What happened?

Tom bought a new mobile phone.

A new mobile phone was bought by Tom.

DOER

DOER

(Subject)

(Object)

What happened?

Tom bought a new mobile phone.

A new mobile phone was bought by Tom.

DOER

DOER

(Subject)

(Object)(Subject)

Emphasis – more IMPORTANTRECEIVER

What happened?

Tom bought a new mobile phone.

A new mobile phone was bought by Tom.

DOER

(Subject)

(Object)(Subject)

DOERRECEIVER

What happened?

Tom bought a new mobile phone.

A new mobile phone was bought by Tom. .

DOER

(Subject)

(Subject)

RECEIVER DOER

Passive VoicePassive VoiceWhat are you going to learn?

1. When to Use Passive Voice

2. Structure of Passive Sentences

3. Passive Verbs in Tenses

4. Passive with Two Objects

5. Causative Passive

1. When Do We Use Passive Voice?

A. When the RECEIVER of an action is the EMPHASIS

B. When it is NOT NECESSARY to mention the DOER of an action

C. When the DOER of an action is NOT KNOWN

1.A. When the RECEIVER of the action is the EMPHASIS

Example:

Look! A mermaid is found by the fishermen!

What is the main message of the sentence?

As the emphasis is on the mermaid, we start the sentence with ‘A mermaid’ to attract readers’ attention to the receiver of the action.

Example:

This table is reserved for Hong Kong people.

As the emphasis is on the table, we start the sentence with ‘This table’ to attract readers’ attention to the receiver of the action.

1.B. When it is NOT NECESSARY to mention the DOER of the action

Example:

I was born in August.

Is it necessary to mention WHO gave birth to you?

(Who else would it be if not your mom??!!)

As the doer of the action is understood, we can omit it and start the sentence with the receiver of the action, i.e.‘I’.

1.C. When the DOER is NOT KNOWN

Example:

Miss Leung’s diamond ring was stolen!!

Who stole the ring?

We do not know who stole the diamond ring.

So, the doer is not known. Instead of starting the sentence with ‘somebody’, i.e., ‘Somebody stole Miss Leung’s diamond ring’, we can omit the doer of the action and start the sentence with the receiver of the action, i.e., ‘Miss Leung’s diamond ring’.

2. Structure of Passive Sentences

Active: S + V + O

Passive: S + Be + past participle+ by + O

EX: My father planted this tree last year.This tree was planted by my father last year.

3. Passive Verbs

Syntactic Structure

ACTIVE ----------------------- PASSIVE

e.g. eats ----------------------- is eaten

i.e. verb ----------------------- be + p.p.

Note: “be” is changed according to the tense of the sentence the number (singular/plural) of the subject of the

sentence.

3. Passive Verbs

3.1 Present Tenses

Tenses Active Passive

Present - Simple -eats -is eaten

- Continuous -is eating -is being eaten

- Perfect -has eaten -has been eaten

3.2 Past TensesNow, try to complete the following table:

Tenses Active Passive

Past - Simple -ate

- Continuous -was eating

- Perfect -had eaten

ANSWERS

Tenses Active Passive

Past - Simple -ate -was eaten

- Continuous -was eating -was being eaten

- Perfect -had eaten -had been eaten

3.3 Future TensesPlease complete the following table:

Tense Active Passive

Future - Simple -will eat

- Going to - is going to eat

ANSWERS

Tense Active Passive

Future - Simple -will eat -will be eaten

- Going to - is going to eat - is going to be eaten

Some examples:

• He is writing a novel at the moment.A novel is being written (by him) at the

moment.

• He reads books every day.Books are read (by him) every day.• He has just finished a novel.A novel has just been finished (by

him).

Some practice:

• Japanese people will export many cars next year.

• We can’t solve this problem.• They have opened a new bank in my town.• Cervantes wrote Don Quixote in 1605.• She’s going to publish a new novel.• People speak English all over the world.• Somebody had painted my front door.

Answers:

• Many cars will be exported by J. people next year.

• This problem can’t be solved (by us).• A new bank has been opened in my town.• Don Quixote was written (by Cervantes) in

1605.• A new novel is going to be published (by her).• English is spoken all over the world.• My front door had painted been painted.

4. Passive with two objects

Active: S + V + IO + DO

Passive 1: S + Be +past part.+ DO+ by + OPassive 2: S + Be + p ast part. + to + IO+ by + O

E.g. They gave Mary a dress for her birthday.

1: Mary was given a dress for her birthday.

2: A dress was given to Mary for her birthday.

Some practice:

• They offered him a salary increase.• We can’t give our staff better working

conditions.• They asked me a lot of questions at the

interview.• My friend told me a secret.• Those children have taught us a lesson.

Answers:

• He was offered a salary increase.• Our staff can’t be given better working

conditions.• I was asked a lot of questions at the

interview.• I was told a secret (by my friend).• We have been taught a lesson (by those

children).

5. Causative Passive

Structure: S + Has/Have/Get + O2 + PP

Use: when the subject is not the real doer, s/he just makes another person do the action.

My father had his car washed (by Tom).I’m having my wedding dress made (by V&L).She’ll have her hair cut (by her hairdresser).

Some practice:

Estoy arreglando el coche (¡no yo!).

A María se hizo una casa nueva (¡ella no!).

¿Te vas a cortar el pelo? (¡tú no!)

Answers:

I’m having my car repaired.

María had a new house built.

Are you going to have your hair cut?

Relevant Websites

http://www.english4us.com

http://www.telenex.hku.hk

You HAVE BEEN TAUGHT:

when to use passive voice

Congratulations!!

You HAVE BEEN TAUGHT:

when to use passive voice

how to form passive verbs

3 types of passive sentences

Give yourselves a BIG BIG HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!