The Passive Voice (Пасивний стан дієслова)

The Passive Voice вживається:

 Коли не відомо (або не важливо) хто (що) є виконавцем певної дії.
 З метою уникнення вживання особових займенників I, we, they, etc..
 У новинах або офіційних оголошеннях.
 У наукових текстах.
Прийменник by вживається, коли є вказівка на те, хто саме виконав певну дію,
прийменник with вживається, коли вказаний інструмент виконання дії:
This Church was designed by Christopher Wren.
The message was written in the sand with a stick.
Форма пасивного стану утворюється за допомогою допоміжного дієслова to
be та третьої форми основного дієслова. Форма be утворюється відповідно до
часу, в якому стоїть дієслово у реченні активного стану.
 У пасивних реченнях прислівники часу та повторюваності (always, sometimes,
etc.) вживаються після першого допоміжного слова:
It is usually made of wood.
They have just been found.

Час Пасивна форма Приклад: пасивний Приклад: активний

стан стан
Present Simple am / is /are + V3 The key is kept in the They keep the key in
cupboard the cupboard
Present am/is/are This matter is still They are still
Continuous +being+V3 being considered considering the
matter
be going to am/is/are + going The factory is going to They are going to
to be + V3 be closed close the factory
Future Simple will be + V3 These letters will be The secretary will
mailed tomorrow mail these letters
tomorrow

Past Simple was/were + V3 I was informed about They informed me

it two days ago about it two days
ago
Past Continuous was/were+ being +V3 I felt I was being I felt somebody was
followed by somebody following me
Present Perfect has/have +been + V3 The phone has already They have already
been repaired repaired the phone
Past Perfect had + been + V3 When we arrived When we arrived
home we found that home we found that
our window had been somebody had
broken broken our window
Modals modal verb + be +V3 The work must be You must do the
done properly. work properly.
Task 1. Read the following sentences. Underline the verb or verbs in each
sentence and then indicate whether the verb is active or passive.

Example: Our café is visited by a lot of people. – Passive (present simple)

1. Acid rains are caused by burning coal or oil……………………………………………….

2. All the food at the party was eaten…………………………………………………………
3. I fed the cat last night………………………………………………………………………
4. Twenty people were invited to the party…………………………………………………...
5. They will make a decision at the meeting………………………………………………….
6. The wind blew down the trees……………………………………………………………..
7. This sweater should be washed by hand…………………………………………………...
8. My little sister broke a cup…………………………………………………………………
9. Their steps were heard by us……………………………………………………………….
10. He cleans the garage once a week………………………………………………………..

Task 2. Rewrite the sentences using the passive without by.

Example: People speak English in Australia. English is spoken in Australia.

1. They sell mineral water in plastic bottles………………………………………………….

2. People don’t use this room very often……………………………………………………..
3. The postman delivers the letters at 8:00…………………………………………………...
4. They are cleaning the classrooms now……………………………………………….........
5. People use the Internet all over the world…………………………………………………
6. They are repairing the road at the moment…………………………………………….......
7. They postponed the match…………………………………………………………………
8. They built this house a hundred years ago…………………………………………….......
9. Someone found this wallet in the street……………………………………………………
10. They included VAT in the bill……………………………………………………………

Task 3. Give the corresponding active construction adding the subject where
necessary.

Example: My pen was taken by somebody. Somebody took my pen.

1. The plants are watered twice a week………………………………………………………

2. The picnic was ruined by bad weather…………………………………………………….
3. Library books must be returned in a month………………………………………………..
4. This story was written by my brother……………………………………………………...
5. The dog has already been taken for a walk………………………………………………...
6. I was promised a new computer by my parents……………………………………………
7. Look! Someone is being attacked………………………………………………………….
8. An ancient settlement has been uncovered by archaeologists……………………………..
9. When I came the last student was being examined………………………………………...
10. The meeting will be held in the conference room………………………………………...