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Passiv Voice

The document discusses the passive voice in three paragraphs: 1) It introduces the passive voice and explains that it is used to emphasize the recipient of an action rather than the performer. The passive voice is also used when the performer is unknown. 2) It explains how to indicate the performer or agent of the action using the preposition "by". It also recommends using the active voice when possible for clarity. 3) It provides examples of active and passive voice constructions and recommends the active voice for long sentences where the performer is known. The passive voice is often used for reporting facts.

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141 views5 pages

Passiv Voice

The document discusses the passive voice in three paragraphs: 1) It introduces the passive voice and explains that it is used to emphasize the recipient of an action rather than the performer. The passive voice is also used when the performer is unknown. 2) It explains how to indicate the performer or agent of the action using the preposition "by". It also recommends using the active voice when possible for clarity. 3) It provides examples of active and passive voice constructions and recommends the active voice for long sentences where the performer is known. The passive voice is often used for reporting facts.

Uploaded by

cokili89
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Passive voice

Functions of the passive voice


The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or object that experiences an action rather than the person or object
that performs the action. In other words, the most important thing or person becomes the subject of the sentence.

Sometimes we use the passive voice because we don't know or do not want to express who performed the action.

The passive voice is often used in formal texts. Switching to the active voice will make your writing clearer and easier to read.

If we want to say who or what performs the action while using the passive voice, we use the preposition by. When we know who
performed the action and are interested in him, it is always better to switch to the active voice instead.

Passive voice to active voice


Sentences written in the active voice are easier to understand than sentences written in the passive voice. Switching the passive
voice into the active voice is straightforward, but it requires a bit of practice. In the equivalency table below, notice that the
tense of the verb to be in the passive voice is always the same as the tense of the main verb in the active voice. In order to use
the active voice, you will have to make the subject of the action explicit.
Forming the passive voice
The passive voice in English is composed of two elements:

the appropriate form of the verb 'to be' + past participle


Passive voice with infinitives
The infinitive passive voice is used after modal verbs and other most verbs normally followed by an infinitive.

Passive voice with gerunds


Gerunds are used after prepositions and verbs normally followed by a gerund.
Using "to be born"
"To be born" is a passive form and is most commonly used in the past tense. However, in some cases, the present or future
tense is appropriate.

What is the passive voice?


In general we tend to use the active voice. That is when a subject does an action to an object.
1. Somebody stole my laptop. (subject = Somebody / action(verb) = stole / object = my laptop)

The passive voice is used when we want to emphasize the action (the verb) and the object of a sentence rather than subject.
This means that the subject is either less important than the action itself or that we don’t know who or what the subject is.

 1. My laptop was stolen. (The object – now the subject = My laptop / action= was stolen)

 1. Passive: Napa Valley is known for its excellent wines.


2. Active: [Many people] know Napa Valley for its excellent wines.

 1. Passive: Twenty civilians were killed in the bomb explosion.


2. Active: Someone killed twenty civilians in the bomb explosion.

The passive agent


When we know who the subject is, we put it at the end with by. We call this an agent.

 1. Passive: The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. (agent =Leonardo Da Vinci )
2. Active: Leonaro Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.

Most writing instructors and editors recommend against using the passive voice, when possible. The reason for this is that when
you use the active voice, your writing is clearer and less complicated.

 Active: While Mr. Taylor was driving down Highway 101, a police officer pulled him over and gave him a speeding
ticket.
Passive: While Mr. Taylor was driving down Highway 101, he was pulled over and given a ticket by a police officer.

If it’s a long sentence and you know who the subject is, it’s best to use the active voice.

The passive is often used to report something or to state a fact.


 Highway 15 was closed yesterday due to a serious road accident.
 A lot of corn is grown in Iowa

Forming the passive voice


The passive voice is not a tense in English. Each tense has its own passive voice which is created by using a form of the auxiliary
verb to be + V3 (past participle)

The passive voice in each tense:


Note: Verbs that have no object (no one to “receive” the action) cannot be put into the passive, such as, arrive, come, die, exist,
go, happen, have, live, occur sleep, etc

Passive Voice – Exercises

Fill in the correct passive form of the verb in parentheses.

1. After the earthquake, aid was sent to the people of Haiti. (sent)
2. The electricity was cut off because the bill hadn’t been paid. (not pay)

1. Penicillin ______ by Alexander Fleming in 1928. (discover)


2. Statements ______ from all the witnesses at this moment. (take)
3. Whales ______ by an international ban on whaling. (must protect)
4. Both weddings _______ by Good Taste. (cater)
5. A Picasso ____ from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.(steal)
6. ____ this washing machine ______in Germany? (make)
7. Tea _____ in China. (grow)
8. When we reached the airport, we found that all the flights____ due to the storm. (cancel)
9. The fax _____ until tomorrow morning. (not send)
10. The soundtrack of a movie _____ always _____ after the filming is finished. (is/add)

Answers:

1. was discovered, 2. are being taken, 3. must be protected, 4. were catered, 5. was stolen, 6. Was/made, 7. is grown, 8. had been cancelled, 9. won’t be
sent, 10. is/added

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