THE PASSIVE VOICE

Rīga Secondary School No.33English Language Teacher

Jūlija Oblakova

Rīga 2014

There are two voices in There are two voices in English:English:1. The active voice – shows that a person or

a thing performs the action expressed by the predicate.

• E.g. The teacher often calls Ann to the blackboard.

• E.g. Mother sent Billy to the dentist.

There are two voices in There are two voices in English:English:

2. The passive voice shows that a person or a thing denoted by the subject undergoes an action.

•E.g. Ann is often called to the blackboard.

•E.g. Billy was sent to the dentist.

The Formation of The Passive The Formation of The Passive VoiceVoice

It is formed by means of the auxiliary verb ‘to be’ and the

‘past participle of the principal verb’

To be + V3

•In informal style, ‘to get’ is sometimes usedE.g. The boy got hurt. (Zēnu savainoja ceļā uz

mājām.)

•In the negative form ‘not’ is placed after the (first) auxiliary verb

E.g. Ann is not called to the blackboard. Billy is not sent to the dentist.

•In the interrogative form the (first) auxiliary verb is placed before the subject

E.g. Is Ann called to the blackboard? Is Billy sent to the dentist?

The Use of Tenses in The Passive The Use of Tenses in The Passive VoiceVoice

ACTIVE PASSIVESimple Present

Ann makes tea every afternoon. Tea is made every afternoon.

Simple PastAnn made tea yesterday. Tea was made yesterday.

Simple Future

Ann will make tea tomorrow. Tea will be made tomorrow.

Simple Future in the Past

Ann said that she would make tea. Ann said that tea would be made.

The Use of Tenses in The Passive The Use of Tenses in The Passive VoiceVoice

ACTIVE PASSIVEPresent Continuous

It is 5 o’clock and Ann is making tea. It is 5 o’clock and tea is being made.

Past ContinuousAnn was making tea when the Tea was being made when the guestsguests arrived. arrived

Present Perfect

Ann has made strong tea. Strong tea has been made.

Past Perfect

Ann had made tea before their arrival. Tea had been made before their arrival.

The Use of Tenses in The Passive The Use of Tenses in The Passive VoiceVoice

ACTIVE PASSIVE

Future Perfect

Ann will have made tea by 5 o’clock. Tea will have been made by 5 o’clock.

Future Perfect in the Past

Harry said that he would have made Harry said that tea would have beentea by 5 o’clock. made by 5 o’clock.

! The Future Continuous/ the Present Perfect Continuous/ the Past Perfect

Continuous forms are not found in the passive voice.

! Instead of them use: the Future Simple/ the Present Perfect/ The Past

Perfect

How to Construct Passive How to Construct Passive SentencesSentences

Subject Predicate Object

The teacher sees the boys.

The boys are seen by the teacher.

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION!