Passive Voice

What is the active and passive voice?

• Most sentences are active:

– I ate the apple.

– She left the party.

– You have passed the class!

– I will travel to France.

– I am drinking some coffee.

Why are these active?

SUBJECT VERB OBJECT

The horse eats apples.

She left the party.

You have passed the class.

I will visit France.

I am drinking some coffee.

Who is DOING these things? We can call that person/thing the DOER / AGENT.Where is the DOER / AGENT in these sentences?

Why are these passive?

SUBJECT VERB OBJECT

Apples are eaten by the horse.

The party was left by her.

The class has been passed by you.

France will be visited by me.

Some coffee is being drunk by me.

Who is DOING these things? Where is the DOER / AGENT in these sentences?

How do we make the passive?

BE + PAST PARTICIPLE

SUBJECT VERB OBJECT

Apples are eaten by the horse.

The party was left by her.

The class has been passed by you.

France will be visited by me.

Some coffee is being drunk by me.