Passive VoicePassive Voice

Grammar GuideGrammar Guide

mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ KoninPWSZ Konin

IntroductionIntroduction

Passive voice is used when the Passive voice is used when the focus is on focus is on the actionthe action. It is not important or not known . It is not important or not known who or what is performing the action.who or what is performing the action.

My bike was stolenMy bike was stolen..

(= (= the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I

do not know, however, who did itdo not know, however, who did it.).)

Use: Agent not importantUse: Agent not important

We often use the passive:We often use the passive: when the when the agentagent (the person or thing which (the person or thing which

causes an action) is causes an action) is not knownnot known::

She was murdered.She was murdered. ((= = We donWe don’’t know who did it.)t know who did it.)

Use: Agent not importantUse: Agent not important

We often use the passive:We often use the passive: when the when the agent is obviousagent is obvious from the from the

context or from general knowledge:context or from general knowledge:

She has been sacked.She has been sacked. ((= = obviously by her employer)obviously by her employer)

Use: Agent not importantUse: Agent not important

We often use the passive:We often use the passive: when the when the agent is not importantagent is not important or or

relevant:relevant:

Wars have been fought throughout Wars have been fought throughout history.history. ((= = Who fought them is not important here.)Who fought them is not important here.)

Use: Agent not mentionedUse: Agent not mentioned

We often use the passive:We often use the passive: whenwhen we we wish to avoid mentioning the agentwish to avoid mentioning the agent

(for example, when we don’t want to directly (for example, when we don’t want to directly blame any specific person, or we want to blame any specific person, or we want to avoid personal responsibility):avoid personal responsibility):

I see the washing-up hasn’t been done.I see the washing-up hasn’t been done.

Oh dear, look, the vase has been broken.Oh dear, look, the vase has been broken.

Don’t blame me. Nothing can be done about it.Don’t blame me. Nothing can be done about it.

Use: Agent not mentionedUse: Agent not mentioned

By omitting the agent we can describe By omitting the agent we can describe general feelings, opinions or beliefsgeneral feelings, opinions or beliefs rather rather than those of a particular person or group:than those of a particular person or group:

São Paulo is said to be the fastest-growing São Paulo is said to be the fastest-growing city in South America.city in South America.

Rio de Janeiro has been described as the Rio de Janeiro has been described as the most beautiful city in the Americas.most beautiful city in the Americas.

Use: Focus on issuesUse: Focus on issues

The passive is often used in formal English to:The passive is often used in formal English to: focus on the issuesfocus on the issues rather than on the rather than on the

people involved (this is very common in people involved (this is very common in academic and scientific English):academic and scientific English):

The research was carried out over a The research was carried out over a period of six months.period of six months.

Use: Focus on issuesUse: Focus on issues

The passive is often used in formal English to:The passive is often used in formal English to: describe rules and proceduresdescribe rules and procedures::

Answers must be written in ink.Answers must be written in ink.

Candidates will be interviewed in Candidates will be interviewed in alphabetical order.alphabetical order.

Use: Focus on issuesUse: Focus on issues

The passive is often used in formal English to:The passive is often used in formal English to: describedescribe commercial, industrial and commercial, industrial and

scientific scientific processesprocesses::

Minutes are taken and then submitted Minutes are taken and then submitted to the chair for approval.to the chair for approval.

Components are electronically tagged Components are electronically tagged and transported to the production line.and transported to the production line.

Use: Focus on issuesUse: Focus on issues

The passive is often used in formal English to:The passive is often used in formal English to: describedescribe historical, economic and social historical, economic and social

processesprocesses::

Tribal lands were sold over a period Tribal lands were sold over a period of fifty years.of fifty years.

The currency has been devalued The currency has been devalued twice since the war.twice since the war.

Verb FormVerb Form

Passive is formed with:Passive is formed with:TO BE + Past Participle (v-ed / 3f)TO BE + Past Participle (v-ed / 3f)

the object of the active sentence becomes the the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence subject of the passive sentence

the form of the verb is changed (the form of the verb is changed (to beto be + + PPast ast PParticiplearticiple) )

the subject of the active sentence becomes the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped) dropped)

Present Simple PassivePresent Simple Passive

SSubject ubject VerbVerb Object Object

Active: Active: Rita Rita writes writes a lettera letter..

