PASSIVE
Functions of the 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.
Examples
The passive voice is used frequently. (= we are interested in the passive voice, not in who uses it.)
The house was built in 1654. (= we are interested in the house, not in who built it.)
The road is being repaired. (= we are interested in the road, not in the people who are doing the
repairs.)
Sometimes we use the passive voice because we don't know or do not want to express who performed the
action.
Examples
I noticed that a window had been left open.
Every year thousands of people are killed on our roads.
All the cookies have been eaten.
My car has been stolen!
The passive voice is often used in formal texts. Switching to the active voice will make your
writing clearer and easier to read.
Passive Active
A great deal of meaning is conveyed by a few well- A few well-chosen words convey a great deal of
chosen words. meaning.
Our planet is wrapped in a mass of gases. A mass of gases wrap around our planet.
Waste materials are disposed of in a variety of ways. The city disposes of waste materials in a variety
of ways.
If we want to say who or what performs the action while using the passive voice, we use the
preposition by. When we know who performed the action and are interested in him, it is always better to
switch to the active voice instead.
1
PASSIVE
Passive Active
"A Hard Day's Night" was written by the Beatles. The Beatles wrote "A Hard Day's Night".
The movie ET was directed by Spielberg. Spielberg directed the movie ET.
This house was built by my father. My father built this house.
Forming the passive voice
The passive voice in English is composed of two elements:
the appropriate form of the verb 'to be' + past participle
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
The house was built in The house wasn't built Was the house built in Wasn't the house built in
1899. in 1899. 1899? 1899?
These houses were These houses weren't Were these houses built Weren't these houses
built in 1899. built in 1899. in 1899? built in 1899?
To clean, passive voice
Subject + to be (conjugated) + past participle + rest of sentence
Simple present
2
PASSIVE
Subject + to be (conjugated) + past participle + rest of sentence
The house is cleaned every day.
Present continuous
The house is being cleaned at the moment.
Simple past
The house was cleaned yesterday.
Past continuous
The house was being cleaned last week.
Present perfect
The house has been cleaned since you left.
Past perfect
3
PASSIVE
Subject + to be (conjugated) + past participle + rest of sentence
The house had been cleaned before they arrived.
Future
The house will be cleaned next week.
Future continuous
The house will be being cleaned tomorrow.
Present conditional
The house would be cleaned if they had visitors.
Past conditional
The house would have been cleaned if it had been dirty.
Inifinitive
4
PASSIVE
Subject + to be (conjugated) + past participle + rest of sentence
The house must be cleaned before we arrive.
Passive voice with infinitives
The infinitive passive voice is used after modal verbs and other most verbs normally followed by an
infinitive.
Examples
You have to be tested on your English grammar.
John might be promoted next year.
She wants to be invited to the party.
I expect to be surprised on my birthday.
You may be disappointed.
Passive voice with gerunds
Gerunds are used after prepositions and verbs normally followed by a gerund.
Examples
I remember being taught to drive.
The children are excited about being taken to the zoo.
The children are excited to be taken to the zoo.
Most film stars hate being interviewed.
Most film stars hate to be interviewed.
Poodles like to be pampered.
Poodles like being pampered.
Change the form of the following sentences from active to passive:
Example: People buy food at the market →Food is bought at the market.
He has fed the animals. → The animals have been fed.
1. Active : They take the child to school by car.
Passive : The child ...
2. Active : I saw two armed men in front of the jewelry shop.
Passive : Two armed men ...
5
PASSIVE
3. Active : The reporter is announcing the results on the radio right now.
Passive : The results ...
4. Active : Emma had done the housework before the guests arrived.
Passive : The housework ...
5. Active : The doctor was treating the patient when the ambulance arrived.
Passive : The patient ...
6. Active : The ambulance will take the patient to the nearest hospital.
Passive : The patient ...
7. Active : The teacher had announced the results to the students.
Passive : The results ...
8. Active : Tom will have calculated the cost before the end of the day.
Passive : The cost ...
Answer:
1. The child is taken to school by car.
2. Two armed men were seen in front of the jewelry shop.
3. The results are being announced on the radio right now.
4. The housework had been done (by Emma) before the guests arrived.
5. The patient was being treated (by the doctor) when the ambulance arrived.
6. The patient will be taken (by ambulance) to the nearest hospital.
7. The results had been announced to the students (by the teacher).
8. The cost will have been calculated (by Tom) before the end of the day.
