The Passive

The Star Wars films ........................ (not direct) by Steven Spielberg.

• haven't been directed

• wasn't directed

• weren't directed

• will not be directed

We form the passive with the verb be + present.

• True

• False

In passive sentences, the person or thing doing the action (the agent) is introduced with

• by

• for

The royal wedding ............................. (watch) by millions of people in 2011.

Lucy ...................... the weekend with her best friend who comes from Argentina.

• will spending

• will spend

• will be spending

• would be spending

In a passive sentence, you

• always have to mention the agent

• don't always have to mention the agent

He remembers .......................... the book.

• to be given

• being given

We often use the passive when a person or thing

• has been mentioned previously

• hasn't been mentioned previously

Where do you think the passive voice is used most frequently?

(several options possible)

• in academic writing

• in creative writing

• in journalism

• in business english

• in Shakespearean English

I hate ........................... (speak) to as if I were a child.