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Present Simple - Passive Voice: Example Verb: Draw

The document discusses the present simple passive voice in English. It notes that the passive voice is used when the focus is on the action rather than the subject performing the action. It provides examples of present simple passive constructions using the verb "to draw" and explains some common uses of the passive voice, including when the agent is unknown, to emphasize the subject, for general truths, when the subject is irrelevant or unclear, and in more formal writing. It also provides examples of passive constructions using the verb "to make" and analyzes sentences using present simple passive.

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2K views3 pages

Present Simple - Passive Voice: Example Verb: Draw

The document discusses the present simple passive voice in English. It notes that the passive voice is used when the focus is on the action rather than the subject performing the action. It provides examples of present simple passive constructions using the verb "to draw" and explains some common uses of the passive voice, including when the agent is unknown, to emphasize the subject, for general truths, when the subject is irrelevant or unclear, and in more formal writing. It also provides examples of passive constructions using the verb "to make" and analyzes sentences using present simple passive.

Uploaded by

kevin barahona
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Present simple — passive voice

There are several reasons as to why we use the passive voice in English. In these notes,
we are going to focus on the present simple in the passive voice. Generally, we use the
passive voice when the focus is on the action and NOT on WHO or WHAT is
performing the action.

Present Simple passive construction: am/is/are + past participle

Example verb: draw

I am drawn   We are drawn

You are drawn   You (guys) are drawn

He/she/it is drawn   They are drawn

The agent is unknown. We don’t know who is the agent


o The man who is believed to have stolen the goods must be brought to justice.
(we don’t know who is the man)

We use the passive to emphasise the subject 


o Paris and London are visited by many people each year. (The emphasis is on
Paris and London).

We use the passive to talk about general truths


o Certain animals are known to attack humans.

We can use the passive if we want to be unclear or


vague about the subject 
o Mistakes are committed.

We use the passive when the subject is irrelevant


(We don’t care who or what has caused the action to be). 

o English classes are taught here every day. (WHO teaches the classes is not
important within the given situation).

We use the passive in a more formal atmosphere like a


thesis or an important piece of writing, especially
scientifically speaking
o The water is thus poured into the dish to form the desired product.
o The whole scientific process is done over three years.

Construction: am/is/are + past participle (helped, known, found)

Example verb: make

I am made   We are made

You are made You (guys) are made

He/she/it is made     They are made

Context
o Which industries do you think will dominate the future, Sarah?
o Well, we’re living in a very technological era, 1 and I think we’re set2 to see the
birth of technologies such as blockchain, cloud computers, electric cars and
quantum computing.
o It sounds incredible, doesn’t it?3
o It sure does. It is argued that cloud computing and quantum computers are the
main innovations so far.4

Analysis
1. Well, we’re living in a very technological era. Here, the present continuous
(we’re living) is used to talk about a present state. The state being ‘living in a
very technological era’. The present simple could also be used here.
2. I think we’re set. The passive voice in the present simple is used here (we are
set). The past participle is ‘set’ (set – set – set), and it’s being used to emphasise
the subject ‘we’.
3. It sounds incredible, doesn’t it? ‘Doesn’t it’ is a question tag. The verb ‘do’ is
used to form the question tag because ‘sounds’ is a normal verb. We always use
‘do’ as the default verb to make question tags with normal, non-auxiliary verbs.
4. It is argued that cloud computing and quantum computers are the main
innovations so far. ‘It is argued’ is a passive construction for the present simple
tense. The construction being the verb to be in third person singular (is) and the
past participle of ‘argue’, ‘argued’.

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