Passive Voice

Passive Voice

A brief summary

Active Voice Structure:

S + Transitive verb + direct object + complements

Passive Voice Structure:

S+passive verb+ by agent

Example:

• Mary buys bread (active)

• Bread is bought by Mary (passive)

Another possibility:

S+Verb+indirect object + direct object (active)

S (direct object) + Passive verb+ indirect object

S (indirect object) + passive verb + direct object

Examples: Mary gave Andy a present

• Passive 1: Andy was given a present by Mary

• Passive 2: A present was given to Andy by Mary