UNIVERSIDAD TÉCNICA DE MANABÍ

INSTITUTO DE LENGUAS – DEPARTAMENTO DE LENGUAS MODERNAS

SEMESTER NOVEMBER 2020 – MARCH 2021
PROFICIENCY ENGLISH IV

ASYNCHRONOUS CLASS 11: PASSIVE VOICE

PRESENT & PAST PASSIVE

Sentences can be active or passive. In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of
the sentence and the thing receiving the action is the object. Most sentences are active. Its structure
generally is:

[Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action]

Subject + verb + object

Examples:

I write a letter.
Subject doing an action verb object receiving the action

My mother prepares a fantastic dinner.

Subject doing an action verb object receiving the action

In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing doing
the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form if you:

 You think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized.

 You do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the
action.

To change an active voice sentence to a passive voice sentence:

1. Make the object of the active sentence into the subject of the passive sentence.
2. Use the verb “to be” in the same tense as the main verb of the active sentence.
3. Use the past participle of the main verb of the active sentence.

Active voice: People drink champagne on New Year’s Eve.

Passive voice: Champagne is drunk on New Year’s Eve.

Active: They renovated the restaurant in 2004.

Passive: The restaurant was renovated in 2004.

Lcda. Martha Castro Quiroz Mg. Eii.

EFL TEACHER 1
 PASSIVE VOICE: PRESENT

In the present, the passive voice uses the verbs is and are + past participle of the main verb.

The passive voice present is often used to describe:

 Processes

First the apples are picked, then they are cleaned, and finally they’re packed and shipped to the
market.

 General thoughts, opinions, and beliefs

New York is considered the most diverse city in the U.S.

Hungarian is seen as one of the world’s most difficult languages to learn.

PASSIVE VOICE: PAST

In the past, the passive voice uses the verbs was and were + past participle of the main verb.

The passive voice past is often used to describe:

 Events in history

George Washington was elected president in 1788.

 Crimes / Accidents

Two people were killed in a drive-by shooting on Friday night.

Ten children were injured when part of the school roof collapsed.

As well as in many other situations when the person who did the action is unknown or unimportant,
we don’t mention him/her.

ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE

Mr. Loor teaches the students. The students are taught by Mr. Loor.
PRESENT
My children clean the house. The house is cleaned by my children.

Kelly washed the dishes. The dishes were washed by Kelly.

PAST
Sam and Joe wrote a letter. The letter was written by Sam and Joe.

englishpage.com

Lcda. Martha Castro Quiroz Mg. Eii.

EFL TEACHER 2
 Tense Active Passive
Simple Present Once a week, Tom cleans the house. Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.
Present Right now, the letter is being written by
Right now, Sarah is writing the letter.
Continuous Sarah.
Simple Past Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.
The salesman was helping the customer The customer was being helped by the
Past Continuous
when the thief came into the store. salesman when the thief came into the store.
That castle has been visited by many
Present Perfect Many tourists have visited that castle.
tourists.
Present Perfect Recently, John has been doing the Recently, the work has been being done by
Continuous work. John.
George had repaired many cars before Many cars had been repaired by George
Past Perfect
he received his mechanic's license. before he received his mechanic's license.
Chef Jones had been preparing the The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been
Past Perfect
restaurant's fantastic dinners for two being prepared by Chef Jones for two
Continuous
years before he moved to Paris. years before he moved to Paris.
Simple Future Someone will finish the work by 5:00
The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.
will PM.
Simple Future Sally is going to make a beautiful A beautiful dinner is going to be made by
be going to dinner tonight. Sally tonight.
Future
At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be
Continuous
washing the dishes. being washed by John.
will
Future
At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to
Continuous
washing the dishes. be being washed by John.
be going to
Future Perfect They will have completed the project The project will have been completed
will before the deadline. before the deadline.
Future Perfect They are going to have completed the The project is going to have been
be going to project before the deadline. completed before the deadline.
Future Perfect The famous artist will have been The mural will have been being painted by
Continuous painting the mural for over six months the famous artist for over six months by the
will by the time it is finished. time it is finished.
Future Perfect The famous artist is going to have been The mural is going to have been being
Continuous painting the mural for over six months painted by the famous artist for over six
be going to by the time it is finished. months by the time it is finished.
Used to Jerry used to pay the bills. The bills used to be paid by Jerry.
My mother would always make the The pies would always be made by my
Would Always
pies. mother.
Future in the
I knew John would finish the work by I knew the work would be finished by 5:00
Past
5:00 PM. PM.
Would
Future in the
I thought Sally was going to make a I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be
Past
beautiful dinner tonight. made by Sally tonight.
Was Going to

Lcda. Martha Castro Quiroz Mg. Eii.

EFL TEACHER 3