Passive Voice

Using the Passive Voice

Using the Passive VoiceDefinitionsChanging to the passive voiceTable of English Tenses in Passive

Active voice vs. passive voiceActive voice takes the form A does B

Passive voice takes the form B is done (by A)Plastic film was chosen (by us) to cover the microphone.We chose plastic film to cover the microphone.

Active voice subjects perform an actWe ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.Active voiceSubjectVerbObject

Passive voice subjects are acted on Plastic film was chosen to cover the microphone.Passive voiceSubjectVerbObjectWe ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.Active voiceSubjectVerbObject

Passive voice differs from 3rd personPlastic film was chosen to cover the microphone.The team ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.Third person, but active voicePassive voiceSubjectVerbObjectSubjectVerbObject

When would you want to use passive voice?When intentionally trying to hide the subject of the sentence.

For example, a politician might say, The mistake was made (by someone). Hiding the subject helps him/her hide the blame.

When intentionally trying to minimize the guilt of the subject.

For example, a cheating boy might say, Cheating was committed by me.

When passive voice better emphasizes the main point of the message, such as Children were harmed by the drunk driver.

Using the Passive VoiceDefinitionsChanging to the passive voiceTable of English tenses in Passive

To be is very irregular:

Past participles usually add -ed or t: presented, measured, built, burntIrregular past participles must be memorizedCombine to be + past participle

Present tensePast tense 1st personI amWe areI wasWe were2nd personYou areYou areYou wereYou were3rd personHe, she, it isThey areHe, she, it wasThey were

Omit the agent of the action ActiveWorkers installed burglar alarms.

Passive, with agent Burglar alarms were installed by the workers.

Passive, with the agent omittedBurglar alarms were installed.

Remember tense and number

Active VoicePassive voiceI finish a project in eight hours.A project is finished in eight hours.I finish three projects in eight hoursThree projects are finished in eight hoursI finished a project in eight hours.A project was finished in eight hours.I finished three projects in eight hours.Three projects were finished in eight hours.

Using the Passive VoiceDefinitionsChanging to the passive voiceTable of English tenses in passive

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE VOICESimple Present TenseActive: S + V(s/es) + O

Passive: S + am/is/are + PP + by + OEX: He reads books every day.Books are read (by him) every day.

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE VOICEPresent Continuous TenseActive: S + am/is/are + V-ing + O

Passive: S + am/is/are + being +PP + by + OEX: He is writing a novel at the moment.A novel is being written (by him) at the moment.

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE VOICEPresent Perfect TenseActive: S + Has/Have + V3ed + O

Passive: S + has/have + been +PP + by + OEX: He has just finished a novel.A novel has just been finished (by him).

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE VOICESimple Past TenseActive: S + V2ed + O

Passive: S + was/were + PP + by + OEX: He gave Tom a book.A book was given to Tom (by him).Tom was given a book (by him).

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE VOICEPast Continuous TenseActive: S + was/were + V-ing + O

Passive: S + was/were + being + PP + by + OEX: He was writing a letter at 8.00 yesterday.A letter was being written (by him).

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE VOICEPast Perfect TenseActive: S + had + V3ed + O

Passive: S + had + been + PP + by + OEX: He had finished his homework before 8.00 yesterday.His homework had been finished (by him) before 8.00 yesterday.

TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN PASSIVE VOICESimple Future TenseActive: S + will/shall + V + O

Passive: S + will/shall + be + PP + by + OEX: He will finish the homework.The homework will be finished.

MODAL VERBS (MV) IN PASSIVE VOICEModal Verbs can be used in either the present or past forms.Active: S + MV + V + O

Passive: S + MV + be + PP + by + OEX: We can solve this problem.This problem can be solved.