The Passive Voice Let’s look at this sentence: - I drank two cups of coffee. This is an active sentence and it has the subject first (the person or thing that does the verb), followed by the verb, and finally the object (the person or thing that the action happens to). So, in this example, the subject is 'I', the verb is 'drank' and the object is 'two cups of coffee'. But, we don't always need to make sentences this way. We might want to put the object first, or perhaps we don't want to say who did something. This can happen for lots of reasons (see the explanation further down the page). In this case, we can use a passive, which puts the object first: - Two cups of coffee were drunk (we can add 'by me' if we want, but it isn't necessary). How to make the Passive in English We make the passive by putting the verb 'to be' into whatever tense we need and then adding the past participle. For regular verbs, we make the past participle by adding 'ed' to the infinitive. So ‘play’ becomes ‘played’.
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Transcript
The Passive Voice
Let’s look at this sentence:
- I drank two cups of coffee.
This is an active sentence and it has the subject first (the person or thing that does the verb), followed by the verb, and finally the object (the person or thing that the action happens to).
So, in this example, the subject is 'I', the verb is 'drank' and the object is 'two cups of coffee'.
But, we don't always need to make sentences this way. We might want to put the object first, or perhaps we don't want to say who did something. This can happen for lots of reasons (see the explanation further down the page). In this case, we can use a passive, which puts the object first:
- Two cups of coffee were drunk (we can add 'by me' if we want, but it isn't necessary).
How to make the Passive in English
We make the passive by putting the verb 'to be' into whatever tense we need and then adding the past participle. For regular verbs, we make the past participle by adding 'ed' to the infinitive. So ‘play’ becomes ‘played’.
When should we use the passive?
1) When we want to change the focus of the sentence:
The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. (We are more interested in the painting than the artist in this sentence)
2) When who or what causes the action is unknown or unimportant or obvious or 'people in general':
He was arrested (obvious agent, the police).
My bike has been stolen (unknown agent).
The road is being repaired (unimportant agent).
The form can be obtained from the post office (people in general).
3) In factual or scientific writing:
The chemical is placed in a test tube and the data entered into the computer.
4) In formal writing instead of using someone/ people/ they (these can be used in speaking or informal writing):
The brochure will be finished next month.
5) In order to put the new information at the end of the sentence to improve style:
Three books are used regularly in the class. The books were written by Dr. Bell. ('Dr. Bell wrote the books' sound clumsy)
6) When the subject is very long:
I was surprised by how well the students did in the test. (More natural than: 'how well the students did in the test surprised me')
A. The Passive: Present Simple
Make the sentences passive:
1. Somebody cleans the office every day.
_The office is cleaned every day ________________________________
1. John gave a bar of chocolate to Jill. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________
2. I lent a pencil to Graham. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________
3. Fiona told the truth to Julian. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________
4. They offered the job to Simon. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________
5. The boss showed the new computer to Anna. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________
6. Julie taught the grammar to the students. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________
7. I sent the email to John. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________
8. Lucy threw the ball to the child. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________
9. Sophia sold the car to a doctor. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________
10. I asked the question to David. a:________________________________________________________________ b:________________________________________________________________
G) Rewrite the sentences in the passive. MIXED TENSES
1. They will not deliver the new sofa on Friday.
2. You can use this saucepan for cooking spaghetti.
3. I have to finish my homework tonight.
4. You must tidy your bedroom.
5. You ought to put these clothes away.
6. The boss gave the secretary some letters to type.
7. We should eat this cake immediately.
8. Sally sent Peter a birthday card.
9. You must take the dog for a walk.
10. The cat is not chasing the mouse.
11. Do they produce oil in Spain?
12. Did a dog bite him?
13. They must prepare the food tonight.
14. Someone attacked Sam on Saturday night.
15. The maid makes the beds very morning.
16. He will write the letter next week.
17. Gary had finished the project.
18.Catherine is baking the birthday cake.
19. Did Alison inform the police?
20. The police were watching the burglars.
21. We have to wash the dishes before we go out.
22. You must complete your homework tonight.
23 They may paint their house this summer.
24. They teach three languages at that school.
25.Tara was driving the car.
26. Who wrote that poem?
27. Mrs Jefferson was tidying the kitchen.
28.The boss is going to offer Andrew a better post.
H) Assinale a alternativa correta.
1. Na voz passiva, a frase "Renato chopped all those trees" e:
a) All those trees were chopped (by Renato).
b) All those trees will be chopped (by Renato).
c) All those trees had been chopped (by Renato).
d) All those trees would chopped (by Renato). e) All those trees had chopped (by Renato).
2. A frase "He is supposed to be an excellent speaker" corresponde, em português, a: a) Supõe-se que ele se tornara um excelente poliglota.
b) Supõe-se que ele será um pregador excelente.
c) Ele se acha um excelente locutor.
d) Supõe-se que ele tenha excelentes alto-falantes.
e) Ele e considerado um excelente palestrista.
3. "Somebody wrote a letter to Tatiana." Isso significa que:
a) Tatiana was written a letter.
b) A letter was writing to Tatiana.
c) A letter was written by Tatiana.
d) Tatiana had written a letter.
e) Tatiana is writing a letter.
4. "Margarida had to send eight postcards. Unfortunately, she was too busy and could only send five of them." Podemos dizer que:
a) Margarida was sent only three postcards.
b) Only three postcards weren't sent by Margarida.
c) Only three postcards were sent to Margarida.
d) Somebody sent only five cards by Margarida.
e) Margarida has received half of the postcards.
5. "Dangerous driving causes many tragic accidents." A voz passiva dessa frase é:
a) Many tragic accidents were caused by dangerous driving.
b) Many tragic accidents are caused by dangerous driving.
c) Many tragic accidents had caused by dangerous driving.
d) Many tragic accidents has caused by dangerous driving.
e) Many tragic accidents caused dangerous driving.