Use of the passive voice

De Manuel Pérez GonzálezPara Inglés 2º BachilleratoTeresa Guzmán PastorModificado por Mercedes Ramos

Do you wish a wine to drink?

Better, a wine to drink wished

for me.

We use the passive voice when the action is important not who

makes it.

USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

Do you wash

your car?

No I don´t. The car is washed for me. Now, I am not important, now is it.

How to change an active sentence into a passive one:

1st Write the direct object as the new subject.

2nd Write the verb “to be” in the tense of the active sentence.

3rd Write the verb of the active sentence in past participle.

Let´s see some examples

USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

4th Now write the rest of the sentence

5th Write: by + the subject of the active sentence when necessary

PASSIVE VERB FORMSVerb tense Structure ExamplePresent simple am/are/is +PP These pictures are painted in Spain

Past simple was/were + PP The clothes was washed today

Present perfect have/has been +PP The picture has been painted by John

Past perfect simple had been + PP When I arrived the home had been stolen

Future with will will be +PP The shop will be closed tomorrow

Going to future am/are/is going to be+ PP My house is going to be sold

Modal verb can modal + be + PP The fish could be caught by the fisherman

Modal verb must modal + be + PP The politician must be enclosed in prison

Modal verb should modal + be + PP The car should be washed tomorow

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What do we need to form a passive sentence?

Remember the structure:

Object + verb “to be” in the tense of the active sentence + Past Participle + complements + by + subject of the active sentence (when necessary)

USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

Active to passive transformation

Active: They read the newspaper every day

Passive: The newspaper is read every day by them

1º In the passive voice we use the object of the active voice sentence as subject.

2º Verb to be in the tense of the active

sentence.

OBJECTSUBJECT AGENT VERB

3º Verb of the sentence in

Past Participle.

COMPLEMENT

COMPLEMENT

4º If you want to say at the end of the sentence who has done the deed, you simply add the

preposition “by + subject agent”.

But beware!

Remember, the subject pronoun must be

changed into the object pronoun

USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

Let´s see more exemples1- Leather shoes are made in this factory2- Dinner is served from 18,00 to 20,003- The house was completely destroyed by the fire4- A new shopping center is going to be built in this area

1- They make leather shoes in this factory2- They serve dinner from 18,00 to 20,003- The fire completely destroyed the house4- They are going to build a new shopping-center in this area

USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

INDIRECT COMPLEMENT PASSIVE

When we have an indirect complement ( a person) in the active sentence, this is going to be the subject of the passive sentence. All the other changes are the same.

Someone has sent him a parcel.

He has been sent a parcel

Remember to change the complement pronoun into a subject pronoun.

USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

Active voice1- The postman has brought you a letter.2- They will offer Mary a post as a teacher next year.3- Someone gave John a surprise yesterday

Passive voice1- You have been brought a letter.2- Mary will be offered a post as a teacher next year.3- John was given a surprise yesterday

USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

IMPERSONAL PASSIVE

With verbs such as THINK, CONSIDER, KNOW, BELIEVE, EXPECT, SAY and SUPPOSE, it is possible to have to passive sentences: 1- Writing IT as a subject2- Using the subject of the second sentence as the subject of the passive

ACTIVEPeople say that George has arrived

PASSIVEIt is said that George has arrived

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Using the subject of the second sentence as a subject of the passive

People think that the race will begin at 9,00

The race is thought to begin at 9.00

Subject of the second clause + verb of the first clause in passive + to + verb of the second clause

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SPANISH – ENGLISH

These Spanish sentences are passive in English

1. Se venden coches usados2. Te están esperando en la calle3. Nos informarán de la noticia mañana4. La casa fue construida en 2008

1. Used cars are sold2. You are being waited for in the street3. We will be informed about the news tomorrow4. The house was built in 2008

USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE