3. When is Passive voice used?
It’s used when:
THE FOCUS IS ON THE ACTION.
THE PERFORMER IS NOT
IMPORTANT OR UNKNOWM
4. Read these sentences:
Active Voice:
Mary writes a letter.
Passive Voice:
A letter is written (by Mary).
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5. Structure:
SUBJECT VERB OBJECT
OBJECT BE + VERB P. PARTICIPLE BY SUBJECT
6. IMPORTANT:
What happens to the tense of the sentence?.
• It doesn`t change.
When we change an active sentence into a passive
sentence:
The verb TO BE is in the same tense as the MAIN
VERB
“Mary writes letters”
“Letters are written by Mary”
• It agrees with the new subject
7. To use one of the forms of verb to be,
we have to meet two conditions:
be
The same tense What agrees with
of the main verb the new subject
( object)
8. The Simple Present
Active Passive
They write / don’t write the science column. The science column is/ isn’t written by them.
He writes / doesn’t write the science columns. The science columns are/ aren’t written by him.
Do they write the science column? Is the science column written by them?
Does he write the science columns? Are the science columns written by him?
9. The Present Progressive
Active Passive
He is fixing the stove. The stove is being fixed.
They aren’t using the main meeting room. The main meeting room is not being used.
Is the worker painting his condominium? Is his condominium being painted?
Are they finalizing their biology project? Is their biology project being finalized?
10. The Present Perfect
Active Passive
He has broken / hasn’t broken the window. The window has/hasn’t been broken (by
him).
They have seen / have never seen a UFO in
this country before. A UFO has /has never been seen in this
country before.
Has he (ever) broken the window? Has the window (ever) been broken (by him)?
Have they (ever) seen a UFO in this Has a UFO (ever) been seen in this country
country before? before?
11. The Simple Past
Active Passive
‘Sense and Sensibility ‘ was written by
Jane Austen wrote ‘Sense and Sensibility ‘ in 1811.
Jane Austen in 1811.
No one knew his real name.
His real name wasn’t known.
Did they arrange her birthday party? Was her birthday party arranged?
