REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO POLITÉCNICO “SANTIAGO MARIÑO” EXTENSIÓN SAN CRISTÓBAL
PRODUCED BY: MARIA FERNANDA HERNANDEZ AYALA C.I – 25.165.690 ENGLISH 2
CONTENT
THE PASSIVE VOICE………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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THE PASSIVE VOICE The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or thing that is the object of an action, rather than the person or thing that performs that action. In other words, the most important person or thing becomes the subject of prayer.
Example The The passive passive voice voice is is used used frequently. frequently. The The house house was was built built in in 1654. 1654. The The road road is is being being repaired. repaired.
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Sometimes we use the passive voice because we do not know or we do not want to mention who performed the action.
Example II noticed noticed that that aa window window had had been been left left open. open. Every Every year year thousands thousands of of people people are are killed killed on on our our roads. roads. All All the the cookies cookies have have been been eaten. eaten. My My car car has has been been stolen! stolen!
The passive voice is often used in formal texts. Switching to the active voice will make your writing clearer and easier to read.
Passive
Active
A great deal of meaning is conveyed by a few well-chosen words.
A few well-chosen words convey a great deal of meaning.
Our planet is wrapped in a mass of gases.
A mass of gases wrap around our planet.
Waste materials are disposed of in a variety of ways.
The city disposes of waste materials in a variety of ways.
If we mean who or what performs the action in a construction in passive, we use the preposition "by". When we know who did the action and the subject interests us, it is always better to opt for the active voice.
Passive
Passive
"A Hard Day's Night" was written by the Beatles.
The Beatles wrote "A Hard Day's Night".
The movie ET was directed by Spielberg.
Spielberg directed the movie ET. 3
This house was built by my father.
My father built this house.
FORMATION OF THE PASSIVE VOICE In English, the passive voice is composed of two elements: the appropriate form of the verb "to be" + "past participle"
Affirmative
Interrogative
The house was built in 1899.
Was the house built in 1899?
These houses were built in 1899.
Were these houses built in 1899?
Negative
Negative interrogative
The house wasn't built in 1899.
Wasn't the house built in 1899?
These houses weren't built in 1899.
Weren't these houses built in 1899?
THE PASSIVE VOICE WITH INFINITIVES The infinitive in the passive voice is used behind the modal verbs and most of the verbs that normally are followed of infinitive.
Example You You have have to to be be tested tested on on your your English English grammar. grammar. John next year. 4 John might might be be promoted promoted She She wants wants to to be be invited invited to to the the party. party.
THE PASSIVE VOICE WITH THE "GERUND" The "gerund" in the passive voice is used after the prepositions and verbs that are usually followed by "gerund".
Example II remember remember being being taught taught to to drive. drive. The The children children are are excited excited about about being being taken to the zoo. taken to the zoo. The The children children are are excited excited to to be be taken taken to to the the zoo. zoo.
USE OF "TO BE BORN" "To be born" is a passive formation and is often used in the past. However, in some cases, the present or future are appropriate.
Example II was was born born in in 1976. 1976. Where Where were were you you born? born? Around Around 100 100 babies babies are are born born in in this this hospital every week. hospital every week.
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