Passive voice

Passive voice

Outline

-Tenses in passive voice

-The use of by

-Informal use of the passive with get

-Passive with two objects

-Reported structures with the passive

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​In passive voice we always use the verb "to be" in its correct form. To do this, you have a look at the verb tense used in the active voice.

Tenses in passive voice

Tenses in passive voice

​Modals

Structure: modal verb + be + past participle

Example:

You might be asked to speak at the next meeting.

This door must be repaired immediately.

Some research should be done for this project.

Tenses in passive voice

Passive infinitive & Passive -ing form

• Passive infinitive --> to be + past participle

  Example: Trish hopes to be voted in as class president.

• Passive -ing form --> being + past participle

  Example: John was not happy about being criticised.

The use of by

• We use by if we want to show who is doing the action.

  Example: The money was raised by three boys in my class.

• We don't use by when the person doing the action is obvious, unknown or unimportant.

  Example: The photos of the concert were put up on social media.

Informal use of the passive

We use the verb "get" for this informal use of the passive voice. It occurs in everyday speech, and usually for undesired things.

Examples:

She got knocked down by a car as she was crossing the road.

I got stung by a bee in the garden.

Some students got told off for wearing the wrong shoes to school.

Passive with two objects

​Verbs that take two objects

Active voice: She gave me a book.

Passive voice: I was given a book. / A book was given to me.

Active voice: His parents bought him the new PlayStation.

Passive voice: He was bought the new PlayStation. / The new PlayStation was bought to him.

Reported structures with passive (impersonal passive)

We can use verbs like: believe, claim, know, report, say, suppose, think to talk about what people say or believe generally.

• It is said/believed + that + clause. --> It is said that young people today are experts in technology.

• He is said/ thought/known + to + infinitive --> She is said to be an expert photographer.

• They're said/ believed + to + have + past participle OR + to + be + -ing --> The students are reported to have protested about colleagues fees. /The art gallery is believed to be expanding its area of interest.

Multiple Choice

The children ______ the film Finding Dory.

• was shown

• were shown

• were watched

Multiple Choice

It _______ into a game by the teacher.

• was maked

• was did

• was made

Multiple Choice

The head teacher's approval must ______ for the excursion to the woods to take place.

• be given

• to be given

• be gave

Multiple Choice

It was possible that the film ______ by some of them already.

• had seen

• had been saw

• had been seen

Multiple Choice

She ____________ the best singer of her generation.

• is said been

• is said to be

• was said to be

Multiple Choice

It _______ as soon as possible.

• will be repaired

• is repaired

• will repair

Multiple Choice

It ________ that the result of the election was unfair.

• claims

• is claimed

• was claimed