Passive VoicePassive Voice

Helpful notes by E.F. Adapted from Carmen Torres

When the agent is unknown– Spanish "SE" : Se venden pisos.

– Flats are sold– Subject is omitted: Le dieron un beso a Pepita.

- Pepita was given a kiss.

To make the object of the active verb more important

America was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus

When the description of the agent is very long

A charity record has been made by many famous names in the world of pop music.

When do we use it?When do we use it?

BE BE in the tense of the action

the principal verb in Past ParticiplePast Participle

THE PASSIVE VERBTHE PASSIVE VERBto BE + Past Participle to BE + Past Participle + {complements} + {complements} + by – agent+ by – agent

(in the active tense) + (main verb) (in the active tense) + (main verb) + {if needed} + {if needed}

ACTIVE PASSIVE

She wants an ice-cream An ice-cream is wanted

He sent a letter A letter was sent

We will buy a new car next week A new car will be bought

They have been cutting the grass The grass has been being cut

The agent The agent of the action [the subject in the active voice]

The passive sentence IThe passive sentence IACTIVE VOICEACTIVE VOICE

Active Subject

Active Verb

Direct Object

Robert found a coina coin

byPassive Verb

Passive Subject

Agent

PASSIVE VOICEPASSIVE VOICE A coin A coin was found by Robert

The passive sentence II: The passive sentence II: two-complement verbstwo-complement verbs

ACTIVE VOICEACTIVE VOICE

Active Subject

Active Verb

Direct Object

Indirect Object

Robert gave a coin TomTomto

byDirect Object

Passive Verb

Passive Subject

Agent

PASSIVE VOICEPASSIVE VOICEby Robertby Robert A coin A coin was given was given

to to TomTom

TomTom was given was given a coin a coin

by Robertby Robert

1/They built this housethis house in 14662/ This house This house was built was built in 1466

1/ Channel islanders speak French & EnglishFrench & English2/ French & English French & English are spoken are spoken by Channel islanders

1/ This book will change your lifeyour life2/ Your life Your life will be changed will be changed by this book

ExamplesExamples

1/ They have cut the grassthe grass2/ The grass The grass has been cuthas been cut

1/ My mother is going to give meme a present2/ I I am going to be given am going to be given a present by my mother1/ Susan wrote an e-mail to himto him1/ He was written was written an e-mail by Susan

ExamplesExamples

1/ They can’t answer your questionyour question2/ Your question Your question can’t be answeredcan’t be answered

1/ Someone had to take her her to hospital after this2/ She had to be takenhad to be taken to hospital after the crash

1/ They shouldn’t allow the children the children to do these things 2/ The children The children shouldn’t be allowed shouldn’t be allowed to do these things

1/ 1/ SomeoneSomeone must tell must tell him him if we want him to knowif we want him to know2/ 2/ He He must be told must be told if we want him to know

More examplesMore examples

Structure of the verbStructure of the verbTENSES EXAMPLES

Present Simple Pigs are often used to find truffles

Present Continuous My house is being redecorated at the moment

Present Perfect I have never been given flowers on my birthday

Past Simple This picture was painted by Picasso

Past Continuous When I saw him he was being followed by the police

Past Perfect She was angry because she had already been told three times

Future Simple When you get there everything will be finished

Going to - Future They are not going to be easily convinced

Conditional Simple You would be punished if they found out

Conditional Perfect If you hadn’t told them would I have been invited?

GETGET is used instead of BEBE with passive meaning. Informal English.

I got stuck in a traffic jamShe is getting married

After NEEDNEED/WANTWANT the -ing form can be used with passive meaning

This job needs doingThat room wants cleaning

EXTENSION I: get, need, wantEXTENSION I: get, need, want

HAVE/ GET somethingsomething done: Arranging for or paying for somebody to do something for you. (Get is more informal).

He had his hair his hair cutShe got her carpet her carpet cleanedWe have had our car our car mendedThey had got their book their book translated

More passive stuffMore passive stuff

HAVE + HAVE + ObjectObject + + Past ParticiplePast Participle

EXTENSION II: get/haveEXTENSION II: get/have

Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say, Report, Know, Expect, Feel, Understand, Find1. Introductory IT is used

It is said is said that he started the firehe started the fireIt is thought is thought that she doesn't live in Londonshe doesn't live in LondonIt was known was known that the King is coming tomorrowthe King is coming tomorrow

More passive stuffMore passive stuff

IT + passive verb + complete subordinate sentence without changes

EXTENSION III: EXTENSION III: said, believed, thoughtsaid, believed, thought

Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say, Report, Know, Expect, Feel, Understand, Find

It is said is said that he started the fire he started the fire (action in the Past)He He is said is said to have started to have started the fire the fire (Infinitive Perfect)It is thought is thought that she doesn't live in London she doesn't live in London (Present)She She is thought is thought to live to live in London in London (Infinitive Present)

More passive stuffMore passive stuff

Subordinate subject + verb passive + subordinate active verb in INFINITIVE.

EXTENSION III: EXTENSION III: said, believed, thoughtsaid, believed, thought