the passive voice

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

Time for super grammar!

start

The passive voice

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

index

Exercise 3

Exercise 2

4. From active to Passive sentences

5. All the tenses

Exercise 1

3. comparing active and passive

2. passive voice

1. active voice

time adverbial

Next

object

verb

subject

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

Look at this sentence:

Gustave Eiffel built the Eiffel tower in 1881.

01

time adverbial

verb

subject

agent

Next

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

Look at this sentence:

This tower was built by Gustave Eiffel in 1881.

02

Next

• 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.

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.

active voice

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

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

Passive voice

Next

The Joker was stopped by Batman.

The Joker was stopped ...

The Joker ...

Batman stopped the Joker.

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

Follow these steps

From active to passive

These computers were produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo produced these computers.

These computers are produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo produces these computers.

03

04

Next

02

01

Past simple passive

Past simple active

Present simple passive

Present simple active

Tenses (1)

These computers were being produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo was producing these computers.

These computers are being produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo is producing these computers.

07

Next

08

06

05

Past continuous passive

Past continuous active

Present continuous passive

Present continuous active

Tenses (2)

These computers had been produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo had produced these computers.

These computers have been produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo has produced these computers.

11

Next

12

10

09

Past perfect simple passive

Past perfect simple active

Present perfect simple passive

Present perfect simple active

Tenses (3)

These computers must be produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo must produce these computers.

These computers will be produced by Lenovo.

Lenovo will produce these computers.

15

Next

16

14

13

Modals in the passive voice

Modals in the active voice

Futur simple passive

Futur simple active

Tenses (4)

Well done!

-> next

Try again...

No!

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.

check

Exercise 1

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

Choose the correct proposition for each sentence.

Exercise 2

QUESTION 1 OF 5

These smartphones ..... in Hong Kong

didn't make

made

were made

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 2 OF 5

The book ... by all the students.

was reading

has been read

were read

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 3 OF 5

His office ... yesterday morning.

was cleaned

doesn't be cleaned

has been cleaned

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 4 OF 5

How ... this word ...?

have... been translated

is...translated

was... translate

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

QUESTION 5 OF 5

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

has been repaired

is repairing

is being repaired

RIGHTANSWER!

NEW SUPERPOWER!

NEXT

WRONGANSWER!

TRY AGAIN?

Next

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU HAVE Gathered ALL THE POWERS in this exercise!

Well done!

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

Try again...

No!

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

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?

Exercise 3

thanks!