The Passive Voice

Nicolás Morilla Pino

Use of the Passive Voice

The passive voice is often used when we want to emphasize the action which affects the object and the object or person itself, rather than the subject that performs it.

They gave Mary some money for her birthday.

Some money was given to Mary for her birthday.Mary was given some money for her birthday.

Form of the Passive VerbThe structure of the passive voice consists of having the verb to

be in the same verb tense of the active voice followed by the past participle of the main verb in the active sentence.

Present Simple: use/-s --- is/are usedPast Simple: designed --- was/were designed

Present Perfect: have/has produced --- have/has been produced

Past Perfect Simple: had drunk --- had been drunkFuture with will: will deliver --- will be delivered

Future with going to: is/are going to add --- is/are going to be added

Modal Verb: must reveal --- must be revealedcan make --- can be made

should write --- should be written

Active to Passive Transformation

1. Identify the subject and the object of the active sentence: The thief stole my wallet. Look at the verb tense of the main verb, in this example past simple.

2. The object in the active sentence is the subject of the passive.The verb to be is added in the verb tense of the main verb of the active, that is, past simple. And the subject is now the agent introduced by the preposition ‘by’.

My wallet was stolen (by the thief).

3. The agent can be omitted when we take it for granted or it is not important to understand the meaning of the sentence.

5 Sentences in Active Voice

1. Only two managers know it.It is known by two managers.

2. They use water and sugar.Water and sugar are used.

3. They designed different tags.Different tags were designed.

4. They have to treat this water.This water has to be treated.

5. They add the secret composition.The secret composition is added.

5 Sentences in Active Voice

1. Only two managers know it.It is known by two managers.

2. They use water and sugar.Water and sugar are used.

3. They designed different tags.Different tags were designed.

4. They have to treat this water.This water has to be treated.

5. They add the secret composition.The secret composition is added.