The passive – football is played in Seville

• The regular active voice. If an agent is given, use it as the subject. For example, instead of “Much fun was had by all”, write “Everyone had a lot of fun.”

• The indefinite “they” as the subject. Instead of “It is said that...”, use “They say that...” (Dicen que...).

• The reflexive. Use Se habla español for “Spanish is spoken” [literally, “Spanish speaks itself”].

• Constructions with the reflexive pronoun se are very common in Spanish. Remember a few details here: – For non-personal subjects, the verb agrees with the subject

in number: Se vende un coche magnífico en la subasta. A magnificent car is being sold at the auction. 

• Note that in some cases verbs which are “passive” in one language are active in another: nacer = to be born.

• Yo nací el primero de junio. I was born on the first of June.

Past ParticiplesInfinitive:

Past participle:

Past ParticiplesInfinitive:

Past participle:

Past ParticiplesInfinitive:

Past participle:

Past ParticiplesInfinitive:

Past participle:

Past ParticiplesInfinitive:

Past participle:

Past ParticiplesInfinitive:

Past participle:

Past ParticiplesInfinitive:

Past participle:

Past ParticiplesInfinitive:

Past participle:

How to turn active sentences into passive sentences

• Active = Sandy broke the window yesterday• There are five main steps:• STEP 1• Take the object of the first sentence and make

it the subject of the new sentence• The window…• STEP 2• Add the verb to be in the same tense as the

active sentence (broke = past simple)• The window was…

• STEP 3• Add the past participle of the verb in the active

sentence (broke = broken)• The window was broken…• STEP 4 (if applicable)• Add by plus the subject of the first sentence

(Sandy)• The window was broken by Sandy…• STEP 5• Finish off the sentence in the appropriate way• The window was broken by Sandy yesterday.

• Active Sentences

• Volunteers clean the beach.

• Volunteers are cleaning the beach.

• Volunteers have cleaned the beach.

• Volunteers cleaned the beach.

• Volunteers were cleaning the beach.

• Volunteers had cleaned the beach.

• Volunteers will clean the beach.

• Volunteers are going to clean the beach.

• Volunteers must clean the beach.

Passive Sentences

The beach is cleaned by volunteers.

The beach is being cleaned by volunteers.

The beach has been cleaned by volunteers.

The beach was cleaned by volunteers.

The beach was being cleaned by volunteers.

The beach had been cleaned by volunteers.

The beach will be cleaned by volunteers.

The beach is going to be cleaned by volunteers.

The beach must be cleaned by volunteers.

by and with• With is used after participles such as filled, packed,

crowded, crammed.

• e.g. The train was packed with commuters.

• The difference between by and with may involve the presence of a person. Compare these two sentences with your partner

• Dan was hit by a branch.• Dan was hit with a branch.