PASSIVE VOICE

WHAT IS PASSIVE VOICE?

To explain it in simple words we can say that PASSIVE VOICE is a voice that indicates that the subject or doer of the action is not important in that sentence. It may also indicate that we do not know who is performing the action. In the PASSIVE VOICE the most important thing is the action performed.

E.g. He ate all the cookies. (Active Voice)
All the cookies were eaten. (Passive Voice)


CAN WE TURN INTO PASSIVE ALL THE SENTENCES?

No, we cannot. Let's see:

• Only verbs that take an object can be used in the passive.

E.g.: Tim Wilson wrote The Flight to Brunswick (The Flight to Brunswick is the direct object of the
active voice sentence). It becomes into: The Flight to Brunswick was written by Tim Wilson.

• Sentences without an object cannot be turned into passive voice.
E.g.: He arrived late today – Passive Voice not possible (no object)


WHEN DO WE USE PASSIVE VOICE?

The passive voice is used:

• When we are more interested in what happened rather than in who did the
action (the action is more important than who did it.)
E.g.: The film was made in Japan.

• When we do not know who did the action.
E.g.: Our neighbour’s car was stolen last night.

• In newspapers reports.
E.g.: Two men were hurt in an accident today.

• To describe scientific experiments or processes.
E.g.: The liquid was placed in a glass container and heated slowly.

• When it is obvious or unimportant who does the action.
E.g.: Our computers are sold all over the world.


HOW IS PASSIVE VOICE FORMED?

• The Passive sentences are formed by this construction:

Passive Subject (active direct object) + verb to Be + Main verb in Past Participle

• Remember that the Past Participle of a verb is formed in different ways depending on the type of verb:
* Regular verbs: + ‘-ed’
* Irregular verbs: 3rd column (list of irregular verbs)

Examples:
 

• The verb TO BE must be written in the same tense than the active sentence.
The main verb ALWAYS takes the past participle.

• We also use modal verbs with passive. If the action is in the present or future, the form is:

Modal + Be + Main verb in Past Participle

E.g.: Active Voice: The company may not pay salaries this month.
Passive Voice: Salaries may not be paid this month.

The Passive Voice can be used in different verbal tenses. Let's have a look at the passive forms of the verb design:

Tense	Subject	Auxiliary		Past Participle
		Singular	Plural
Present	The car/cars	is	are	designed.
Present perfect	The car/cars	has been	have been	designed.
Past	The car/cars	was	were	designed.
Past perfect	The car/cars	had been	had been	designed.
Future	The car/cars	will be	will be	designed.
Future perfect	The car/cars	will have been	will have been	designed.
Present progressive	The car/cars	is being	are being	designed.
Past progressive	The car/cars	was being	were being	designed.

WHAT DO WE CALL AGENT?

Passive sentences may include information about who did it. This person, thing, organization, etc. is called THE AGENT and it is introduced by ‘BY’.

E.g.: Stones were thrown by angry football fans.

But remember that most of the times the agent is not included in the passive because it is unimportant, obvious o we do not know it.


WHAT DO WE CALL INSTRUMENT?

Passive sentences may include information about what was used to perform the action. This is called THE INSTRUMENT and it is introduced using ‘WITH’.
E.g.: The window was broken with a baseball bat.



TO PRACTICE PASSIVE VOICE, CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS:

1. Decide whether these sentences are written into active or passive.
2. Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets.
3. Choose the correct passive form.
4. Use BY or WITH to complete sentences.
5. Rewrite the sentences using passive voice.
6. Passive voice with auxiliary verbs.
7. Make passive sentences using the correct tense.
8. Make questions in passive voice.
9. Passive voice in context: reading The Statue of Liberty.
10. Passive in context: Portal Dolmen.
11. Passive in summaries: The Fellowship of the Ring Part 1.
12. Passive in summaries: The Felloship of the Ring Part 2.
13. Passive in summaries: The Felloship of the Ring Part 3.


If you  still need to clarify PASSIVE VOICE, click on the links below

PASSIVE VOICE - INTRODUCTION

PASSIVE VOICE - CONTINUED