Passive Voice

Passive Voice

Apostila - p. 11

Passive Voice

Sentences can be either in the active or in the passive voice.

1. In the active voice there is more emphasis on the doer of the action.

2. In the passive voice there is more emphasis on the receiver of the action.

WHEN I USE THE PASSIVE VOICE...

When the doer of the active voice is unknown, obvious, or not so important, the passive voice is used.

WHEN I MENTION THE DOER...

However, when the doer of the action in the active voice is somehow important, it can be mentioned in the passive voice using a by-phrase.

Example:

Active Voice: The principal has cancelled today's exam.

Passive Voice: Today's exam has been cancelled [by the principal].

INTRANSITIVE VERBS

The passive voice cannot be used with intransitive verbs because they do not take objects.

Examples of intransitive verbs:

1. arrive

2. sleep

3. run

4. happen

5. become

6. live

7. depend

VERB BE? WHAT?

In the passive voice, the verb be must be always conjugated in the same tense of the main verb in the active voice sentence.

IN THE END...

PASSIVE VOICE:

OBJECT + VERB BE + VERB IN THE PAST PARTICIPLE + SUBJECT.

An e-mail was written by Marcos.

QUESTION 6

Now look at the table below and do the following activities.

Apostila - p. 11 e 12

Multiple Choice

a) What is the basic structure of the ACTIVE VOICE?

• 1. Doer of the action + verb + receiver of the action.

• 2. Receiver of the action + verb + receiver of the action.

• 3. Verb + receiver of the action + doer of the action

• 4. Receiver of the action + doer of the action + verb.

Multiple Choice

b) Which option shows the basic structure of the PASSIVE VOICE?

• 1. Doer of the action + verb + receiver of the action.

• 2. Receiver of the action + verb + receiver of the action.

• 3. Receiver of the action + be + Past Participle (+by + doer of the action)

• 4. Doer of the action + be + Past Participle (+by + doer of the action)

Multiple Choice

c) What is true about the form of PASSIVE VOICE sentences?

• 1. The word order is not changed from active to passive voice.

• 2. The verb BE is always used in its base form.

• 3. The verb BE must be always conjugated in the same verb tense of the active voice sentence

• 4. The doer of the action is always known.

Multiple Choice

d) Which preposition is used when the doer of the action is mentioned in the passive voice?

• 1. by

• 2. with

• 3. to

• 4. for

QUESTION 7

When is the passive voice used? Check all that apply.

Apostila - p. 12

Multiple Select

QUESTION 7

When is the passive voice used? Check all that apply.

• 1. When the doer of the action is more important than the receiver of the action.

• 2. When the doer of the action is not known.

• 3. When the receiver of the action is more important than the doer of the action.

• 4. When the receiver of the action is obvious.

QUESTION 8

Which option shows the following sentence in the passive voice?

Multiple Choice

8) Which option shows that following sentence in the passive voice?

"August Bartholdi designed The Statue of Liberty in the 19th century"

• a) The Statue of Liberty is designed by Auguste Bartholdi in the 19th century

• b) Auguste Bartholdi was designed by The Statue of Liberty in the 19th century.

• c) The Statue of Liberty has been designed by Auguste Bartholdi in the 19th century.

• e) The Statue of Liberty was designed by Auguste Bartholdi in the 19th century;

QUESTION 9

Which sentence best goes with the image below?

Apostila - p. 13

Multiple Choice

Which sentence best goes with the image below?

• a) the seagulls should be fed.

• b) the seagulls shouldn't be fed.

• c) the seagull will be fed.

• d) seagulls are fed regularly in this area.

QUESTION 10

Which sentence can't be used in the passive voice?

Multiple Choice

10) Which sentence can't be used in the passive voice?

• a) The Portuguese built this house in the 16th century.

• b) Nobody can touch the painting.

• c) There is a sloth sleeping in that tree.

• d) People must take their shoes off before they enter the temple.

QUESTION 11

Write the following sentences in the passive.

Multiple Choice

a) They inaugurated the Sydney Opera House in 1973.

(simple past)

• The Sydney Opera House was inaugurated in 1973.

• In 1973 The Sydney Opera House was inaugurated.

Multiple Choice

b) They included the Sydney Opera House in the National Heritage List in 2005.

(simple past)

• The Sydney Opera House was included in the National Heritage List in 2005.

• The National Heritage List was included in The Sydney Opera House.

Multiple Choice

c) They are repainting the building.

(present continuous)

• Repaired was being the building they.

• The building is being repaired.

Multiple Choice

d) John has never visited a World Heritage Site.

(present perfect)

• A World Heritage Site has never been visited by John.

• John visited a World Heritage Site.

Multiple Choice

e) Kristopher was taking a picture.

(past continuous)

• Kristopher took a picture.

• A picture was being taken by Kristopher.

Multiple Choice

f) This place fascinates me.

(simple present)

• I am fascinated by this place.

• Fascinates me this place was.

Multiple Choice

g) Elliot and Cody collect souvenirs from World Heritage Sites.

(simple present)

• Elliot and Cody World Heritage Site's collect souvenirs.

• Souvernirs from World Heritage Sites are collected by Elliot and Cody.

ANSWERS - QUESTION 11

• a) The Sydney Opera House was inaugurated in 1973.

• b) The Sydney Opera House was included in the National Heritage List in 2005.

• c) The building is being repaired.

• d) A World Heritage Site has never been visited by John.

• e) A picture was being taken by Kristopher.

ANSWERS - QUESTION 11

• f) I am fascinated by this place.

• g) Souvenirs from World Heritage Site are collected by Elliot and Cody.

UNIT 18

WHAT'S OUT THERE?

Apostila - p. 19

1. What do you plan on doing after you finish high school?

2. What careers do you think are interesting?

3. What is the secret to succeeding in life?

Question 2

According to this definition, which of the following occupation require a college degree of some sort? Check all that apply.

Answers - Question 2

• agronomist

• plastic surgeon

• engineer

• architect

• judge

• professor

Answers - Question 2

• physical therapist

• scientist

• marketing executive

• biologist

• software developer

QUESTION 3

Now read the descriptions and recommend one or more occupations listed in activity 2.

Multiple Choice

a) "I like to make people feel pretty and bring out the beauty that they don't think they possess."

• hair stylist, plastic surgeon and makeup artist

• scientist, judge and artist

Multiple Choice

b) "I like to be in touch with nature and I don't like to work indoors."

• farmer

• politician

• receptionist

Multiple Choice

c) "I love to learn about the life of animals and plants."

• agronomist

• biologist

• estate agent

Multiple Choice

d) "I love to share my knowledge with other people."

• plumber

• physical therapist

• professor

Answers - Question 3

a) Hair Stylist, Plastic Surgeon, and Makeup Artist

b) Farmer

c) Biologist

d) Professor

QUESTION 4

Read the following excerpt and complete it with one of the occupations from activity 2.

Apostila - p. 21

Answer - Question 4

• "My favourite thing about being a plumber is undoubtedly being out and about all day, seeing new places and meeting new people."