured, x-rayed, and dated. Tissues and
stomach contents were examined microscopically. Scientists believe that at the time of his
death, Oetzi was a 30-to-45-year old man, approximately 160 cm (5'3") tall. Analysis of pollen
and dust grains on his clothing, and analysis of Oetzi’s teeth enamel show that his childhood
was spent near the present village of Feldthurns, north of Bolzano. He later went to live in
valleys about 50 km further north.
The Iceman had 57 tattoos. Some were located on or near acupuncture points that are used
today to treat symptoms of digestive problems and osteoarthritis. Interestingly, scientists have
found that Oetzi suffered from digestive problems and osteoarthritis. Some scientists believe
that these tattoos indicate an early type of acupuncture. Oetzi’s clothes include a cloak, vest,
and shoes. They were quite sophisticated. The cloak was woven from grass, and the vest
was made of leather.
The shoes were waterproof and wide. They seemed to be designed for walking across the
snow; they were constructed of bearskin, deer hide, and tree bark. Soft grass was wrapped
around the foot and also placed in the shoe. The grass functioned like warm socks. Recently,
the shoes were reproduced by experts. They are of such excellent quality, that there are
plans for them to be made commercially.Other items found with the Iceman include a copper
axe, flint knife, and a bow and quiver of arrows.
Additionally, Oetzi carried two species of mushrooms. One of these mushrooms is known to
have antibacterial properties, and was likely used for medical purposes. Researchers believe
Oetzi may have been involved in a fight. Injuries from the fight may have killed him. A DNA
analysis revealed traces of blood from four other people on his gear: one from his knife, two
from the same arrowhead, and a fourth from his coat.
A CAT scan revealed that an arrowhead was stuck in Oetzi’s shoulder when he died. The
arrow shaft had been removed, but the arrowhead had been left inside his body. He also had
bruises and cuts on his hands, wrists, and chest. From such evidence, and an examination of
his weapons, molecular biologist Thomas Loy from the University of Queensland believes that
Oetzi and his companions were hunters who fought with a rival group. At some point, he may

5. have carried (or been carried by) a companion. He may have been weakened by blood loss.
As a result, Oetzi apparently put down his equipment neatly against a rock, lay down, and
died.
His body was covered by thousands of years of ice and snow until his recent discovery.
Pieces of his clothing, his hair, his skin, and his personal possessions were well-preserved
because of the cold temperatures.
Activities
1. Look for all the passive form but pay attention not all the BE are
passive!
2. Answer the following statement: Why is passive used in this
article? What does it express?
3. Complete the sentences
a) Oetzi was found….
b) It is now being displayed ….
c) The Iceman had ….
d) Soft grass was wrapped….
e) but the arrowhead ….
f) Thomas Loy from….
References
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/activepassive.html
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive
http://azargrammar.com/materials/feg/FEG_Expansion.html
Homework # 1

6. Competence: Analyze verbal patterns to do relation and discuss aspects of their context.
Perform # 1: Recognize the goal of oral texts from their contexts.
1. Complete from students book:
 Exercise 4 page 48
 Read the article “120.000 killed by tsunami” and take out sentences that use passive tense.
 Exercise 8 page 49
2. Go to this web page http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/uk-culture/language and complete
the three activities (all of them in the notebook).
3. Do exercise 10 multipart verbs “turn...”