VELAZQUEZ VIDAL LESLIE VANESSA 5IV14

Self-study guide
1. define / describe the passive form of verbs

In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing
doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form
if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized. You
can also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to
mention who is doing the action.

2. list usages or functions

 To emphasize the object of the sentence in active voice.
 When is the subject of the sentence in active voice not clear
 In technical and scientific texts.

3. note down features or special characterstics

 the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
 subject + auxiliary verb (be) + main verb (past participle)
 the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
 the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is
dropped)

4. Exemplify cases
 Harry ate six shrimp at dinner.
At dinner, six shrimp were eaten by Harry.

 Helen ate all of the cookies.

All of the cookies were eaten by Helen.

 Sue changed the flat tire.

The flat tire was changed by Sue.

 We are going to watch a movie tonight.

A movie is going to be watched by us tonight.

 I ran the obstacle course in record time.

The obstacle course was run by me in record time.

5. provide with series of excersice (at least 20 items)

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1. He opens the door. - The door is opened by him.
2. We set the table. - The table is set by us.
3. She pays a lot of money. - A lot of money is paid by her.
4. I draw a picture. - A picture is drawn by me.
5. They wear blue shoes. - Blue shoes are worn by them.
6. They don't help you. - You are not helped by them.
7. He doesn't open the book. - The book is not opened by him.
8. You do not write the letter. - The letter is not written by you.
VELAZQUEZ VIDAL LESLIE VANESSA 5IV14

9. Does your mum pick you up? - Are you picked up by your mum?
10. Does the police officer catch the thief? - Is the thief caught by the police officer?

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1. She sang a song. - A song was sung by her.
2. Somebody hit me. - I was hit by somebody.
3. We stopped the bus. - The bus was stopped by us.
4. A thief stole my car. - My car was stolen by a thief.
5. They didn't let him go. - He was not let go by them.
6. She didn't win the prize. - The prize was not won by her.
7. They didn't make their beds. - Their beds were not made by them.
8. I did not tell them. - They were not told by me.
9. Did you tell them? - Were they told by you?
10. Did he send the letter? - Was the letter sent by him?