Transcript Passive Voice

The Passive Voice
(A.) The teacher returned the exams on Monday.
(B.) The exams were returned on Monday.
The two sentences have basically the same
meaning, but the emphasis changes according
to which subject the writer uses. In sentence (A),
the writer focuses on the teacher, while in
sentence (B) the focus is on the exams.
Forming the Passive Voice
The passive voice is formed with the verb be +
past participle. The tense is shown by the form
of the verb be. The verb be must agree with the
subject.
An outstanding student is awarded* the
scholarship every year.
Shannon was awarded* the scholarship last night.
*This is not a past tense –ed.
The Simple Present
am / is / are + past participle
The newspaper is read throughout the
world.
The Present Progressive
am / is / are + being + past participle
The new library is being built.
The Present Perfect
has / have + been + past participle
The house has been painted recently.
The Simple Past
was / were + past participle
The books were returned to the library on
time.
The Past Progressive
was / were + being + past participle
By the time I got to the plane, the doors
were being closed.
The Past Perfect
had + been + past participle
The dinner had been prepared before we
arrived.
The Simple Future
will be + past participle
We will be tested on this material.
Be going to
am / is / are going to + be + past participle
The show is going to be held next month.
The Future Perfect
will have been + past participle
We will have been given the assignment
details by then.
Using Modals in the Passive Voice
Present/future:
modal + be + past participle
The computer can be upgraded.
Past modals:
modal + have been + past participle
The traffic delays must have been caused by
snow.
Using Infinitive & Gerunds with the Passive Voice
verb + infinitives:
verb + to be + past participle
The children like to be kissed before going to bed.
verb + gerunds:
gerund + being + past participle
He dislikes being treated like a child.
The verb be is followed by –ing (the present
participle) to form the progressive.
• We are planning our next vacation.
• They were living in Guadalajara last year.
The verb be is followed by –ed (the past
participle) to form the passive.
• Essays are turned in every Monday.
• My essay was turned in yesterday.
Using the Passive Voice
Use the passive voice in the following
circumstances:
1. When the person or thing doing the action is
obvious, unknown, or unimportant.
•
•
•
Many trees were planted to replace those lost
in the fire.
The house was built in 1850.
Tobacco is grown in the South.
2. When you don’t want to mention the
person doing the action.
•
•
•
Several failing grades were received in
ESL 184.
The information was given to the police
investigator.
The new law was passed without our
knowledge.
3. When you want to emphasize the receiver of
the action or the result of the action.
•
•
•
International students are housed in the homes
of local families.
A new computer system is being installed to
improve our computer’s speed.
Children can be taught good manners at an
early age.
4. When you are describing a process.
•
•
•
The specimens were collected and
placed on a slide.
The eggs are beaten until they are
creamy.
The wheel is attached to the axle before
the nuts are tightened.
Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object)
can be used in the passive voice.
Intransitive verbs cannot be made
passive. Do not use these verbs in the
passive voice.
appear
arrive
be
belong
come
die
exist
happen
occur
seem
sleep
rise
Correct the errors in the passive voice.
1. I was transfer to another math class.
2. Bacterial infections were existed before
man.
3. Many new books are writing every year.
4. The award will be gave at the ceremony.
5. I hope to accept at this university.