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Passive Voice Grammar

The passive voice is formed with a form of the verb "to be" and the past participle of the main verb. The passive voice is used more frequently in English than Spanish and is used when the subject performing the action is unknown or less important than the action itself. The agent (person or thing performing the action) can be included and appears after the verb phrase using "by". Certain verbs like "pay" can take two objects, and in the passive the direct object becomes the subject. The passive voice is also used to report beliefs, knowledge, thoughts or reports from other sources.

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438 views1 page

Passive Voice Grammar

The passive voice is formed with a form of the verb "to be" and the past participle of the main verb. The passive voice is used more frequently in English than Spanish and is used when the subject performing the action is unknown or less important than the action itself. The agent (person or thing performing the action) can be included and appears after the verb phrase using "by". Certain verbs like "pay" can take two objects, and in the passive the direct object becomes the subject. The passive voice is also used to report beliefs, knowledge, thoughts or reports from other sources.

Uploaded by

Angela
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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THE PASSIVE VOICE

FORMATION USE
¾ The Passive Voice is done with the verb TO BE and the PAST PARTICIPLE of ¾ The use of Passive Voice in English is much more frequent than in Spanish.
the main verb. ¾ We use the Passive when we don’t know who did the action or when we are more interested in
the action itself:
Ex. The teacher is teaching the Passive Voice o This class is opened everyday.
SUBJECT VERB DIRECT OBJECT ¾ The Agent of the Action in the Passive Voice appeared when it is relevant:
o Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
¾ The Agent of the Action in the Passive Voice do not appear when
o We do not know who has done the action:
My dog was found two days ago.
The Passive Voice is being taught by the teacher. o It is really clear who has done the action:
The thief was arrested last night (by the police)
SUBJECT VERB AGENT

¾ Verb transformations
THE PASSIVE VOICE WITH TWO OBJECTS
TENSE ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE
Present simple Teach(s) Is/Are taught
¾ Some verbs as Ask, Give, Lend, Send, Offer, Order, Pay, Teach, Show, Tell and Promise can
Present continuous Am/Is/Are teaching Am/Is/Are being taught have two objects.
Present perfect Have/Has taught Has/have been taught o ACT Ö They pay me my salary every month.
Past simple Taught Was/Were taught o PAS Ö I am paid my salary every month.
Past continuous Was/Were teaching Was/Were being taught My salary is paid to me every month.
Past perfect Had taught Had been taught ¾ Watch out! With the verbs Ask and Tell the structure in which the Direct Object in the Active
Future Will teach Will be taught Voice becomes the Subject in the Passive Voice is NOT possible.
Future continuous Will be teaching Will be being taught o ACT Ö Someone told me a terrible secret.
Future perfect Will have taught Will have been taught o PAS Ö I was told a terrible secret. 5
Conditional Would teach Would be taught A terrible secret was told to me. 4
Conditional continuous Would be teaching Would be being taught
Conditional perfect Would have taught Would have been taught
Infinitive To Teach To be taught
OTHER USES OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
Perfect Infinitive To have taught To have been taught
Gerund Teaching Being taught ¾ When we talk about what other people Believe, Know, Think, Report, Say… we can use two
possible forms of the Passive Voice.
o ACT Ö They say that this monument is emblematic.
o PAS Ö It is said that this monument is emblematic.Ö It + passive verb + that-clause.
This monument is said to be emblematic.Ö Subject + passive verb + to Infinitive.

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