Unit 6 – the passive voice

It’s important to understand how we

use the passive voice, but also when.
Let’s look at:
1. Common uses of the passive voice.
2. How to form the passive voice in different tenses.
3. Special cases.

When do we use the

passive voice?

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 Function: When do we use the passive?
Did you know that the
mobile phone was
invented in 1973? I thought
it was earlier.
Talking of mobiles, my
phone was stolen from
my bag last week!

Look at what the boy says. Is Look at what the girl

he more focused on the says. Do you think
result of the action (what she knows who stole
was invented) or who did it? her phone?

What was
invented (and Probably not
when)

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2

 Function: When do we use the passive?
Use 1: To focus on the action or the result of the action (rather than who did it – the agent)

Did you know that the mobile phone was invented

The boy is interested in
in 1973? I thought it was earlier.
what was invented and the
result, not who did it (the
agent).

Use 2: When the agent (the person doing the action) is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.

The girl doesn’t

Talking of mobiles, my phone was stolen from my
know who stole
bag last week!
her phone (she
doesn’t know the
agent).

How do we form the

passive voice?
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2
 Form: How do form the passive voice?
subject verb to be past participle

My phone was stolen.

The mobile phone was invented (…)

past participle
No one has been arrested.
subject
Mary will be operated on.
verb to be
The car is being repaired.

Look at the Which part of the The main verb is in

examples and put form changes the past participle.
the form in the depending on the Does this change
correct order. tense? with the tense?
No.

Verb to be.
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2
 Form: How do form the passive voice?
Subject verb to be past Participle
My phone was stolen.

The mobile phone was invented (…)

by the police/the mechanic, etc.
No one has been arrested.

Mary will be operated on.

If you want to
The car is getting
being repaired. mention the
agent, you can do
Notice how the verb to be tells us the tense. E.g. this by using by…
Present simple = am/is/are
Past simple = was/were The verb to be in the passive voice
Present continuous = is being (to be + -ing) is an auxiliary, not a main verb.
Past continuous = was being Therefore, it isn’t usually stressed
Present perfect = has been (have + past participle) when we speak. Weak forms are
Past perfect = had been used. E.g. /wəz/ (was), /wə/
Future = will be (were), /bɪn/ (been).
Modal verbs = could/should/must + be
In informal
The main verb
situations, you can
doesn’t change What are the
replace the verb to
be with the verb to
and is always in special cases?
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2 the past participle.
get.
 Special cases in the passive voice
1. Verbs that take two objects, e.g. show, give.

I was given the ring. It was given to me by my

grandfather.
There are two different forms of the
passive in this case. Either object (in
this case I or the ring) can be used as
2. The verb make. the subject.

In the passive voice, the verb make

I was made to start work an hour earlier today. needs to be followed by to + infinitive.

3. Let someone do something. There is no passive form of let

someone do. You need to use be
allowed to.
Will your parents let Yes. I’m allowed to come for a
you come tonight? couple of hours.

Let’s practise!
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2
 Practice activities
Change these sentences so that they are in the passive voice.

1. My parents will give me their old car when they get a new one.

I will be given my parents’/their old car when they get a new

one. Two options here
My parents’/Their new car will be given to me when they get a new because it’s a verb with
one. two objects.
2. My best friend is organising the New Year’s Eve party at the
moment.
The New Year’s Eve party is being organised at the moment (by my best friend).

3. My brother didn’t let me use his car. Remember! There is no

passive form of let
I wasn’t allowed to use his/my brother’s car. someone do.

4. The government has changed the law.

The law has been changed (by the government). Remember! In the
passive form, make is
5. My mum makes me take the dog out every morning for a walk.
followed by to + infinitive.
I am made to take the dog out every morning for a walk (by my mum).
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2