Unit 5 The passive

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5.1 The subject of a sentence is the person or thing we are talking about. It comes before
the verb in a statement or question.

Sue broke Mum’s vase.

This is my son. He
Pete and May will go swimming this afternoon.
drew this picture.
Compare: Did Sue break Mum’s vase?
Who broke Mum’s vase?

When we want to emphasize that the subject

does an action, we use the active voice.

In the example, ‘this picture’ is the object of the

sentence. The object refers to something which
is affected or generated as a result of the action
described.

When we want to emphasize the object, or when the subject is unknown or

unimportant, we use the passive voice. To do this, we move the object to the front of
the sentence. If we want to mention who or what does the action, we use the
preposition by.
NOTE
This picture was drawn by my son.
When we use the active voice, we focus on the
This picture was torn into pieces. ‘doer’ of the action. When we use the passive
voice, we focus on the ‘receiver’ of the action.

5.2 In the passive voice, verbs are formed with the different forms of be (am, are, is, was,
were, etc.) followed by the past participle (pp).

Active Passive

Simple am/are/is + (not) + pp

We clean our classroom every day.
present Our classroom is cleaned every day.

Present am/are/is + (not) + being + pp

We are cleaning our classroom now.
continuous Our classroom is being cleaned now.

Simple was/were + (not) + pp

We cleaned our classroom this morning.
past Our classroom was cleaned this morning.

Past We were cleaning our classroom when was/were + (not) + being + pp

continuous he arrived. Our classroom was being cleaned when he arrived.

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 Active Passive

Present have/has + (not) + been + pp

We have cleaned our classroom.
perfect Our classroom has been cleaned.

Past We had cleaned our classroom when he had + (not) + been + pp

perfect arrived. Our classroom had been cleaned when he arrived.

will + (not) + be + pp
will We will clean our classroom tomorrow.
Our classroom will be cleaned tomorrow.

be going We are going to clean our classroom be (not) going to + be + pp

to tomorrow. Our classroom is going to be cleaned tomorrow.

The table below shows some examples of how we form yes/no questions in the passive
voice:

Active Passive

Simple Am/Are/Is + subject + pp

Do you clean your classroom every day?
present Is your classroom cleaned every day?

Present Am/Are/Is + subject + being + pp

Are you cleaning your classroom?
continuous Is your classroom being cleaned?

Simple Did you clean your classroom this Was/Were + subject + pp

past morning? Was your classroom cleaned this morning?

Was/Were + subject + being + pp

Past Were you cleaning your classroom
when he arrived? Was your classroom being cleaned when he
continuous
arrived?

Present Has/Have + subject + been + pp

Have you cleaned your classroom?
perfect Has your classroom been cleaned?

Had + subject + been + pp

Past Had you cleaned your classroom when
he arrived? Had your classroom been cleaned when he
perfect
arrived?

Will you clean your classroom Will + subject + be + pp

will
tomorrow? Will your classroom be cleaned tomorrow?

Are you going to clean your classroom Am/Are/Is + subject + going to be + pp

be going to
tomorrow? Is your classroom going to be cleaned tomorrow?

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 The passive Unit 5

5.3 If a modal verb is used (can, may, must, should, etc.), we form the passive as follows:
modal verb + (not) + be + past participle of the main verb.

Active Passive

We can make many things with plastic. Many things can be made with plastic.
They might pull down the old building soon. The old building might be pulled down soon.
You must send off your application by the end Your application must be sent off by the end
of this month. of this month.

5.4 We use the passive voice when

• we do not know who or what does the action

Mr Chan’s car was stolen yesterday.

Compare: Jack Lee was sent to prison because he stole some

jewellery from a shop.

• we are not concerned with who does or what causes the action

 This car was made in Germany. It is more expensive

than most Japanese cars.

Compare: The factory is very big. The company

makes cars, lorries, tractors and other
vehicles there.

Writing focus
We often use the passive voice instead of the active voice
in formal writing in order to sound more impersonal.

NOTE
We can use the preposition with with the passive voice when we talk about an instrument,
tool, etc. that the doer uses, or the material with which something is made or covered.
The window was smashed with a stone.
 The vegan chocolate cake was made with soya milk.

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Grammar Practice
A Look at the pictures and form passive sentences with the words provided. Use the simple present
tense.

1 (make/from/sand)

Glass is made from sand .

2 (import/from/Japan)

These cars .

3 (publish/weekly)

This magazine .

4 (grow/in/many Asian countries)

Rice .

5 (build/to store/water)

Reservoirs .

6 (find/in/the mountains/of China)

Giant pandas .

7 (sell/in/many supermarkets)

Fresh vegetables .

8 (obtain/from/sugar cane)

Sugar .

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B Complete these sentences using the passive forms of the verbs provided. Use the present perfect
tense, the simple past tense or ‘will’.

1 The flat looks as good as new now. It has been decorated (decorate).

2 Mr Chan is in hospital. He (admit) this morning after a

heart attack.

