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July 04 , 2022

PASSIVE
VOICE
The passive voice is used to show interest in the
person or object that experiences an action rather
than the person or object that performs the action. In
other words, the most important thing or person
becomes the subject of the sentence.

Ex.:

 Active: I drank two cups of coffee

 Passive: two cups of coffee were drunk (we can
add “by me”, but isn’t necessary)
 WHEN SHOULD WE USE THE PASSIVE?

1. When we want to change the focus of the sentence:

The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. (We are
more interested in the painting than the artist in this
sentence)

2. When who or what causes the action is unknown or

unimportant or obvious or 'people in general':
He was arrested (obvious agent, the police).
My bike has been stolen (unknown agent).
The road is being repaired (unimportant agent).
The form can be obtained from the post office (people in
general).
3. In factual or scientific writing:
The chemical is placed in a test tube and the data entered
into the computer.

4. In formal writing instead of using someone/ people/ they

(these can be used in speaking or informal writing):
The brochure will be finished next month.

5. In order to put the new information at the end of the

sentence to improve style:
Three books are used regularly in the class. The books were
written by Dr. Bell. ('Dr. Bell wrote the books' sound clumsy)
 How to make the Passive in English?
We make the passive by putting the verb 'to be' into
whatever tense we need and then adding the past participle.
Tense Active Passive
present simple I make a cake. A cake is made (by me).
A cake is being made (by
present continuous I am making a cake.
me).
past simple I made a cake. A cake was made (by me).
A cake was being made (by
past continuous I was making a cake.
me).
A cake has been made (by
present perfect I have made a cake.
me).
A cake has been being
pres. perf. Continuous I have been making a cake.
made (by me).
A cake had been made (by
past perfect I had made a cake.
me).
future simple I will make a cake. A cake will be made (by me).
Esta ficha son los ejercicios, que se entregará en el colegio.

PASSIVE VOICE
 Turn the following sentences into Passive Voice:
1. I clean my room every day: My room is cleaned every day

2. Tom bought a nice

present yesterday. A nice present was bought yesterday

3. Ann will sing a beautiful

A beautiful song will be sung
song.

4. Ben repaired my
My computer was repaired yesterday
computer yesterday.

5. My sister is making a tasty A tasty cake is being made now

cake now.
 Tickets to the concert have been bought
6. We have bought tickets to the concert.

French is taught at school

7. Helen teaches French at school.

Strawberries are grown

8. They grow strawberries every year. every year

An SMS was sent to his friend

9. Tim sent an SMS to his friend.

A test has been written today

10. She has written a test today.
 That museum was visited yesterday
11. They visited that museum yesterday.

The relatives are being met now

12. We are meeting the relatives now.

Paris is visited every year

13. I visit Paris every year.

Some money will be lent to her

14. She will lend money to her friend. friend

An ice-cream is being eaten now

15. Nick is eating an Ice-cream now.