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Active & Passive

The document discusses the differences between active and passive voice, noting that passive voice focuses on the action rather than the subject/actor and is more formal. It provides examples of active and passive constructions and explains how to form the passive voice using different verb tenses and with or without an agent. Rules for using get in the passive versus be are also covered.

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Ces Anne Salamanez
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91 views9 pages

Active & Passive

The document discusses the differences between active and passive voice, noting that passive voice focuses on the action rather than the subject/actor and is more formal. It provides examples of active and passive constructions and explains how to form the passive voice using different verb tenses and with or without an agent. Rules for using get in the passive versus be are also covered.

Uploaded by

Ces Anne Salamanez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

Active & Passive


2. We use the terms active voice and passive voice to talk about
ways of organizing the content of a clause. The active voice is the
typical word order. 

Active The subject is the ‘doer’ or agent of the verb ;focus on the actor

Passive -When we use a passive verb, we say what happens to the


subject; focus on the action; who or what causes the action is often
unknown or unimportant

The passive form is more formal than the active form so we often use it
in business situations.

Ex. You must return supermarket trolleys to their station.

Supermarket trolleys must be returned to their station.(formal)

3. Agent- We use by and the name or noun when we want to say


who does the action. It’s called agent. We use the agent in passive
to add information to our sentence or make it clearer.

The story was written by Frank Wood.

We can leave out the ‘doer’ or agent, 

These houses were designed in the 1880s. (passive without agent)

These houses were designed in the 1880s by Edward Barnes. (passive


+ by + agent)

4. We don’t use the agent when don’t want to give this info, not so
important, we don’t know who the agent is, when the agent easily
obvious, or vague. Only use agent when it is absolutely necessary.
Active:The police have arrested the thief.

Passive: The thief has been arrested. (it’s easily understood, only the
police can arrest someone)

Active: people do this exercise in three minutes.

Passive: This exercise can be done in three minutes. (vague, we’re


referring to people in general.)

5. Passive verbs can also be followed by non-agent prepositions


Everything was charged to our room.
The tree will be decorated with lights.

When a sentence is turned from the active into the passive, the object
of the active becomes the subject of the passive clause.

6. Verb tenses patterns in the passive form

Present Simple Tense

Active

S + base form
Somebody cleans this room every day.

Passive

S + be + past participle + by object

This room is cleaned every day.

Present Continuous
Active

S + be (is, am, are)+ (do)ing verb

(In a restaurant) The waitress is serving Ana.

Passive

S + be + being + ing verb+ past participle

(in a shop) ‘Can I help you?' ‘No, thanks, I'm being served.'

Present Perfect Tense

Active

S+ has/have + past participle 

She has canceled the meeting.

Passive

S + have/has been + past participle

The meeting has been canceled.

7. Past Simple
Active

S+ past simple verb

They didn’t invite me to the party.

Passive

S + be (was/were) + past participle

I wasn’t invited to the party.

Past Continuous

Active

S + was/were + (do) ing verb

 Someone was following me when I was walking.

Passive

S + be (was/were) + being + past participle

I was being followed when I was walking.

Past Perfect

Active
Subject + had + past participle

The vegetables didn't taste good. Lisa had cooked them too long.

Passive

S + had been + past participle

The vegetables didn't taste good. They had been cooked too long.

Future (going to)

S+ be+going to+ infinitive

Active

John is going to teach me French.

Passive

S+ be+ going to be+ past participle

I’m going to be taught French.

8. Future (will)

Active

Subject + will + infinitive 

Ken will finish the project early.

Passive
S + will + be + past participle

The project will be finished early.

9. Modals

Passive voice for Present/Future Modals


Can, may, might, should, must, ought to + BE+ past participle

Passive: It can be done. (Active: They can do it.)

Passive: Her writing should be fixed.( Active: She should fix her
writing.)

Passive voice for Past Modals


May have, Might have, should have, must have, ought to, + HAVE +
BEEN

Passive: Your car could have been sold. (Active: You could have sold
your car.)

10. Gerunds

Active: He doesn’t like people telling him what to do.

Passive: He doesn’t like being told what to do.

11. Some verbs have two objects.


Active: Somebody gave the police the information.
(sb gave the information to the police)
2 possible passive sentences:
1. The police were given the information
2. The information was given to the police

*Other verbs which can have two objects are: ask offer pay show teach
tell

When we use these verbs in the passive, most often we begin with the
person: I've been offered the job, but I don't think I’ll accept it. (= they
have offered me the job) You will be given plenty of time to decide. (=
we will give you plenty of time) I didn’t see the original document but I
was shown a copy. (= somebody showed me.) Tim has an easy job - he's
paid a lot of money to do very little. (= they pay him a lot

Sometimes you can use get instead of be in the passive to emphasize an


action:

There was a fight at the party, but nobody got hurt. (= nobody was
hurt)

I don't get invited to many parties. (= I'm not invited)

12. We use get only when things happen. For example, you
cannot use get in these sentences: Jessica is liked by everybody.
(not gets liked - this is not a ‘happening’

We use get mainly in informal spoken English. You can use be in


all situations.
13. Reported speech
It + be+ past participle+that clause
It it said that she runs ten miles a day.
Or She is said to run ten miles a day

The police are looking for a missing boy. It is believed that the boy
is wearing a white sweater and blue jeans. Or

The boy is believed to be wearing a white sweater and blue jeans.

14. Have +sth+ pp- to say that we have arranged/we’re


arranging a professional service or help
I had my eyes tested this morning.
I’m going to have my car fixed tomorrow.

Quiz:
1. Those windows really need to be cleaned soon.
2. All our family photos got lost when we moved house
3. All the machines in the factory are turned on at five o’clock
every morning.

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