THE PASSIVE

In an active sentence the subject is the “doer” and performs the action of the verb. In a passive
sentence the object of the active verb becomes the subject.

 In a passive sentence, we sometimes mention the agent (the person or thing doing the action)
We use BY with the agent. We mention the agent only when it is important for the meaning of the
sentence.

Saint Paul´s Cathedral was built by Sir Christopher Wren (it is important to know the agent)

 When the agent is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the context, it is omitted.
He was arrested last night by the police. (it is clear who arrested him: the police)

My watch has been stolen by someone (we don´t know who)

The streets are cleaned every day by them (the agent is not important)

 We use WITH to mention the tool or instrument that was used.

He was killed with a knife.

*The Passive Voice is formed by putting the verb TO BE into the same tense as the active verb and
adding the PAST PARTICIPLE of the active verb.

Active Passive

They feed the animals  The animals are fed.

They are feeding the animals
They fed the animals
They were feeding the animals
They will feed the animals
They are going to feed the animals
They have fed the animals
They had fed the animals
They will have fed the animals
They should/must/may… feed the animals
They should/must/may… have fed the animals
 The animals are being fed
 The animals were fed
 The animals were being fed
 The animals will be fed
 The animals are going to be fed
 The animals have been fed
 The animals had been fed
 The animals will have been fed
 The animals should/must/may… be fed
 The animals should/must/may… have been fed
A) VERBS WITH TWO OBJECTS
Verbs with two possible objects (buy, give, take, send, offer, etc), have two passive forms, but one
is more commonly used.
Someone gave Jimmy the money  Jimmy was given the money (more common)
 The money was given to Jimmy

B) SOME VERBS (E.G. HEAR, WATCH, MAKE, SEE) are followed by an object and a bare infinitive
(infinitive without to )when they are active and by to-infinitive when they are passive.
I heard her criticize himShe was heard to criticize him
They made me stay at home I was made to stay at home.

 Hear, see, watch can be followed by a present participle in the active and passive.
I heard her practising the piano She was heard practicing the piano.

 Let + object+ bare infinitive in the active becomes be allowed+ to -infinitive.

They didn´t let me go I wasn´t allowed to go.

C) NEED + -ING has a passive meaning.

 The house needs paintingThe house needs to be painted.

D) CAUSATIVE FORM (HAVE SOMETHING DONE)

We use Have (Get) + Object +Past Participle to say that we arrange for someone to do something
for us . We can use this structure with the meaning of “experience something”, often something
unpleasant.
She has her hair cut every month
He had his leg broken yesterday
They are having their house decorated at the moment
I am going to have my photograph taken
Tom has had all his money stolen.
She will have her portrait painted soon
We should/must.. have the carpet cleaned.
E) PASSIVE REPORTING VERBS.
We can use the passive with verbs such as believe, claim, expect, know, report, say, think,
understand, etc. to report an event or to talk about an opinion held by some people/a lot of
people/ people in general/experts, etc. The following patterns can be used:

 It + passive+ that clause: It is understood that the Queen approves of the decision.
 Subject + passive+ to infinitive : The Queen is understood to approve of the decision.

Note the form of the verbs

Active: People say that he is one of the richest men in the world
Passive: It is said that he is one of the richest men in the world.
He is said to be one of the richest men in the world.

Active: People expect that he will hand over the business to his daughter.
Passive: It is expected that he will hand over the business to his daughter.
He is expected to hand over the business to his daughter.

Active: People report that he is buying a private island.

Passive: It is reported that he is buying a private island.
He is reported to be buying a private island.

Active: People believe that he has invested his money in property.

Passive: It is believed that he has invested his money in property.
He is believed to have invested his money in property.

Active: People think that he made a billion pounds last year.

Passive: It is thought that he made a billion pounds last year.
He is thought to have made a billion pounds last year.

Active: Many people thought that he had stolen the money.

Passive: It was thought that he had stolen the money.
He was thought to have stolen the money.