Passive

Voice
Study this example:

This house was built in 1935.

Was built is passive

Compare active and passive:

Somebody built this house in 1935 (Active)

This house was built in 1935. (Passive)

 When we use an active verb, we say
what the subject does:
• My grandfather was a builder. He built this house in 1935.

• It's a big company. It employs two hundred people.

When we use a passive verb, we say

what happens to the subject:
• This house is quite old. It was built in 1935

• Two hundred people are employed by the company.

 When we use the passive, who or
what causes the action is often
unknown or unimportant:
• A lot of money was stolen in the robbery.
(somebody stole it, but we don't know who)

• Is this room cleaned every day?

(does somebody clean it? - it's not important who)
 How do we form the passive voice?

be (is/was etc.) + past participle (done/cleaned/seen etc.):

(be) done (be) cleaned (be) damaged (be) built (be) seen etc.
For example:
Present simple:

this room
Somebody cleans this room every day

This
Thisroom
room is cleaned every day.

Active: clean(s) / see(s) etc.

Passive: am/is/are + cleaned/seen etc.

• Many accidents are caused by careless driving.

• I'm not often invited to parties.
• How is this word pronounced?
For example:
Past simple:

Somebody cleaned this room yesterday

This
Thisroom
room was cleaned yesterday.

Active: cleaned/saw etc.

Passive: was/were + cleaned/seen etc.

• We were woken up by a loud noise during the night.

• 'Did you go to the party?' 'No, I wasn't invited.’
• How much money was stolen in the robbery?
Function: When do we use the passive?
Did you know that the
mobile phone was Talking of mobiles, my
invented in 1973? I thought phone was stolen from
it was earlier. my bag last week!

Look at what the boy says. Is Look at what the girl

he more focused on the says. Do you think
result of the action (what she knows who stole
was invented) or who did it? her phone?

What was
invented (and Probably not
when)
 Function: When do we use the passive?
Use 1: To focus on the action or the result of the action (rather than who did it – the agent)

Did you know that the mobile phone was invented

The boy is interested in
in 1973? I thought it was earlier.
what was invented and the
result, not who did it (the
agent).

Use 2: When the agent (the person doing the action) is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.

The girl doesn’t

Talking of mobiles, my phone was stolen from my
know who stole
bag last week!
her phone (she
doesn’t know the
agent).

How do we form the

passive voice?
So, how do we form the passive voice?

subject verb to be past participle

My phone was stolen.

past participle
The mobile phone was invented (…)

No one has been arrested. subject

Mary will be operated on.
verb to be
The car is being repaired.

Look at the Which part of the The main verb is in

examples and put form changes the past participle.
the form in the depending on the Does this change
correct order. tense? with the tense?
No.

Verb to be.
 Form: How do form the passive voice?
Subject verb to be past Participle
My phone was stolen.

The mobile phone was invented (…)

by the police/the mechanic, etc.
No one has been arrested.

Mary will be operated on.

The car repaired. If you want to

is getting
being
mention the
agent, you can do
this by using by…
Notice how the verb to be tells us the tense. E.g.
Present simple = am/is/are The verb to be in the passive voice
Past simple = was/were is an auxiliary, not a main verb.
Present continuous = is being (to be + -ing) Therefore, it isn’t usually stressed
Past continuous = was being when we speak. Weak forms are
Present perfect = has been (have + past participle) used. E.g. /wəz/ (was), /wə/
Past perfect = had been (were), /bɪn/ (been).
Future = will be
In informal
Modal verbs = could/should/must + be The main verb
situations, you can
doesn’t change What are the
replace the verb to
and is always in special cases?
be with the verb to
the past participle.
get.
 Special cases in the passive voice
1. Verbs that take two objects, e.g. show, give.

I was given the ring. It was given to me by my

grandfather.
There are two different forms of the
passive in this case. Either object (in
this case I or the ring) can be used as
2. The verb make. the subject.

In the passive voice, the verb make

I was made to start work an hour earlier needs to be followed by to + infinitive.
today.

3. Let someone do something. There is no passive form of let

someone do. You need to use be
allowed to.
Will your parents let Yes. I’m allowed to come for a
you come tonight? couple of hours.

Let’s practise!
Practice activities
Change these sentences so that they are in the passive voice.

1. My parents will give me their old car when they get a new one.

I will be given my parents’/their old car when they get a new

one. Two options here
My parents’/Their new car will be given to me when they get a new because it’s a verb with
one. two objects.
2. My best friend is organising the New Year’s Eve party at the
moment.
The New Year’s Eve party is being organised at the moment (by my best friend).

3. My brother didn’t let me use his car. Remember! There is no

passive form of let
I wasn’t allowed to use his/my brother’s car. someone do.

4. The government has changed the law.

The law has been changed (by the government). Remember! In the
passive form, make is
5. My mum makes me take the dog out every morning for a walk.
followed by to + infinitive.
I am made to take the dog out every morning for a walk (by my mum).