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THE PASSIVE

THE PASSIVE

Date: Oct 28 2008

Topic: Grammar

Author: nad1a

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First of all, let's talk about the difference between Active and Passive Voice:

Active voice = the subject is acting, doing something

Passive vocie = the subject is “receiving” an action; someone or something does something to the subject


example:

Journalists write articles. - Active voice

Journalists” is the subject here; Who writes? Journalists.

articles” is the object here – What do journalist write? Artciles.

 

So when turning Active Voice into Passive – the subject and the object change places.


Articles are written by journalists. - Passive Voice

Articles” is the subject here. What is written? Articles.

Journalists” is the object here. By whom are they written? By Journalists.


 

 

 

 

(1) FORM:

1.1

We form the passive using the Object (I, you , he, somebody or something etc) + form of the verb “BE” (depending on the tense) + past participle. That is, we just change the form of the verb 'be' according to the tense and we add the past participle.


Notice how the verb 'be' changes in the different tenses followed by the past participle:


PRESENT:

He does the job. - Active, Present Simple

The job is done by him. - Passive, Present Simple


The jury is making a decision. - Active, Present Progressive

A decision is being made by the jury. - Passive, Present Progressive


My father has painted this picture. - Active, Present Perfect

This picture has been painted by my father. - Passive, Present Perfect.


PAST:

He did the job. - Active, Past Simple

The job was done by him. - Passive, Past Simple


The jury was making a decision. - Active, Past Progressive

A decision was being made by the jury. - Passive, Past Progressive


My father had painted this picture. - Active, Past Perfect

This picture had been painted by my father. - Passive, Past Perfect.


FUTURE:

He will do the job. - Active, Future Simple

The job will be done by him. - Passive, Future Simple


My father will have painted this picture. - Active, Future Perfect

This picture will have been painted by my father. - Passive, Future Perfect.



NOTE:

You cannot construct passive sentences in the Present Perfect Progressive, Future Progressive and Past Perfect Progressive:


The contract had been being revised.





1.2

SPECIAL FORMS:


Just like we change the verb 'to be' according to the tense, it can also take all the other possible verb forms:


INFINITIVE – 'to do something' is changed to 'something to be done'

You are to refuse the deal. - The deal is to be refused.

You have to refuse the deal. - The deal has to be refused.


PRESENT PARTICIPLE – 'doing something' is changed to 'being done'

He likes others challenging him. - He likes being challenged by others.


PERFECT -ING FORM – 'having done something' is changed to 'something having been done'

Having addressed the issue, they went on with the schedule for the meeting. - The issue having been addressed, they went on with the schedule for the meeting.


MODALS + be + past participle – 'should not have done something' is changed to 'should not have been done'

I'm sorry, we should not have left you alone. - I'm sorry, you should not have been left alone.

(2) USAGE:

The Passive Voice is often used in formal or scientific texts. We use it in formal talks, essays etc to make our speech more official or sophisticated.



We use the passive to construct sentences in which


2. 1


    (a) the agent (the person or thing performing an action) is known, unimportant or obvious.)
    The candidate's resume was examined, and he was called in for an interview.
    (It is obvious that a prospective employer performed this action.)
    All customer complaints must be dealt with immediately.
    (It doesn't matter who deals with them as long as they are dealt with.)

    (b) the agent must not be mentioned (often to avoid being impolite, or to avoid mentioning who is responsible for the action).
    Perhaps the report should be studied in more detail.
    (more polite than saying 'you should study the report in more detail')

    These invoices should have been sent yesterday.
    (avoids mentioning who should have sent them.)


2.2

Although the passive allows us to omit the agent, sometimes we construct a passive sentence because we want to use a more formal style and not for any of the reason stated above. In such cases, we might want to mention the agent. This is mostly done by using the word by.

 

The machinery was serviced by a team of experienced technicians.


2.3.

When the agent is not a person or thing that acts, but rather a means through which something is done, we use the word with.

The door was opened with a crowbar.


2.4.

In relative clauses, the relative pronoun and 'BE' can be omitted.

Candidates who are selected for a second interview will be tested on their writing skills.

Candidates selected for a second interview will be tested on their writing skills.


The Agreement, which is signed by both parties, is not to be broken.

The Agreement, signed by both parties, is not to be broken.

 

2.5.

Adverbs in passive sentences are usually inserted between the “BE” and the Past Participle.

They were heavily penalized.

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Comments

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kinggg

kinggg

Turkey

thank u very much u r perfect techer :D

 

11:22 PM Jan 27 2009 |

muhannd

Syrian Arab Republic

thank you very much you are really  abrilliant teacher…..............Laughing

11:39 AM Jan 27 2009 |

Gome7

Gome7

Costa Rica

thnks….Cool

11:46 PM Jan 23 2009 |

dul sophy

Cambodia

Thanks, it is very important for me!Cry

07:00 AM Jan 22 2009 |

Darfoon

Sudan

nada , This is a very important lesson , thank you very much indeed .

05:03 PM Dec 14 2008 |

nad1a

nad1a

Greece

tracy, we keep in touch already and you're doing a great job.

 

to the rest, you can practice Passive Voice on centoir's recent forum thread in English talk, ACTIVE VOICE TO PASSIVE VOICE GAME

11:05 AM Dec 13 2008 |

tracygirl

Netherlands

i've had a lot of question on that matter. can i get in touch with you for more explanations please. i'm about to sit for ECCE exam? have any idea about it?

11:01 AM Dec 03 2008 |

shkurta

shkurta

Albania

u explain excelent every thing.Thnx thnx

09:25 PM Dec 02 2008 |

Naomi1010

Naomi1010

Taiwan

Tks for the description and it's really clear!! Cool

03:09 PM Nov 05 2008 |

nad1a

nad1a

Greece

I'm glad you guys liked it. Thank you.

01:21 PM Nov 01 2008 |

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