GRAMMAR POINT: THE PASSIVE VOICE ACTIVE SENTENCES
PASSIVE SENTENCES
The thing / person doing the action is the subject (S) of the sentence and the thing receiving the action is the object (O).
The thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing / person doing the action is mentioned (or not!) at the end of the sentence.
Ex:
Ex:
John is washing the car. (S) (O)
The car is being washed (by John). (S)
HOW TO FORM THE PASSIVE VOICE
PASSIVE = BE + Past Participle (PP) PAST PARTICIPLE OF A REGULAR VERB
PAST PARTICIPLE OF AN IRREGULAR VERB
V + -ed
3rd column
Ex: invent > past participle = invented
Ex: break > past participle = broken
Some common tenses used in the passive voice: Present Simple Present Continuous Past Simple Past Continuous
am / is / are + PP am / is / are being + PP was / were + PP was / were being + PP
Nice clothes are sold in this shop. He is being taught how to drive. Tom was bitten by a snake. A story was being told when I entered the room. Present perfect have / has been + PP The doctor has been called. Present perfect have / has been being + Lately, all the work has been being Continuous PP done by Kate. Past Perfect had been + PP The cake had already been eaten when we arrived. Past Perfect had been being+ PP The restaurant's succulent meals Continuous had been being prepared by Chef Hall for ten years before he retired. Future with WILL will be + PP I hope he will not be sent to prison. Future with GOING am / is / are going to be + Their house is going to be sold. TO PP Conditional 1 would be + PP These books would be read if there were more pictures in them. Conditional 2 would have been + PP A mail would have been sent if there had been a computer. Modal ("present") modal + be + PP The doctor must be called at once. Modal ("past") modal + have been + PP He should have been punished for that.
WHEN TO USE THE PASSIVE VOICE We use the Passive Voice … •
when we do not know the agent (= the person/thing that does / is doing / did … the action). Ex: My bike was stolen last weekend. (I don’t know who stole my bike.)
•
when the agent is not important. Ex: The dishes are being washed. (the focus here is on the dishes, not on the person who is washing the dishes.) Note:
•
When we want to add who or what did the action, we use by. The dishes are being washed by John. (not Kate)
when the agent is obvious. Ex: The thief was arrested yesterday. (Only the police can arrest thieves.)
OTHER REMARKS •
Do not use by with a pronoun. Ex: He has washed the car. → The car has been washed by him.
•
When an active sentence has two objects (a direct object and an indirect object), it is possible to make two passive sentences. Ex: Her boyfriend sent her a dozen roses for her birthday. → A dozen roses were sent to her (by her boyfriend) for her birthday. → She was sent a dozen roses for her birthday.
•
Impersonal Passive. Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know). Ex: They say that women are as intelligent as men. → It is said that women are as intelligent as men. Note:
You can also say: → Women are said to be as intelligent as men.
TIME TO PRACTISE! Exercise 1: Transform into PASSIVE sentences. (Pay attention to the tense.) 1. Present Simple
Tourists take many pictures of the Eiffel Tower. _____________________________________________________
2. Present Simple
Does your mother help you? _____________________________________________________
3. Present Continuous
Someone is cleaning your room, Sir. _____________________________________________________
4. Present Continuous
The children are painting a fresco at their school. _____________________________________________________
5. Past Simple
Burglars broke into her house. _____________________________________________________
6. Past Simple
Did they send the letter? _____________________________________________________
7. Past Continuous
He was telling a story when I arrived. _____________________________________________________
8. Present Perfect
They have eaten all the cookies. _____________________________________________________
9. Present Perfect
Has she typed the letter? _____________________________________________________
10. Future with WILL
Kate will buy a new dress. _____________________________________________________
11. Future with WILL
He will not repair her bike. _____________________________________________________
12. Modal
You must fill in this form. _____________________________________________________
13. Modal
He should leave the window open. _____________________________________________________
Exercise 2: Transform into ACTIVE sentences. (Pay attention to the tense.). 1. Present Simple
This restaurant is owned by the Jacksons. _____________________________________________________
2. Present Continuous
A new model is being tested. _____________________________________________________
3. Past Simple
Oliver Twist was written by Charles Dickens. _____________________________________________________
4. Past Continuous
The issue was being talked about when I entered the room. _____________________________________________________
5. Present Perfect
A terrible mistake has been made by our boss. _____________________________________________________
6. Future with WILL
He will be found guilty by the court. _____________________________________________________
Exercise 3: Transform into two PASSIVE sentences. 1. They told me a lie.
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
2. I have made you a cup of tea.
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
3. Kate will give them some advice.
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
Exercise 4: ACTIVE voice or PASSIVE voice? 1. Present Simple (SPEAK)
Italian ___________________ in this restaurant. My father ___________________ 3 foreign languages.
2. Present Continuous (TAKE)
We ___________________ our grandchildren to the zoo today. Their son ___________________ right away to the hospital.
3. Past Simple (CALL)
They ___________________ their grandparents last week. The firemen ___________________ immediately.
4. Present Perfect (DISCOVER)
They ___________________ a new virus. A new planet ___________________ in the solar system.
5. Future with WILL (KEEP)
Don’t worry! Our secret ___________________. We ___________________ all our photos in this album.
6. Modal (PLANT)
These trees must ___________________ now. If he wants a beautiful garden, he should ___________________ these flowers.
SOLUTIONS Exercise 1: Transform into PASSIVE sentences. 1. Present Simple 2. Present Simple 3. Present Continuous 4. Present Continuous 5. Past Simple 6. Past Simple 7. Past Continuous 8. Present Perfect 9. Present Perfect 10. Future with WILL 11. Future with WILL 12. Modal 13. Modal
Many pictures of the Eiffel Tower are taken (by tourists). Are you helped by your mother? Your room is being cleaned, Sir. A fresco is being painted at their school. Her house was broken into. Was the letter sent? A story was being told when I arrived. All the cookies have been eaten. Has the letter been typed? A new dress will be bought. Her bike will not be repaired. This form must be filled in. The window should be left open.
Exercise 2: Transform into ACTIVE sentences. (Pay attention to the tense.). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Present Simple Present Continuous Past Simple Past Continuous Present Perfect Future with WILL
The Jacksons own this restaurant. They / He … are / is testing a new model. Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist. They were talking about the issue when I entered the room. Our boss has made a terrible mistake. The court will find him guilty.
Exercise 3: Transform into two PASSIVE sentences. 1. They told me a lie.
→ I was told a lie. → A lie was told to me.
2. I have made you a cup of tea.
→ You have been made a cup of tea. → A cup of tea has been made for you.
3. Kate will give them some advice.
→ They will be given some advice (by Kate). → Some advice will be given to them (by Kate).
Exercise 4: ACTIVE voice or PASSIVE voice? 1. Present Simple
Italian is spoken in this restaurant. (passive) My father speaks 3 foreign languages. (active)
2. Present Continuous
We are taking our grandchildren to the zoo today. (active) Their son is being taken right away to the hospital. (passive)
3. Past Simple
They called their grandparents last week. (active) The firemen were called immediately. (passive)
4. Present Perfect
They have discovered a new virus. (active) A new planet has been discovered in the solar system. (passive)
5. Future with WILL
Don’t worry! Our secret will be kept. (passive) We will keep all our photos in this album. (active)
6. Modal
These trees must be planted now. (passive) If he wants a beautiful garden, he should plant these flowers. (active)