PASSIVE VOICE b) In the clause, the transformation into the passive involves two
changes:
• The active object becomes the passive subject.
1. INTRODUCTION
People commonly speak using the active voice. However, there are
some occasions in which they use the passive voice. In the passive voice,
the object of a transitive verb in an active clause becomes the new subject
of the passive clause. Then, it becomes more important.
E.g.: Peter hired a new waiter – A new waiter was hired by Peter.
Nevertheless, there are verbs which cannot appear in passive
constructions. These are called intransitive verbs (fall, die, appear, arrived).
E.g.: Mary fell.
2. FORM
The transformation from active to passive voice involved some changes:
a) The first important change is made to the verb. The passive form of
a verb is made by using tenses of the auxiliary verb ‘to be’ followed by the
past participle of the verb. It is important to remember that the verb must
agree with the new subject. Here are some examples:
• Simple Present. New technologies are considered very important.
• Present Continuous. The car is being repaired.
• Simple Past. He was sent a letter.
• Present Perfect. Mary’s article has been published.
• Future Simple. Your son will be sent to school soon.
Notes:
- Modal forms both simple and perfect can also be used in the
passive. E.g.:
They should be offered that opportunity/ It might have been an error.
• The active subject becomes the passive agent. The
preposition ‘by’ is introduced before the agent, which is
optional. In fact, agents are mentioned in only about twenty
per cent of passive clauses. This is usually omitted if it is a
personal pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they); if it is a
general one (people, everybody, someone…), or if it is
obvious (the house was painted).
Germany won the last World Cup
The last World Cup was won by Germany
3. TYPES
1. Verbs with one object
Verbs like see, sing, spend, eat or do are usually followed by a Direct Object.
They follow this structure:
Active: S + V + Od (+ other complements) > She sang a beautiful song yesterday
Passive: A beautiful song was sung yesterday
2. Verbs with two objects
Verbs such as buy, promise, tell, offer, send, show, give or lend can be
followed by two objects, a Direct and an Indirect Object. The Direct Object
usually refers to a thing and the Indirect object to a person. Therefore, two
structures are possible:
a) Active: S+ V+ Oi+ Od > He sent me a letter
Passive: I was sent a letter
b) Active: S+ V+ Od + to Oi > He sent a letter to me
Passive: A letter was sent to me
The use of one structure or the other may depend on what needs
to be put last in the sentence according to the information given.
 9. People should wear life jackets during swimming lessons
CHANGES IN VERB TENSES
10. Workers must wear a safety helmet at all times

11. Two builders are repairing the broken Wall

12. James didn’t pay the deposit for the new flat

13. The gallery owners are offering their clients one of Picasso’s first

drawings

14. Scientists have developed a new system for lie detection

15. Many schools are adopting eBooks.

PRACTICE: 16. Someone stole my wife’s car yesterday

1. They didn’t give us the ticket at the shop

17. They heard a strange noise at the other side of the door

2. Young people always follow the latest trends in technology

18. The director of the show didn’t choose me at the casting

3. Anne often posts nice messages on social media

19. My neighbours buy the daily newspaper every day

4. They offered me a good deal

20. Spain won the World Football Championship in 2010

5. Did anyone deliver the letter yesterday?

6. The Company is not hiring him for the job

7. They haven’t decided the exact date for the wedding yet

8. The brain produces a lot of chemicals during the eating process