The Passive Voice

(A.) The teacher returned the exams on Monday.

(B.) The exams were returned on Monday.

The two sentences have basically the same meaning, but the emphasis changes according to which subject the writer uses. In sentence (A), the writer focuses on the teacher, while in sentence (B) the focus is on the exams.

Forming the Passive Voice

The passive voice is formed with the verb be + past participle. The tense is shown by the form of the verb be. The verb be must agree with the subject.

An outstanding student is awarded* the scholarship every year.

Shannon was awarded* the scholarship last night.

*This is not a past tense –ed.

The Simple Present

am / is / are + past participle

The newspaper is read throughout the world.

The Present Progressive

am / is / are + being + past participle

The new library is being built.

The Present Perfect

has / have + been + past participle

The house has been painted recently.

The Simple Past

was / were + past participle

The books were returned to the library on time.

The Past Progressive

was / were + being + past participle

By the time I got to the plane, the doors were being closed.

The Past Perfect

had + been + past participle

The dinner had been prepared before we arrived.

The Simple Future

will be + past participle

We will be tested on this material.

Be going to

am / is / are going to + be + past participle

The show is going to be held next month.

The Future Perfect

will have been + past participle

We will have been given the assignment details by then.

Using Modals in the Passive Voice

Present/future:modal + be + past participle

The computer can be upgraded.

Past modals:modal + have been + past participle

The traffic delays must have been caused by

snow.

Using Infinitive & Gerunds with the Passive Voice

verb + infinitives:verb + to be + past participle

The children like to be kissed before going to bed.

verb + gerunds:gerund + being + past participle

He dislikes being treated like a child.

The verb be is followed by –ing (the present

participle) to form the progressive.• We are planning our next vacation.• They were living in Guadalajara last year.

The verb be is followed by –ed (the past

participle) to form the passive.• Essays are turned in every Monday.• My essay was turned in yesterday.

Using the Passive Voice

Use the passive voice in the following circumstances:

1. When the person or thing doing the action is obvious, unknown, or unimportant.

• Many trees were planted to replace those lost in the fire.

• The house was built in 1850.• Tobacco is grown in the South.

2. When you don’t want to mention the person doing the action.

• Several failing grades were received in ESL 184.

• The information was given to the police investigator.

• The new law was passed without our knowledge.

3. When you want to emphasize the receiver of the action or the result of the action.

• International students are housed in the homes of local families.

• A new computer system is being installed to improve our computer’s speed.

• Children can be taught good manners at an early age.

4. When you are describing a process.

• The specimens were collected and placed on a slide.

• The eggs are beaten until they are creamy.

• The wheel is attached to the axle before the nuts are tightened.

Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct

object) can be used in the passive voice. Intransitive verbs cannot be made passive. Do not use these verbs in the passive voice.

appear belong exist seemarrive come happen sleepbe die occur rise

Correct the errors in the passive voice.

1. I was transfer to another math class.2. Bacterial infections were existed before

man.3. Many new books are writing every year.4. The award will be gave at the ceremony.5. I hope to accept at this university.