Transcript Passive Voice in English

Passive Voice in
English

The passive voice is used in English to
bring emphasis to the part of the
sentence that would traditionally be the
object of the sentence:
 Active voice: Barack Obama delivered the keynote
speech. (keynote speech – object)
 Passive voice: The keynote speech was
delivered by Barack Obama. (keynote speech –
subject)
 Active: He sent the letter yesterday. (letter –
object)
 Passive: The letter was sent yesterday (letter –
subject)
When to Use the Passive Voice
1. When the agent of an action is unknown
or unimportant:
Ex. $1,000,000 was given to the hospital
by an anonymous donor.
Ex. The painting was stolen from the
museum last night.
2. To emphasize a deed or action:
Ex. The book was written many years ago.
Ex. The game-winning goal was scored in
the 90th minute of the match.
When to Use the Passive Voice
(Continued)

3. To emphasize who/what an action or
deed is done to:
◦ Ex. The principal was offended by the student’s
harsh words.
◦ Ex. The priest’s sermon was interrupted by my
girlfriend’s Lady Gaga cell phone ring tone.
Forming the Passive Voice

To make a sentence in the active voice
passive:
◦ 1. Identify the object and make it subject of
the new sentence.
◦ 2. Conjugate the verb ‘to be’ in the appropriate
verb tense.
◦ 3. Make the verb of the original sentence a
participle.
◦ 4. Optional: original subject preceded by the
preposition ‘by’ and follows the verb. (more on
this later)
Forming the Passive Voice

Example:
◦ James Joyce wrote Ulysses in the first quarter
of the 20th century.
 Object of active voice sentence : Ulysses
 Verb of active voice sentence: ‘wrote’ (past tense)
◦ Ulysses was written by James Joyce in the
first quarter of the 20th century.
Modal verbs

Modal verbs in English:
◦ Can, could, may, might, will, would, must,
shall, should, ought to

When modal verbs are present, follow the
modal verb with ‘be + past participle’
◦ He might bring some more wine to the party.
(Active)
◦ Some more wine might be brought to the
party. (Passive)
Note about the Original Subject…

It is not always necessary to include the
original subject in sentences converted to
passive voice from active voice.

Example:
◦ After the ceremony, my grandmother
prepared a brunch for the guests. (Active
voice)
◦ After the ceremony, a brunch was prepared
for the guests. (Passive voice)
Examples with different verb
tenses
The family is taking a photograph in
front of the cathedral. (active)
 A photograph is being taken in front of
the cathedral. (passive)

Ray Charles will sing the National
Anthem at the Super Bowl. (active)
 The National Anthem will be sung by
Ray Charles. (passive)

More examples…
The teacher has closed all of the
windows in the classroom. (A)
 The windows in the classroom have been
closed. (P)
 The students will have drunk all of the
coffee by the time we get to the class. (A)
 All of the coffee will have been drunk
by the time we get to the class.


Warren Buffett could deliver the keynote
speech at this year’s Young Investors’
Convention.

The keynote speech at this year’s Young
Investors’ Convention could be delivered
by Warren Buffet.
Practice in Forming the Passive
Voice

The students sang ‘My Country ‘Tis of
Thee’ at the assembly.

The pirates had abandoned much of the
treasure by the time they reached Key
West.

Someone removed the inappropriate
comments from the website.
Practice…

His aunt will take the dog to the
veterinary hospital later.

In an ugly act of poor sportsmanship, the
team’s mascot punched the referee.

The babysitter might take the kids to the
amusement park later.
Practice…

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in
1928.

They hadn’t shut the front passenger door
before they started driving.
Activity
Think of a recent piece of news—
preferably a crime committed—and write
about it. Include at least three sentences
using the passive voice.
 If you can’t think of a specific piece of
news or a crime committed, invent one.

SPECIAL PASSIVE
CONSTRUCTIONS
DOUBLE OBJECT
The banks have given money to the politician -
a) Money has been given to the politician (by the banks)
b) The politician has been given money (by the banks)

IT SUBJECT
It is rumoured that the politician has received
money from the banks

ALTERNATIVE WITH A PERSONAL SUBJECT
The politician is rumoured to have received
money from the banks

CAUSATIVE HAVE
The politician has had his house rebuilt
