€ What is the ‘Passive Voice’? A sentence generally begins with the performer of the action (subject), then the verb, then the object or person that the action is performed on. This is called an ‘Active’ sentence. Subiect — +verh —tabiecr {[ What is the ‘Passive Voice’? If we begin the sentence with the object or person that the action is performed on, we formulate a ‘Passive’ sentence. Object +verb (+by subject) The room was cleaned (by John.) € When should we use the Passive Voice? |. We do not know who the subject is, or it is not important who the subject is. ‘Somebody cleaned the room. sa The room was cleaned. 2. When it is obvious to the listener or reader who the subject is because it is the person who usually does it: The cleaner cleaned the room. ms The room was cleaned.© How to formulate the Passive Voice? To formulate a passive sentence: I. Put the object of the verb at the beginning of your sentence; 2. Conjugate the verb ‘to be’ in the same tense as the active sentence; 3. Put the main verb in the Past Participle form The postman delivers the mail. mp The mail is delivered. The decorator is painting my room. ma My room is being painted. The (The Passive Voice of different Tenses Tense Active Passive Present Simple T do it. It is done. Past Simple I did it. It was done. Future Simple I will do it. It will be done, Present Continuous Tam doing it. It is being done, Past Continuous I was doing it. It was being done. Future Continuous I will be doing it. Tt will be being done. Present Perfect T have done it. It has been done,The Passive Voice of different Tenses Tense Active Passive Past Perfect I had done it. It had been done. Future Perfect I will have done it. It will have been dene. Present Perfect Continuous T have been doing it. X (not common) Past Perfect Continuous I had been doing it. X (not common) Future Perfect Continuous I will have been doing it. X (not common) © The Pas In structures containing the infinitive: e Voice of other structures do =p be done Active Passive ‘be going to’ T am going to do it. It is going to be done Have to I have to do it. It has to be done. Used to T used to do it. It used to be done. Modals (can, may etc.) T can do it. It can be done. € The Passive Voice of other structures In expressions containing the gerund: doing => being done Active Passive Avoid Peers He avoids being seen. Dont mind EERE nEe Ee She doesn't mind being taught.© Person in object position ‘We can also formulate passive sentences with a person in the object position. Somebody pushed me. => I was pushed. They have invited us. =» We have been invited. Someone was interviewing Jane. € Person in object position Some sentences have both an object and a person in the object position. You ‘can choose either one to formulate the passive sentence. Someone handed me a note. = I was handed a note. => A note was handed to me. They have sent us a copy. = We have been sent a copy. => A copy has been sent to us. een reported.© Common mistakes There are four common mistakes: 2. Forgetting the verb ‘to be’: Someone has reported the incidents. map The incidents have been reported. They are going to build a church. ma A church is going to built.