We use the passive voice when we are more interested in the action itself rather than in “who” or “what”

did
the action.
The agent can be:
* unimportant – “These shoes are made in Indonesia.” (the action is more important than who made the
shoes).
* unknown – “The windows were broken yesterday.” (somebody broke the windows and we don’t know who
did it).
* implicit – “He was arrested.” (most certainly by the police).
The object of the active becomes the subject of the passive.
We add the auxiliary “to be” – “is/are” when the main verb of the active is present, and “was/were” when it is
past.

Magazines use pop singers as models. When did Tom write this letter?

Pop singers are used as models by magazines. When was this letter written by Tom?

Choose words from the box to from passive sentences in Present Simple.

eat make make wear speak

by lions from Cellulose pulp in Japan in Scotland in Canada

1. Most cameras are made in Japan.

2. French and English _______________________ _____________________________.
3. Kilts _________________________ _______________________________________.
4. Zebras ________________________ ______________________________________.
5. Paper ___________________________ ____________________________________.
Choose words from the box to from passive sentences in Past Simple.

write invent discover paint kill

by Alexander Graham Bell, by Brutus, in 1492,

by Leonardo da Vinci, by William Shakespeare

1. Julius Caesar was killed by Brutus.

2. “Romeo and Juliet” ______________________ ______________________________.
3. The telephone ________________________ ________________________________.
4. America __________________________ ___________________________________.
5. The Mona Lisa ________________________ _______________________________.