Using The Passive Voice

Using the
Passive Voice
Using the Passive Voice
• Definitions
• Changing to the passive voice
• Practice examples
Active Voice vs. Passive Voice
• Active voice takes the form “A does B”

• We chose the plastic film to cover the microphone
• Passive voice takes the form “B is done (by A)”

• Plastic film was chosen (by us) to cover the microphone
Active Voice: Subjects Perform an Act
Active voice
We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object

Active voice
We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object
Passive voice
Plastic film … was chosen … to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object
Third person, but active voice
The team ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object
Passive voice
Plastic film … was chosen … to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object
• Definitions
Combine “To be” + Past Participle
• “To be” is very irregular:

Present Tense Past Tense
1st person I am We are I was We were
2nd person You are You are You were You were
3rd person He, she, it is They are He, she, it was They were
• Past participles usually add “-ed” or “-t”: presented,

measured, built, burnt
• Irregular past principles must be memorized

Omit the “Agent” of the Action
• Active
• Workers installed burglar alarms.
• Passive, with agent

• Burglar alarms were installed by the workers.
• Passive, with the agent omitted

• Burglar alarms were installed.
Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.


I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.




I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.




I finished a project in eight hours. A project was finished in eight hours.




I finished three projects in eight hours. Three projects were finished in eight hours.
• Definitions
Change to the Passive Voice
• The team used the following materials: a model rocket

requiring some assembly, a tube of “Super Glue®,” a
cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter.
• The team used the following materials: a model rocket

• The following materials were used: a model rocket

• The EG 1003 course also supplied the launch stand,

the barrier, and two atomic clocks.
• The EG 1003 course also supplied the launch stand,

the barrier, and two atomic clocks.
• The launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks

were supplied by the EG 1003 course.
• First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA.
• First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

• I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.

• I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.
• The kit was inspected to ensure that all parts were

present.
• Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the

fuselage of the model using Super Glue®.
• Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the

• The four control surfaces (fins) were attached to the

• We pressed the red power switch, activating the model.
• We pressed the red power switch, activating the model.
• The red power switch was pressed, activating the

model.
• The team noted the time to verify that there would be

enough battery power when the rocket was launched.
• The team noted the time to verify that there would be

• The time was noted to verify that there would be

• Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the

Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.
• Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the

• The yellow button was pressed, starting the

• The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.

• The model was taken out to MetroTech commons.

• I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.

• I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.
• A matter cartridge was obtained from the TA.

• We snapped this cartridge into the model.

• This cartridge was snapped into the model.

• We mounted the model on the launch stand.

• We mounted the model on the launch stand.
• The model was mounted on the launch stand.

QUESTIONS?

Using The Passive Voice

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Using The Passive Voice

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Using the

• Changing to the passive voice

• Active voice takes the form “A does B”

• Passive voice takes the form “B is done (by A)”

Subject Verb Object

Subject Verb Object

• Changing to the passive voice

• “To be” is very irregular:

• Past participles usually add “-ed” or “-t”: presented,

• Irregular past principles must be memorized

• Passive, with agent

• Passive, with the agent omitted

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish three projects in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish three projects in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish three projects in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finished a project in eight hours. A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finished a project in eight hours. A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finished a project in eight hours. A project was finished in eight hours.

• Changing to the passive voice

• The team used the following materials: a model rocket

• The team used the following materials: a model rocket

• The following materials were used: a model rocket

• The EG 1003 course also supplied the launch stand,

• The EG 1003 course also supplied the launch stand,

• The launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks

• First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA.

• First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

• First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA.

• First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

• I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.

• First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA.

• First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

• I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.

• The kit was inspected to ensure that all parts were

• Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the

• Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the

• The four control surfaces (fins) were attached to the

• We pressed the red power switch, activating the model.

• The red power switch was pressed, activating the

• The team noted the time to verify that there would be

• The team noted the time to verify that there would be

• The time was noted to verify that there would be

• Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the