The Passive

The Passive

We form the Passive with the verb TO BE and the PAST PARTICIPLE (third form) of the main verb

_{Forms of Passive}

• Present simple - am/are/is + V_III

• Present continuous - am/are/is being + V_III

• Past simple - was/were + V_III

• Past Continuous - was/were being + V_III

• Present Perfect simple - have/has been V_III

• Past Perfect simple - had been + V_III

• Future simple - will be + VIII

Forms of Passive

• Present Infinitive - (to) be + V_III

• Perfect Infinitive - (to) have been + V_III

• - ing form - being + V_III

• modals - modal + be + V_III

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We use the Passive when the person who does the action is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the context:

• Our house was broken into last night. (We don't know did who did it)

• The book has been translated into many languages. (It is not important who translated it)

• The tests have been corrected. (It is obvious that the teacher corrected the tests)

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We use the Passive when the action itself is more important than the person/thing performing it, as in headlines, formal notices, instructions, etc.

• Unauthorised persons are not allowed beyond this point.

• Several villages were flooded last night.

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To change from Active into Passive:

• The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence

• The active verb remains in the same tense but changes into a passive form

• The subject of the active sentence becomes the agent and is either introduced with the preposition by or is omitted

• NOTE: only transitive verbs (which take an object) can be changed into the passive

NOTE:

• We use by + agent to say who or what carries out the action

• We use with + instrument/material/ingredient to say what the agent used to carry out the action

• The omelette was made by Alex. It was made with eggs, ham and cheese.

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The agent is often omitted in the passive sentence when the subject of the active sentence is:

• people - English is spoken all over the world.

• somebody/someone - My bike has been stolen.

• they - The airport has been closed.

With verbs that take TWO objects (such as tell, show, promise, sell, give, etc), we can make two passive sentences.

• Lucy gave Steve a present. - A present was given to Steve (by Lucy) / Steve was given a present (by Lucy)

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When the verb of the active sentence is followed by a preposition, the preposition is kept in the passive sentence as well.

• A nurse looks after the patient. - The patient is looked after by a nurse.

When we want to find out who or what did something, the passive question form is Who/What ...... by?

• Who was America discovered by?

• What was the fire caused by?

Choose the correct passive sentence:

Poll

The dog bit the boy.

• The boy was bitten by the dog.

• The boy is bitten by the dog.

• The boy has been bitten by the dog.

Poll

This company delivers computers all over the world.

• Computers are delivered all over the world by this company.

• Computers were delivered all over the world by this company.

Poll

Mother is preparing dinner.

• Dinner is prepared by mother.

• Dinner is being prepared by mother.

Poll

The police have arrested the thief.

• The thief was arrested.

• The thief had been arrested by the police.

• The thief has been arrested.

Poll

They will finish the project tomorrow.

• The project will be finished tomorrow by them.

• The project will be finished tomorrow.

Poll

Somebody must tell John the truth.

• The truth must be told to John.

• John must tell the truth.

• John must be told the truth.

Poll

Who wrote 'Romeo and Juliet'?

• Who was 'Romeo and Juliet' wrote by?

• Who was 'Romeo and Juliet' written by?

• By who was 'Romeo and Juliet' written?