VERB TENSE

Functional language

EL256
 PASSIVE VOICE
FUNCTION

1. It is not important or not known who or

what is performing the action
2. The object of an active sentence becomes
the subject of the passive one.
3. The subject of the active becomes the
object of the passive or is dropped.
ACTIVE VOICE:
• The boy broke the
window.
• boy = agent / subject PASSIVE VOICE:
• window = thing that • The window was broken
received the action / by the boy.
object • window = thing that
received the action /
subject
• use BY + agent.
 DO NOT INCLUDE “BY”

1. The doer of the action is unknown

• The money was stolen.
2. The doer of the action is "people in general"
• Black cats are believed to bring bad luck.
3. The doer of the action is completely unimportant
• This bridge was built in 1889.
 PRACTICE 1

were destroyed.
is remodelled.
is being remodelled
was hired
was started
 PRACTICE 1

the old carpeting had

been removed.
was being painted
will be delivered
will be finished
have to be dealt with
 PRACTICE 2

Write the correct form of the

verb in parentheses, using the
active or passive voice to
complete each sentence. Pay
attention to subject-verb
agreement and verb tense.
 has recently been identified

was bitten
wore was seen
was picked up had reported
wanted is charged
is suing

was frequently chased

 CANNOT BE PASSIVE
The winner of the contest will be announced
tomorrow.
 It is reported that the damage from the
earthquake is extensive.
The damage from the earthquake is reported
to be extensive.
 Hopefully, cancer will have been cured by the year 2050.

I was surprised when I heard that my scholarship

application had been approved.
This issue is being debated around the world.
The actor was being bombarded with questions.

These walls HAVE not been painted yet.

The office Christmas decorations were finally
taken down in February.
A new law has been passed.

CANNOT BE PASSIVE

The event was held in a conference centre.

The crops are harvested in October.

CANNOT BE PASSIVE
I was always chosen last for sports teams.