Transcript The Passive

The Passive Voice
past simple tense
Example:
The house was built in 1980.
Form:
was
+
past
participle
were
part of the verb ‘to be’ + past participle
Active sentences
• English active sentences often have
subject + verb + direct object.
• The subject “does” the action.
•
Andrew ate the cake.
Passive sentences
• In a passive sentence the subject has
the action “done” to it.
• The cake was eaten.
• If you want to say who (or what)
“did” the action, add “by . . . . . ”
• The cake was eaten by Andrew.
Active: They built the house in 1980.
• Does it matter who is doing the action?
• No? Then use the passive.
• How?
• Move the direct object to the beginning of
the sentence, and make it the subject.
Passive: The house was built in 1980.
Note: “by them” isn’t needed.
When is the passive used?
• It is often used in technical writing or
describing how something was done.
Examples:
The books were packed in boxes.
The date was written at the top of the page.
The chemical was heated for 10 minutes.
Verbs followed by two objects
• Many verbs, such as give, send, show,
lend, teach and tell, can have two
objects – a person and a thing.
• He gave Monica the car.
• When this sentence is passive,
there are two possibilities:
• The car was given to Monica.
• or
• Monica was given the car.
Some examples
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They appointed him team leader.
He was appointed team leader.
They made Michael redundant.
Michael was made redundant.
People called him crazy.
He was called crazy.
They discovered gold there in 1860.
Gold was discovered there in 1860.
Try these
1. They
presented the winner with $1,000.
• The winner was presented with $1,000.
2. They gave him an expensive present.
• He was given an expensive present.
3. They sent us some information.
• We were sent some information.
4. We showed the new student the school.
• The new student was shown the school.
5. They owed me a lot of money.
• I was owed a lot of money.
6. He promised me more money.
• I was promised more money.
7. They told the teacher a lie.
• The teacher was told a lie.
8. He gave me some help.
• I was given some help.
9. They built the house in 1980.
• The house was built in 1980.
10. They produced 100,000 cars in 2008.
• 100,000 cars were produced in 2008.
The students completed the exercises!
The exercises were completed
by the students!
© PowerPoint created by Cecily Harvey