ACTIVE &

PASSIVE
LESSON 2 (GRAMMAR)
FORMING A PASSIVE SENTENCE
Many
people
watch Youtube.
Youtube is watched by many people.
S
V
O
PASSIVE STRUCTURE
(PRESENT SIMPLE)
Youtube is watched by many people.
Present of the verb BE
+
Past Participle of the MAIN VERB
WE USE THE PASSIVE
when we dont know the
subject.

when the subject is not
important or we dont want to
mention it.

when we want to talk about
the object and not the doer
(subject) of the action.
PASSIVE STRUCTURE
(PAST SIMPLE)
Edison
invented
the phonograph.
PASSIVE STRUCTURE
(PAST SIMPLE)
The
phonograph
was invented by Edison.
Past of the verb BE
+
Past Participle of the MAIN VERB
WHEN DO WE USE BY + AGENT
IN THE PASSIVE
WHEN DO WE USE BY + AGENT
IN THE PASSIVE
Many English passive sentences do not contain BY + Agent after the
verb. In fact, it has been estimated that 80% of passive verbs don't
include the agent, so a basic rule would be to omit wherever possible.

There are cases where its use would be regarded as wrong or
uncomfortable:
*My wallet was stolen by someone.

(It is completely unnecessary and sounds wrong. The same is true of
examples where the subject is too obvious.)



WHEN DO WE USE BY + AGENT
IN THE PASSIVE
There are examples given in books that are correct but very
limited:
Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.

If the date or reason were added, then the agent would probably
be best omitted. In the example given, it is necessary because
'Hamlet was written.' makes little sense as a stand-alone
sentence.

Many car accidents are caused by alcohol.
Here the agent is necessary as it adds something to the sentence
and there would be no meaning without it. In cases like this,
where the agent is essential to create the meaning, it must be
included. Where it adds little or nothing, it is better to leave it out.

EXERCISE:
Change these sentences using the correct form of the passive
voice. Omit by where possible. (One by one, orally).

They produce records in factories.

Chris Martin wrote Viva la Vida.

Radio stations play a lot of songs every day.

They released their album in 2001.

My mum didnt permit us to watch that film.

DJs play that song all the time.

She invited him to the concert.