4ESO PASSIVE VOICE

passive voice

Start

Importance of the passive voice

1. A tool to show variety in our expression, making communication clearer and more sophisticated. 2. Especially important for certificated exams (EBAU, Cambridge, Trinity...).

INDEX

3 Common Passive transformations

2 When to use the Passive

1 How to form the Passive

HOW TO FORM THE PASSIVE

past participle

be

• am/is/are
• am/is/are being
• was, were
• was/were being
• has/have been
• had been
• will be
• etc...

• The cake is baked by Maria. • The report was written by the team.

PRACTICE 1: use the passive form of the verb

1. The ancient manuscript ____________ by historians last year. (discover - past simple) 2. A huge hospital _____________ in this place. (build – future simple) 3. The novel ____________ by several generations of readers. (read - present perfect) 4. The concert ____________ at the main square every summer. (celebrate - present simple) 5. The message ____________ by everyone by the time I checked my phone. (see - past perfect)

WHEN TO USE THE PASSIVE

Emphasis on the action (not on the doer). (ex: headlines, reports, instructions…).

a)

"This house was built 3 years ago by John"

b)

Unknown, obvious or not important doer. We can omit “by…”

"The lost wallet was found in the park."

c)

In formal contexts.

"The deal has been signed by both parties."

PRACTICE 2: Why passive voice (A, B or C)?

1. The picture was taken in Scotland by my friends.2. The mysterious letter was left on my desk this morning.3. A beautiful song was performed by the singer at the concert.4. An important decision was made by the committee yesterday.5. The criminal was caught in the park.6. The project will be considered by the managers.

PRACTICE 3: Can we omit "by..."?

1. America was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1942.2. The football game was played by the football players yesterday.3. The letter was written by Peter in class.4. My bike was stolen by someone yesterday.5. The car was bought by my brother last year.

PASSIVE TRANSFORMATIONS

a) Passive with an object (direct)

• Active: "The boy painted a house”

• Passive: "A house was painted by the boy"

PRACTICE 4: Turn into the passive voice

1. They speak Italian in Italy. 2. Steven Spielberg directed “E.T.” 3. Fleming discovered penicillin. 4. They will finish the project by Friday. 5. They will advertise the product on television. 6. Someone has broken the crystal vase. 7. The students have finished the task. 8. She had completed the task before the deadline.

PASSIVE TRANSFORMATIONS

b) Passive with two objects (direct & indirect)

• Active: "The chef gave his assistant a task."

• OPTION 1: "The task was given to his assistant by the chef."

• OPTION 2: "His assistant was given a task by the chef."

PRACTICE 5: Turn into the passive voice

1. The professor teaches the students complex theories. 2. They showed the tourists the famous landmarks. 3. I'll send you the document tomorrow. 4. The manager has given the team a difficult project. 5. She sent her friend a beautiful gift.

PASSIVE TRANSFORMATIONS

c) Impersonal passive

Beliefs or opinions not attributed to specific individuals (“se dice, se comenta, se piensa, se considera….”). Usually, with verbs like: say, tell, believe, think, know, consider, expect…

• Active: "They say the terrorists live in France.

• OPTION 1: "It is said that the terrorists live in France."

• OPTION 2: "The terrorists are said to live in France."

PRACTICE 6: Turn into the passive voice

1. They think that he will attend the meeting.2. Everybody says that Bruce Springsteen is a great singer.3. People know that Susan is a car thief.4. Everybody expects that they arrive in time for dinner5. People believe that Tom killed Peter.6. They believe that the thieves have left the country.

We use different types of infinitives depending on the time reference: 1. Idea of present or future: Simple Infinitive ("to be"). 2. Idea of past (Past Simple, Past Perfect, Present Perfect): Perfect Infinitive ("to have escaped"). 3. Idea of continuous reference: Continuous Infinitive ("to be writing or to have been writing").