JOÃO ALMEIDA

PASSIVE VOICE
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.
The active voice is used when the focus is on the subject (or
agent) of the main verb. This is the person or thing doing the verb.
Millions of people use the internet every day.
A strong storm destroyed many houses in the village.
Only six students passed the test.

The passive voice is used when the person or the thing affected
by the main verb becomes the focus.
The internet is used by millions of people every day.
Many houses in the village were destroyed by a strong storm.
The test was passed by only six students.
The passive is often used when the person or thing
doing the verb is not important, unknown, or
obvious. In this case, we may leave them out
completely.
The solution was heated to 100 degrees. (agent is
unimportant)
My bike was stolen last Thursday. (identity of agent
is unknown)
The president was voted into office. (agent is
obvious)
USES OF PASSIVE FORM

1. To emphasize an object.
Cell phones are produced in China.

This passive sentence emphasizes the product, not the

agent who produces it.
2. To de-emphasize an unknown subject/actor.

Over 120 different contaminants have been dumped into

the river.

The bank was stolen in the middle of the night.

If you don’t know who the actor is—in this case. Also if the
agent is not important.
Form of Passive
Subject + verb to be + Past Participle

In the present, the passive voice uses the verbs is and are + past participle of
the main verb.

The passive voice present is often used to describe:

General thoughts, opinions, and beliefs

New York is considered the most diverse city in the U.S.
It is believed that Amelia Earhart’s plane crashed in Pacific Ocean.
Hungarian is seen as one of the world’s most difficult languages to learn.
Skin cancers are thought to be caused by excessive exposure to the sun.
Processes

First coffee beans are picked,

then they are dried, and finally
they’re packed and shipped to the
market.
In the past, the passive voice uses the verbs was and were + past
participle of the main verb.
The passive voice past is often used to describe:
Events in history
George Washington was elected president in 1788.
Crimes / Accidents
Two people were killed in a drive-by shooting on Friday night.
Ten children were injured when part of the school roof collapsed.
…as well as in many other situations when the person who did the
action is unknown or unimportant.
Present Wine is made from grapes.
am, is, are + made
simple Many cars are made in Japan.
Present am, is, are + being The document is being sent right now.
progressive + sent I am being sent to work in the London office.
John was invited to speak at the conference.
was, were +
Past simple We were invited to Daniel and Mary’s
invited
wedding.
The dog was being washed when I got home.
Past was, were + being
Their cars were being washed while they
progressive + washed
were in the mall shopping.
The contract will be signed tomorrow.
Future (will) will be + signed The documents will all be signed by next
week.
A bridge is going to be built within the next
Future (going am, is, are + going two years.
to) to be + built New houses are going to be built in our
neighborhood.
 That start-up has been sold for $5 million.
Present has, have + been +
The rights to his book have been sold for
perfect sold
$250,000.
The new manager had been hired before John
left the company.
Past perfect had + been + hired
All the employees had hired before the store
opened.
The car will have been loaded by the time he
Future will + have been +
gets home.
perfect finished
The crates will have been loaded by then.
A passport can only be issued at the embassy.
Modals: can, could + be +
He said the documents could be issued within
can/could issued
the week.
A babysitter has to be arranged for this evening.
Modal: have have to, has to, had
Joan’s travel plans have to be arranged by
to to + be + arranged
December.
Criminals must be stopped before they commit
Modal: must must + be + stopped
crimes.
The particles BY and WITH are used to expresses the AGENT
of the passive or INSTRUMENT used, whenever it’s possible
or required.

Penicillin was discovered by Fleming in 1928.

Many town in Mexico were destroyed by the earthquake.
The building was occupied by security forces.
The helicopter was piloted by the soldier.
The meat should be cut with a sharp knife.
He was killed with a brick.
This book was made with a new material.
 KINDS OF PASSIVE
Personal and Impersonal Passive
Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence
becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an
object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.
Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a

personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject
of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive
voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is called
Impersonal Passive.
Personal Passive
They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer
than men.

Impersonal Passive
They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer
than men.
Some verbs to be used in impersonal passive form: consider,
report, expect, know, say, assume, feel, find, presume, repute,
understand.

I am considered to be an expert on computers.

The Millers are reported to be making a tour of the USA.
The report is expected to be published in May.
A camel is said to be able to go without water for 28 days.
John Lennon is known to have been interested in oriental religions.
Da Vinci is said to have designed the first submarine.
Infinitive Passive

It was the first/last/second/best one to

be made/ to have been made.
I would like to be invited/ I would like
to have been invited.
Uses of VERB TO BE in passive form:

These cakes are not to be eaten until they are ready.

I was to have been invited, but they lost my address!
Not to be opened before christmas day.
To be taken three times a day before meal.
The books to be catalogued are on your desk.
There are a lot of letters to be written.
There is a lot to be done.
There is nothing to be done.
Here are some books to be read.