the passive voice

Time for super grammar!

The passive voice

start

A Genially by N. Michiels, A.R.Ath

index

1. active voice

2. passive voice

Let's have a look at the first point: the active voice!

3. comparing active and passive

4. From active to Passive sentences

5. All the tenses

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

01

subject

Look at this sentence:

verb

Gustave Eiffel built the Eiffel tower in 1881.

object

time adverbial

This sentence is in the active voice. Click on each word group to discover its function in the sentence.

Next

02

subject

Look at this sentence:

verb

This tower was built by Gustave Eiffel in 1881.

agent

time adverbial

This sentence is in the passive. Click on each word group to discover its function in the sentence.

Next

active voice

Passive voice

• When we use a passive verb, we say what happens to the subject.

• When we use an active verb, we say what the subject does.

Example: The Metropolis bank was broken into yesterday evening, and $5 million was stolen.

Example: The Joker broke into the Metropolis bank yesterday evening and stole $5 million.

• If we know who did the action, we use an agent ("by the Joker"). If we don't know that, we don't mention the agent.

Next

From active to passive

Follow these steps

1. Find the object in the active sentence
2. This will become the subject of the passive sentence.
3. Use "be + past participle" to add the verb. Respect the tenses (here, "be" must be used in the past simple)
4. the subject of the active sentence becomes the agent in the passive sentence

Batman stopped the Joker.

The Joker ...

The Joker was stopped ...

The Joker was stopped by Batman.

Next

Tenses (1)

02

01

Present simple passive

Present simple active

Lenovo produces these computers.

These computers are produced by Lenovo.

04

Past simple passive

Past simple active

03

These computers were produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo produced these computers.

Next

Tenses (2)

06

05

Present continuous passive

Present continuous active

These computers are being produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo is producing these computers.

08

Past continuous passive

Past continuous active

07

These computers were being produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo was producing these computers.

Next

Tenses (3)

10

09

Present perfect simple passive

Present perfect simple active

These computers have been produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo has produced these computers.

12

Past perfect simple passive

Past perfect simple active

11

These computers had been produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo had produced these computers.

Next

Tenses (4)

14

13

Futur simple passive

Futur simple active

These computers will be produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo will produce these computers.

16

Modals in the passive voice

Modals in the active voice

15

These computers must be produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo must produce these computers.

Next

No!

Try again...

Exercise 1

1) 200 people are employed by the company. 2) Somebody cleans this room every day. 3) The thief was finally arrested last week. 4) The ennemy will be defeated. 5) The White House was built in 1792. 6) I am tall and I have blond hair. 7) Many accidents are caused by careless driving. 8) We were woken up by a loud noise during the night. 9) The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, was a best seller. 10) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone was published in 1997.

Do you recognise the passive voice? Tick only on the passive sentences!

check

-> next

Well done!

Exercise 2

Choose the correct proposition for each sentence.

QUESTION 1 OF 5

These smartphones ..... in Hong Kong

were made

didn't make

made

RIGHT ANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 2 OF 5

The book ... by all the students.

were read

was reading

has been read

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 3 OF 5

His office ... yesterday morning.

has been cleaned

was cleaned

doesn't be cleaned

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 4 OF 5

How ... this word ...?

was... translate

have... been translated

is...translated

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 5 OF 5

I can't print the homework for tomorrow as my printer ... for the moment.

is being repaired

has been repaired

is repairing

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

WRONGANSWER!

TRY AGAIN?

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU HAVE Gathered ALL THE POWERS in this exercise!

Next

No!

Try again...

Exercise 3

Complete the missing verb in the right tense (do not use weak forms) so that the passive sentence has the same meaning as the active sentence.

check?

1) In the USA, elections for president every four years. 2) ... we by a lot of cars. 3) ... it by trees. 4) Most of the earth's surface by water. 5) The situation is serious. Something before it is too late. 6) I didn't realise that we ! 7) A new hospital near the airport. 8) Look! My bike right now! 9) When we got to the stadion, we found that the game 10) Our roof by a storm

1) In the USA, they hold elections for president every four years. 2) Although we were driving fast, a lot of cars overtook us. 3) You can't see the old house from the road: trees hide it. 4) Water covers most of the earth's surface. 5) The situation is serious. We must do something before it is too late! 6) I didn't realise that somebody was recording us! 7) They have built a new hospital near the airport. 8) Look! Somebody is stealing my bike right now! 9) When we got to the stadion, we found that they had cancelled the game. 10) A storm damaged our roof last night.

Next

Well done!

thanks!