3 Have you read today’s newspaper? A swimmer (attack) by a

shark yesterday.

4 The broken chair is no longer here. It (take away).

5 Wash your hands, John. Dinner (serve) soon.

6 Ann will have a party this weekend. Many of our classmates

(invite).

7 The injured construction worker (take) to hospital. The

doctors say he will survive.

8 You can’t go out, Paul. The Typhoon Signal No. 8 (hoist).

9 This umbrella (leave) here last week. I wonder whose it is.

10 They will hold a meeting tomorrow. I believe a decision (make)

then.

11 This is a photo of my grandparents. It (take) in 1955.

12 Mrs Chan is worried. Her son (bite) by a dog.

13 You don’t have to use the stairs any more. The lift (repair)
at last!

14 There was a car accident this morning. Fortunately nobody

(injure).

15 The new flyover (open) to traffic next month. I hope it will

help ease traffic congestion in the neighbourhood.
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C 
Complete the following exchanges. Use the passive form of either the simple past or past perfect
tense of the verbs provided.

1
Did you get the book
you needed? No, it had had been lent out
been lent out (lend out),
so it was not on the shelf at the library.

2
The missing girl
(find) this morning! That’s great news!

3
I hear that there was a
power failure in your That’s right. Some of the residents
building this morning. (trap) in the lifts and
had to be rescued by firemen.

4
This building looks
old. It is. It (build)
more than 40 years ago.

5
Did Ann’s plane arrive
on time? No, it (delay)
and we had to wait at the airport for more
than an hour.

6
Was the old cinema
still there when you
visited the town? No, it (pull down).

7
What was her complaint to
the building management She complained that her mail box
company about? (force) open
and the contents removed.

8
Why are Mr and Mrs
Lau so upset? Their flat (burgle)
last night and some of their valuables
(steal).
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9
Where did the police
find the stolen car? In Tai Po. It
(burn) out when they found it.

10
Was the street still
flooded when you No, the damaged pipe
arrived? (replace) and the street had dried.

D Describe what is happening in the pictures using the words provided. Follow the example.

1 carpet/clean

The carpet is being cleaned.

2 
Mr Chan’s car/wash

3 plants/water

4 baby/feed

5 grass/cut

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6 bed/make

7 curtains/draw

8 
goods/unload

from the lorry.

E 
Match the sentence fragments in Column B to the beginnings of the sentences in Column A by
writing the appropriate letters in the spaces. One has been done for you as an example.

Column A Column B

1 Don’t worry. The problem can . a. be taken after each meal

2 We don’t need help. We can . b. stay in bed

3 This letter is urgent. It must . c. be promoted

4 You have a fever. You must . d. be able to take care of yourself

5 This medicine should a . e. be cancelled

6 You are not a child any more. You should . f. be replied to immediately

7 I shouldn’t have made that remark. I’m going to . g. consider buying a car

8 My brother is doing well at work. He is going to . h. manage by ourselves

9 Mr Chan has saved up some money. He may . i. be solved

10 The weather is bad. I’m afraid the match might . j. apologize to her
Extra Practice

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All answers The passive Unit 5

Language Practice
F Email
Complete the email below by choosing the best options to fill in the blanks.

Dear May

How are you? In my email to you yesterday, I told you how to roast bell peppers, but I forgot
to mention this: after the peppers (1) , you should put them in a bowl. They must then
(2)
with plastic wrap until the peppers (3) by the steam.

Recently you said you wanted to hold a party. When will the party (4) ? How many
people (5) ? David and I can help you prepare some of the food. I (6) spring rolls.
The fruitcake (7)
by David. David (8)
baking a cake with strawberries and
chocolate. Can you get the ingredients for the spring rolls for me? I’ll then tell you what
we’ll need (9) . When the party (10) , I’m afraid you’ll have to tidy the kitchen
without our help.

Please (11) vegetarian food from Green Hut again. Their food is terrible and
overpriced. David (12) to help you make some vegetarian food, and I’m sure it will be
tasty.

Best wishes

Lily

(1) A cooked (5) A will include (9) A got

B are roasted B you will send B to buy
C be roasted C will be invited C to be done

(2) A be covered (6) A will be offered (10) A is closed

B covered B will make B is ending
C are covered C had bought C ends

(3) A soften (7) A will bake (11) A don’t order

B are softened B is cooking B not be ordered
C washed C will be made C not being ordered

(4) A be held (8) A suggested (12) A is offered

B be holding B is suggested B has offered
C be open C had suggested C has been offered

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G Conversation
Complete this conversation using the correct forms of the verbs provided.

Kate Your uncle looks very upset. What’s the matter with him?

Jane Someone (1) broke (break) into his apartment last night.

Kate How terrible! (2) (the thief/take) anything valuable?

