Comparing the Comparing the Passive Voice and Passive Voice and

the Present Perfectthe Present PerfectThe sample sentences in this The sample sentences in this

presentation come from a National presentation come from a National Geographic video about the Ankor Geographic video about the Ankor

temple complex in Cambodia:temple complex in Cambodia:http://video.nationalgeographic.http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/regions-com/video/player/places/regions-places/asia-southern/cambodia_places/asia-southern/cambodia_angkor.htmlangkor.html

The passive voice The passive voice changes the object changes the object of a verb into the of a verb into the subject. We use it subject. We use it

when the subject is when the subject is more important for more important for

some reason.some reason.

For example:For example:

Ankor Ankor is locatedis located in in Cambodia.Cambodia.

(Ankor’s location is the (Ankor’s location is the important idea in this important idea in this sentence. We are not sentence. We are not

concerned about who put, concerned about who put, or located it there.)or located it there.)

We often use the We often use the present perfect for present perfect for

an action that began an action that began in the past that in the past that continues in the continues in the

present, or is in some present, or is in some other way connected other way connected

to the present.to the present.

For example:For example:

Ankor Ankor has beenhas been an important an important Khmer Buddhist center since Khmer Buddhist center since

the 12the 12thth century. century.

(Ankor became an important (Ankor became an important Buddhist center in the 12Buddhist center in the 12thth

century, and it still is today.)century, and it still is today.)

To review past To review past participles, go the the participles, go the the English Page Irregular English Page Irregular Verb List.Verb List.

Now let’s look at some Now let’s look at some examples of passive voice examples of passive voice and present perfect in the and present perfect in the

text.text.

Started as a Started as a mausoleum for a mausoleum for a twelfth century twelfth century

Khmer king, it Khmer king, it was was expandedexpanded into a into a

representation of a representation of a celestial world.celestial world.

Started as a mausoleum for a Started as a mausoleum for a twelfth century Khmer king, it twelfth century Khmer king, it

was expandedwas expanded into a into a representation of a celestial representation of a celestial

world.world.

The verb is passive (was + past The verb is passive (was + past participle). People expanded the participle). People expanded the complex in the past, but it’s not complex in the past, but it’s not

important to say who did it. important to say who did it. Maybe we don’t even know.Maybe we don’t even know.

Colorful history of Colorful history of different regimes different regimes

and cultural and cultural influences influences has has

resultedresulted in today’s in today’s sprawling complex, sprawling complex,

full of unique full of unique corners.corners.

Colorful history of different Colorful history of different regimes and cultural regimes and cultural

influences influences has resultedhas resulted in in today’s sprawling complex, today’s sprawling complex,

full of unique corners.full of unique corners.

This verb is in the present This verb is in the present perfect (has + past perfect (has + past

participle). This connects a participle). This connects a process that went on in the process that went on in the past to the appearance of past to the appearance of

the complex today.the complex today.

Many parts of the Many parts of the Ankor complex, Ankor complex,

like the monastery like the monastery of Ta Phram, of Ta Phram, have have been reclaimedbeen reclaimed by by the surrounding the surrounding

vegetation.vegetation.

Many parts of the Ankor complex, Many parts of the Ankor complex, like the monastery of Ta Phrom, like the monastery of Ta Phrom, have have been reclaimedbeen reclaimed by the surrounding by the surrounding

vegetation.vegetation.

This verb is BOTH present perfect This verb is BOTH present perfect and passive. The surrounding and passive. The surrounding vegetation has reclaimed the vegetation has reclaimed the

monastery, but it’s the appearance of monastery, but it’s the appearance of the monastery that we are talking the monastery that we are talking

about, so we use the passive voice.about, so we use the passive voice.We can still see the effects of this We can still see the effects of this

process today, so we use the present process today, so we use the present perfect.perfect.

Here, the thick Here, the thick jungle jungle is festoonedis festooned

throughout the throughout the stonework.stonework.

Here, the thick jungle Here, the thick jungle is is festoonedfestooned throughout the throughout the

stonework.stonework.

The verb is passive; the The verb is passive; the jungle festoons (decorates) jungle festoons (decorates)

the stonework.the stonework.