Passive: Passive: A letter A letter is written is written by Ritaby Rita.. to be + 3fto be + 3f

Present Simple Passive PracticePresent Simple Passive Practice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: He opens the door.He opens the door.

P:P: A: A: They don't help you.They don't help you.

P:P: A: A: Does the police officer catch the thief?Does the police officer catch the thief?

P:P:

Present Simple Passive PracticePresent Simple Passive Practice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: He opens the door.He opens the door.

P: P: The door is opened (by him).The door is opened (by him). A: A: They don't help you.They don't help you.

P: P: You aren’t helped (by them).You aren’t helped (by them). A: A: Does the police officer catch the thief?Does the police officer catch the thief?

P: P: Is the thief caught (Is the thief caught (by the police officerby the police officer)?)?

Past Simple PassivePast Simple Passive

Subject Subject VerbVerb Object Object

Active: Active: Rita Rita wrote wrote a a letter.letter.

Passive: Passive: A letter A letter was written was written by by Rita.Rita.

to be + 3fto be + 3f

Past Simple Passive PracticePast Simple Passive Practice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: Somebody hit me.Somebody hit me.

P:P: A: A: They didn't make their beds.They didn't make their beds.

P: P: A: A: Did he send the letter?Did he send the letter?

P:P:

Past Simple Passive PracticePast Simple Passive Practice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: Somebody hit me.Somebody hit me.

P: P: I was hit.I was hit. A: A: They didn't make their beds.They didn't make their beds.

P: P: Their beds weren’t made.Their beds weren’t made. A: A: Did he send the letter?Did he send the letter?

P: P: Was the letter sent?Was the letter sent?

Future Simple PassiveFuture Simple Passive

SSubject ubject VerbVerb Object Object

Active: Active: Rita Rita will writewill write a letter.a letter.

Passive: Passive: A letter A letter will bewill be written written by Ritaby Rita..

will + vwill + v

to be + 3fto be + 3f

Future Simple Passive PracticeFuture Simple Passive Practice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: Jane will buy a new computer.Jane will buy a new computer.

P:P: A: A: They won't show the new film.They won't show the new film.

P: P: A: A: Will the plumber repair the shower?Will the plumber repair the shower?

P: P:

Future Simple Passive PracticeFuture Simple Passive Practice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: Jane will buy a new computer.Jane will buy a new computer.

P: P: A new computer will be bought.A new computer will be bought. A: A: They won't show the new film.They won't show the new film.

P: P: The new film won’t be shown.The new film won’t be shown. A: A: Will the plumber repair the shower?Will the plumber repair the shower?

P: P: Will the shower be repaired?Will the shower be repaired?

Present Continuous PassivePresent Continuous Passive

Subject Subject VerbVerb Object Object

Active: Active: Rita Rita is writing is writing a letter.a letter.

Passive: Passive: A letter A letter is being written by is being written by RitaRita..

to be + v-ingto be + v-ing to be + 3fto be + 3f beingbeing

Present Continuous Passive Present Continuous Passive PracticePractice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: Sheila is drinking a cup of tea.Sheila is drinking a cup of tea.

P: P: A: A: I amI am not not writing a poem. writing a poem.

P: P: A: A: Is she watering the flowers?Is she watering the flowers?

P: P:

Present Continuous Passive Present Continuous Passive PracticePractice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: Sheila is drinking a cup of tea.Sheila is drinking a cup of tea.

P: P: A cup of tea is being drunk.A cup of tea is being drunk. A: A: I am not writing a poem.I am not writing a poem.

P: P: A poem isn’t being written.A poem isn’t being written. A: A: Is she watering the flowers?Is she watering the flowers?

P: P: Are the flowers being watered?Are the flowers being watered?

Present Perfect PassivePresent Perfect Passive

Subject Subject VerbVerb Object Object

Active: Active: Rita Rita has writtenhas written a letter.a letter.