Jane I’m afraid so. His diamond watch and his wife’s jewellery (3) (be)
missing. Fortunately their favourite jade statue of the Buddha (4)
(not/steal). According to the police, it is very likely that the thief (5)
(disturb) before he could (6) (finish) the job. Maybe he thought
someone was entering the flat.

Kate When (7) (the theft/discover)?

Jane It (8) (not/discover) until this afternoon when my uncle and aunt
(9)
(return) from Guangzhou.

Kate (10)
(the police/catch) the thief yet?

Jane No, no arrest (11) (make) so far. I hope the thief (12)
(arrest) soon and the stolen goods (13) (recover).

Kate Yes. Let’s hope for the best. By the way, I remember that your uncle has a painting by a
famous artist. It (14) (not/steal), I hope.

Jane I’ve no idea. A list of all the missing things (15) (still/make) at the
moment. I’m afraid it (16) (not/complete) until tomorrow.

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H Letter to the editor

Steve has written a letter to the editor of a local newspaper. Complete his letter using the correct
forms of the words given in brackets. One has been done for you as an example.

Dear Editor

(1) It is estimated (it/estimate) that there are over 1 000 wandering cows and
buffaloes in Preston County. In recent years, (2) (there/be) more and
more conflicts between these animals and humans, not only in rural but also in populated
areas. (3) (residents/complain) about trampled crops
and traffic hazards.

Though (4) (these complaints/justify), I don’t think

(5)
(the animals/should/blame). The wild cattle and
buffalo used to graze on higher ground. Over the years, (6)
(they/drive) to more populated areas where (7) (they/often/feed) on
farm crops and leftover picnic scraps. The presence of these animals in populated areas causes
a variety of problems for farmers. For example, (8)
(their crops/may/destroy) by these animals.

Efforts to relocate the animals have so far been unsuccessful, due mainly to a lack of concern
about the problem. (9) (I/tell) a few times that stray cattle and
buffalo have no conservation value, so (10) (resources/
not/allocate) to relocate these animals.

I believe that (11) (this problem/should/not/allow)

to drag on any longer as (12) (it/get) out of hand sooner or later.
Therefore, (13) (I/strongly/urge) the government of Preston to look
into the issue. I sincerely hope that, in the near future, (14)
(a long-term solution/find), and we will ensure that (15)
(these free-grazing animals/well/take care of).

Steve Hobbes
City of Brady

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 Using the Language W riting

Writing formally
Language
Pointer

We can use the passive voice to express information in a more formal or objective way in, for
example, news reports, invitations, surveys or articles.

Examples

 Albert is writing an article about the presentation of awards following his school’s annual Drama
Competition. Read the following excerpt from his article and note how he presents the information
using the passive voice.

The annual Drama Competition was held last week and prizes were handed out at
today’s assembly by Principal Lee. The Best Actor Award was given to Joseph Ng
from 4A for his challenging role in HKS Story, while the Best Actress trophy was
awarded to Lucy Siu from 4C for her convincing performance in Don’t Look Down.
Siu was absent today, so her award was accepted by the director of the production
on her behalf to much applause.

We can use present participles as adjectives (underlined) when describing

things that produce certain feelings (see Unit 17 for more).

 Amelia is reading an invitation for her school’s Open Day. Read the following excerpt from the
invitation and note how the passive voice is used.

The annual Open Day will be held on 25 February. Everyone is invited to join the
event. On that day, the covered playground will be converted to a ‘Wonderland’
with various game stalls to visit and activities to do. Some of the classrooms will be
used to hold different workshops and showcase students’ achievements. A tour of
the campus will depart every hour from the school entrance and will be led by
student leaders.

We can use will (underlined) in an invitation when giving information about an

event that will take place in the future (see Unit 1 for more).

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Your turn
 Jacob is writing a survey report about recycling habits at his school. Complete the sentences from his
report using the correct forms of the words given in brackets.

• Questionnaires (1) (distribute) to 204 students and over three

quarters of them (2) (respond) to the survey questions.
• The students (3) (ask) questions such as ‘How often do you recycle?’
and ‘Which material do you recycle the most?’.
• In the comments, it (4) (note) that plastics were the most difficult
and confusing material to recycle.
• We (5) (find) that glass is the least recycled material, because it is
the material the fewest students (6) (interact) with.
• Since paper (7) (recycle) the most, we recommend that, in the future,
recycling bins for paper (8) (should/place) in every classroom.

 Complete some sentences for a news report in the passive voice using the pieces of information
given. The first sentence has been done for you as an example.

(1) People could feel the earthquake in an area of more than 1 000 square kilometres.
The earthquake could be felt in an area of more than 1 000 square kilometres.

(2) The police reported no deaths.

(3) The disaster injured at least 50 people.

(4) Nearby hospitals are treating all of the injured.

(5) The earthquake seriously damaged an old building.

(6) Authorities are inspecting other buildings for invisible damage.

(7) We expect that this process will take weeks to complete.

(8) We estimate that financial losses will be in the millions.

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