PASSIVE VOICE

The function of the passive voice (the situations in which we

use it).

The main changes in the order of the sentence.
Let us imagine a Portuguese doctor has discovered the cure for
AIDS.
What do you think will appear in the Portuguese papers/television?

Option A: Portuguese doctor discovers the cure for AIDS.

Option B: The cure for AIDS is discovered by Portuguese
doctor.



The right option would be A:
Portuguese doctor discovers the cure for AIDS .

ACTIVE VOICE
Why?

The person who does the action is more important than the action itself.

The doctor is Portuguese and thats the most important thing
for the Portuguese press.

Then, when do I use the Passive Voice?

When the action itself (the cure for AIDS) is more important than the
person who does it. OPTION B for the rest of the world.
It is more important discovering the cure, for the rest of the world, than
the nationality of the person who did it.

We also use the Passive Voice when we dont know who did the action.
Example: The Scream was stolen from a Museum in Norway
(we dont know who did it).





Let us have a look at an example:


The burglar stole the painting from the museum. (ACTIVE VOICE)
The painting was stolen from the museum by the burglar.
PASSIVE VOICE
Rules:
The object (painting) becomes the subject.
The passive sentence has a new verb in the tense of the sentence
the auxiliar verb to be (was).
The main verb is always in the past participle (stolen).
THe subject (the burglar) goes to the end of the sentence with by
before it.
Present Simple
The burglar steals the painting.

THe painting is stolen by the burglar.
The paintings are (plural)


Past Simple
The burglar stole the painting.

The painting was stolen by the burglar.
The paintings were (plural).
The negative form in the
present/past active has the auxiliar
verb to do. In the passive, the
auxiliar verb aquires that negative
aspect:
Isnt/ arent /wasnt / werent
Present Continuous
The burglar is stealing the painting.

THe painting is being stolen by the burglar.
The paintings are (plural)


Past Continuous

The burglar was stealing the painting.

The painting was being stolen by the burglar.
The paintings were (plural).
Present Perfect
The burglar has stolen the painting.

THe painting has been stolen by the burglar.
The paintings have (plural)


Past Perfect
The burglar had stolen the painting.

The painting had been stolen by the burglar.

MODAL VERBS

The burglar will steal the painting.
must
can
should
might


The painting will be stolen by the burglar
must
can
should
might
is going to I was robbed !

Hope this has cleared your doubts.
Have your doubts been cleared? (Passive Voice)