Passive voice

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

Do these sentences have the same meaning?

ACTIVE VOICE:

It is when the action of the verb fall on the subject.

(la acción del verbo recae sobre el sujeto)

PASSIVE VOICE

It is when the action of the verb fall on the object

 (la acción del verbo recae sobre el objeto)

Nevertheless, it is not unusual to mention the ‘actual doer’ in a passive sentence. In that case we put them at the end of the sentence after the preposition by:

• “Great expectations” was written by Charles Dickens.

• “Star wars” was directed by George Lucas.

• In everyday situations we use it when we do not know or care who performs the action. In other words, the passive is used when we are more interested in what happens to a thing or a person.

The passive voice is used

When use the Passive voice?

• reports of crimes or legal procedures – He was sentenced to two years in prison.  

• newspaper reports – The match was postponed due to a heavy fog.

• scientific writing – Three millilitres of water are added to the mixture.

• announcements – Flight BA 302 to London is delayed by two hours.

• notices – Customers are requested not to smoke.

​The passive is more common in written than spoken English. It sounds formal and impersonal, and for that reason is often used in:

Other uses

• To emphasize the object that receive the action

Jack was brought to the hospital

• To emphasize the action instead of the actor

Our car was repaired by our neighbor.

• When the subject is unknown

The book was stolen last night.

• When the subject is unimportant

Gas prices were raised again last week.

• To be discreet or tactful by not naming the agent

The keys were lost again!

Multiple Choice

"He ate all of the cookies" This is in

• active voice

• pasive voice

Multiple Choice

"The truth has been told to me by her" This sentence is oin

• Active voice

• Passive voice

Multiple Choice

He was given a book for his birthday. This sentence is in

• Active voice

• Passive Voice

Multiple Choice

I bought bananas at the store today. This sentence is in

• Active Voice

• Passive Voice

Let’s review the verb to be

• The Present Simple Tense – AM, IS, ARE

• The Present Continuous Tense – AM/IS/ARE BEING

• The Present Perfect Tense – HAVE BEEN, HAS BEEN

• The Past Simple Tense – WAS, WERE

• The Past Continuous Tense – WAS/WERE BEING

• The Past Perfect Tense – HAD BEEN

• The Future Tense – WILL BE

• With modals – CAN BE, WOULD BE, SHOULD BE, MAY BE, MUST BE

Form of passive

To form the passive voice we use the verb to BE and the past participle of the main verb

Subject + to be + Past Participle

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

¢the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence

¢Add the verb “Be” in the same tense as the sentence in active voice form

¢The main verb is changed to past participle

¢The subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

¢Para construir la voz pasiva es necesario que la oración en voz activa cuente con objeto directo, es decir que responda a la pregunta "¿qué cosa?", por ejemplo:

    My sister lost the keys.
Mi hermana perdió las llaves.
¿Qué cosa perdió mi hermana?
Las llaves (éste es el objeto directo)

Examples

¢Presente Simple

My brother studies the lesson. (Active voice)

The lesson is studied by my brother. (passive Voice)

¢Presente Continuo

My brother is studying the lesson. (Active voice)

The lesson is being studied by my brother. (Passive Voice)

¢Pasado Simple

My brother studied the lesson. (Active voice)

The lesson was studied by my brother. (Passive Voice)

¢Pasado Continuo

My brother was studying the lesson. (Active voice)

The lesson was being studied by my brother. (Passive Voice)

Multiple Choice

English _______________ in many countries of the world.

• is spoken

• are spoken

• was spoken

Multiple Choice

Someone is taking photographs

The passive voice of this sentences is:

• Photographs is taking

• Photographs are been taken

• Photographs are being taken

Multiple Choice

She was playing basketball.

the passive voice is

• Basketball was being played by her.
• Her basketball game was played.
• Basketball is played by her.
• She was playing soccer.

Multiple Choice

The boys weren't playing soccer.

the passive voice is

• Soccer wasn't playing

• Soccer wasn't being played

• Soccer wasn't been playing

Multiple Choice

The passive voice of this sentence is:

"I read an interesting novel"

• A novel interesting was read

• An interesting novel is reading

• An interesting novel is read.

Multiple Choice

Susan follows fashion trends.

the passive voice is:

• Fashion trends is followed

• Fashion trends are followed

• Fashion trends is being followed