PASSIVE VOICE

• People use the English language to communicate worldwide.

subject verb object

• The English language IS USED to communicate worldwide (by people).

Passive subject + auxiliary + past participle (main verb) passive agent

(verb TO BE)

PASSIVE: verb TO BE in the tense that we need (the one you have in the active voice sentence)
+
The past participle of the main verb

When do we need to use the passive voice?

 To focus on the action rather than the agent;
The first North American newspaper was published in 1690 in Boston.
 To put special emphasis on the agent;
The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440.
 To avoid mentioning the agent when it is unknown or generally understood in the
context.
A bank was robbed last night and the robbers were arrested because a phone call was made to warn the police.
 Fill in the table below.
ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE
TENSE EXAMPLE PASSIVE AUXILIARY PAST PARTICIPLE PASSIVE AGENT
SUBJECT (VERB TO BE) (MAIN VERB)
PRESENT SIMPLE I write letters. Letters
are written by me.
PRESENT
CONTINUOUS
You are writing letters. Letters
are being written by you.
PAST SIMPLE He wrote letters. Letters
were written by him.
PAST CONTINUOUS She was writing letters. Letters
were being written by her.
PRESENT PERFECT
PAST PERFECT
We have written letters.
We had written letters.
Letters
have been written by us.
MODAL VERBS They will write letters. Letters had been

will be written by them.

BE GOING TO You are going to write
letters.
Letters
are going to written by you.
be
Turn the sentences into the passive voice.
 The Times employs two hundred people.
Two hundred people are employed by The Times.
 They are editing the layout of today’s edition.
The layout of today’s edition is being edited. (by them)
 They printed the last edition of the newspaper yesterday.
The last edition of the newspaper was printed yesterday. (by them)
 You can’t read the local newspaper online.
The local newspaper can´t be read online. (by you)
 The police have arrested two thieves today.
Two thieves have been arrested today. (by the police)
 The government will introduce new laws to stop domestic violence.
New laws will be introduced by the government to stop domestic violence.
 People were holding a demonstration outside the parliament hall.
A demonstration was being held outside the parliament hall. (by people)
 IDIOMATIC PASSIVE VOICE
• It is used with verbs that are followed by two objects: direct (what?) and
indirect (to whom?)
He gave me a delightful present on St Valentine’s day.
Subject verb indirect object direct object

A delightful present was given TO ME on St Valentine’s day (by him).

Passive Subject auxiliary + main verb indirect object agent

IDIOMATIC STRUCTURE (more common) - we begin with the person (indirect object)

I was given a delightful present on St Valentine’s day (by him).

Passive Subject aux + main verb direct object agent

Turn the sentences below into the passive voice (idiomatic)
1. She sent me several holiday photos.
I … was sent several holiday photos. *
2. The postman is delivering Mrs. Jones a parcel.
Mrs. Jones … Is being delivered a parcel by the postman.
3. My parents allow me to use the computer without supervision.
I … am allowed by my parents to use the computer without supervision.
4. They won’t give you any explanation.
You … won’t be given any explanation . *
5. They may refuse him permission to go out tonight.
He … may be refused permission to go out tonight. *
6. Someone will pay you within the next few days.
will be paid within the next few days. *
You …
7. They have chosen her as the best actress of the year.
has been chosen as the best actress of the year. *
She …

* NOTE: the agent should be omitted when it doesn’t add meaningful

information!