Like many ancient Like many ancient structures, Ankor structures, Ankor is threatenedis threatened by by exposure to the exposure to the

elements.elements.

Like many ancient Like many ancient structures, Ankor structures, Ankor is is

threatenedthreatened by exposure to by exposure to the elements.the elements.

The verb is passive; The verb is passive; exposure to the elements exposure to the elements

threatens Ankor. But it is the threatens Ankor. But it is the condition of Ankor that we condition of Ankor that we are most worried about, so are most worried about, so

we use the passive to we use the passive to emphasize it.emphasize it.

In 1992, the In 1992, the complex complex was was

designateddesignated a World a World Heritage Site by Heritage Site by

UNESCO.UNESCO.

In 1992, the complex In 1992, the complex was was designateddesignated a World Heritage a World Heritage

Site by UNESCO.Site by UNESCO.

The verb is passive; UNESCO The verb is passive; UNESCO designated the complex a designated the complex a

World Heritage Site.World Heritage Site.

And in the years And in the years since, the since, the

international international community community has has

comecome together to together to preserve this preserve this

cultural treasure cultural treasure for future for future

generations.generations.

And in the years since, the And in the years since, the international community international community has has comecome together to preserve together to preserve this cultural treasure for this cultural treasure for

future generations.future generations.

This verb is in the present This verb is in the present perfect (has + past perfect (has + past

participle). The international participle). The international community is still working to community is still working to

preserve Ankor, so we use preserve Ankor, so we use the present perfect.the present perfect.

Present and Past Present and Past Participle Participle AdjectivesAdjectives

We often use a We often use a

present participle present participle as an adjective.as an adjective.

For example:For example:The video about The video about

Ankor is Ankor is interestinginteresting..

We also often use We also often use

a past participle as a past participle as an adjective.an adjective.For example:For example:

I am I am interested interested in in the video about the video about

Ankor.Ankor.

We use the present We use the present

participle to participle to describe the noun describe the noun

or noun phrase or noun phrase that is the subject that is the subject

of the verb:of the verb:

The video is The video is

interesting interesting = = The video interests The video interests

me.me.

We use the past We use the past

participle to participle to describe the noun describe the noun

or noun phrase or noun phrase that is the object that is the object

of the verb:of the verb:

I’m I’m interestedinterested in in

the videothe video = = The video interests The video interests

me.me.

Now let’s look at some Now let’s look at some examples present and examples present and

past participle adjectives past participle adjectives in the text.in the text.

StartedStarted as a mausoleum as a mausoleum for a 12th century Khmer for a 12th century Khmer

king …king …

Somebody started the Somebody started the mausoleum in the past, so mausoleum in the past, so we use the past participle we use the past participle

to describe the to describe the mausoleum.mausoleum.

The proportions here are The proportions here are astounding.astounding.

The proportions astound The proportions astound us, so we use the present us, so we use the present

participle to describe participle to describe them.them.

The The so-calledso-called city of city of temples reveals itself … temples reveals itself …

People call the place a People call the place a city of temples, so we use city of temples, so we use

the past participle.the past participle.

… … a labyrinth of a labyrinth of carved carved temples, galleries and temples, galleries and

stairways …stairways …

People carved the People carved the temples, galleries and temples, galleries and

stairways, so we use the stairways, so we use the past participle.past participle.

… … today’s today’s sprawling sprawling complex complex ……

The complex is sprawling. The complex is sprawling. I use the present I use the present

participle as an adjective.participle as an adjective.

……North of Ankor Wat is North of Ankor Wat is the the walledwalled city of Ankor city of Ankor

Thom …Thom …

In the past, people walled In the past, people walled this city = they build this city = they build

walls around it. I use the walls around it. I use the past participle adjective past participle adjective

to describe the city.to describe the city.

……North of Ankor Wat is North of Ankor Wat is the the walledwalled city of Ankor city of Ankor

Thom …Thom …

In the past, people walled In the past, people walled this city = they build this city = they build

walls around it. I use the walls around it. I use the past participle adjective past participle adjective

to describe the city.to describe the city.