The Passive

The Passive

SUPER GOAL 5 .U.5.PAGE 57

USE

• We use the passive to emphasize the action and not who or what does it.

• To make the passive, we use the verb be and a past participle.* 

Simple Present:

• Millions of people use the Internet. (active)

• The Internet is used by millions of people. (passive)

Present Perfect:

• Technology has changed our lives. (active)

• Our lives have been changed by technology. (passive)  

Simple Past:

• Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. (active)

• The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. (passive)

Note

• The person or thing that does the action is the agent. When we want to show the agent, we use by + the agent.

• When the agent is not necessary, we leave it out. 

Examples

A thief stole my bike.

My bike was stolen. (by a thief is not necessary)

Someone has broken the window.

The window has been broken. (by someone is not necessary)

The boys broke the window.

The window was broken by the boys. (necessary)

End of the lesson :REMEMBER

We use the passive when....................

FORM

Action /Object+be +p.p.+(by +Agent.)

LET'S GO TO THE QUIZ