Passive: Passive: A letter A letter has been written by has been written by Rita.Rita.

have + 3fhave + 3f to be + 3fto be + 3f beenbeen

Present Perfect Passive PracticePresent Perfect Passive Practice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: Kerrie has paid the bill.Kerrie has paid the bill.

P: P: A: A: They havenThey haven’’t read the book.t read the book.

P: P: A: A: Has she phoned Has she phoned themthem??

P: P:

Present Perfect Passive PracticePresent Perfect Passive Practice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: Kerrie has paid the bill.Kerrie has paid the bill.

P: P: The bill has been paid.The bill has been paid. A: A: They haven’t read the book.They haven’t read the book.

P: P: The book hasn’t been read.The book hasn’t been read. A: A: Has she phoned them?Has she phoned them?

P: P: Have they been phoned?Have they been phoned?

Sentences with two objectsSentences with two objects

Rewriting an active sentence with two Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that objects in passive voice means that one of one of the two objects becomes the subjectthe two objects becomes the subject, the , the other one remains an object. other one remains an object.

Which object to transform into a subject Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the depends on what you want to put the focus onfocus on. .

Sentences with two objectsSentences with two objects

Subject Subject VerbVerb Object 1 Object 1 Object 2 Object 2

A: A: Rita Rita wrotewrote a letter a letter to me.to me.

P: P: A letter A letter was written to mewas written to me by Rita.by Rita.

I I was written a letter to by was written a letter to by RitaRita..

Sentences with two objectsSentences with two objectsPracticePractice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: Our Our neighbourneighbour gives gives meme (1)(1) a lifta lift (2)(2)..

P:P:P: P:

A: A: She told She told himhim (1)(1) a liea lie (2)(2)..P:P:P: P:

A: A: They They willwill offer offer herher (1)(1) a seata seat (2)(2).. P:P:P:P:

Sentences with two objectsSentences with two objectsPracticePractice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: Our neighbour gives Our neighbour gives meme (1)(1) a lifta lift (2)(2)..

P: P: I am given a lift.I am given a lift.P: P: A lift is given to me.A lift is given to me.

A: A: She told She told himhim (1)(1) a liea lie (2)(2)..P: P: He was told a lie.He was told a lie.P: P: A lie was told to him.A lie was told to him.

A: A: They will offer They will offer herher (1)(1) a seata seat (2)(2).. P: P: She will be offered a seat.She will be offered a seat.P: P: A seat will be offered to her.A seat will be offered to her.

Sentences with two objectsSentences with two objectsPracticePractice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: I am sending I am sending themthem (1)(1) a lettera letter (2)(2)..

P:P:

P: P: A: A: The waiter has brought The waiter has brought usus (1)(1) the coffeethe coffee (2)(2)..

P:P:

P:P:

Sentences with two objectsSentences with two objectsPracticePractice

Change active into passive:Change active into passive: A: A: I am sending themI am sending them (1)(1) a lettera letter (2)(2)..

P: P: They are being sent a letter.They are being sent a letter.

P: P: A letter is being sent to them.A letter is being sent to them. A: A: The waiter has brought usThe waiter has brought us (1)(1) the coffeethe coffee (2)(2)..

P: P: We have been brought the coffee.We have been brought the coffee.

P: P: The coffee has been brought to us.The coffee has been brought to us.

BibliographyBibliography

1.1. Bourke K.: Bourke K.: Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix it.it. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.

2.2. Leech G., Cruickshank B., Ivanic R.Leech G., Cruickshank B., Ivanic R.:: An A-Z of English An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage.Grammar & Usage. Harlow: Longman, 2004. Harlow: Longman, 2004.

3.3. Murphy R.: Murphy R.: English Grammar in UseEnglish Grammar in Use. Cambridge: . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.Cambridge University Press, 2006.

4.4. Swan M.: Swan M.: Practical English UsagePractical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.University Press, 2005.

5.5. Thomas A. J., Martinet A. V.: Thomas A. J., Martinet A. V.: A practical English A practical English GrammarGrammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.

6.6. Vince M.: Vince M.: Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition)Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition) . Oxford: Macmillan Education 2010. . Oxford: Macmillan Education 2010.