The document discusses how to form the passive voice in English. It can be formed by using either the direct or indirect object of an active sentence as the passive subject, along with the appropriate auxiliary verb and past participle of the main verb. The document also explains how to form the passive voice across different verb tenses and provides examples of when the passive voice is commonly used, such as when the agent is unknown or less important than the subject.
The document discusses how to form the passive voice in English. It can be formed by using either the direct or indirect object of an active sentence as the passive subject, along with the appropriate auxiliary verb and past participle of the main verb. The document also explains how to form the passive voice across different verb tenses and provides examples of when the passive voice is commonly used, such as when the agent is unknown or less important than the subject.
The document discusses how to form the passive voice in English. It can be formed by using either the direct or indirect object of an active sentence as the passive subject, along with the appropriate auxiliary verb and past participle of the main verb. The document also explains how to form the passive voice across different verb tenses and provides examples of when the passive voice is commonly used, such as when the agent is unknown or less important than the subject.
[PASSIVE SUBJECT + VERB + PASSIVE AGENT] How do we form the passive? Unlike in Spanish, in English it’s possible to form a passive sentences using either the direct or the indirect object.
My sister has given me an important letter.
[SUBJECT + VERB + INDIRECT OBJECT + DIRECT OBJECT]
An important letter has been given to me by my sister.
I have been given an important letter by my sister.
[PASSIVE SUBJECT + VERB + DIRECT OBJECT+ PASSIVE AGENT] How do we form the different verb tenses?
VERB TENSE AUXILIARY MAIN VERB
PRESENT SIMPLE am/is/are repaired PRESENT CONTINUOUS am/is/are being repaired PRESENT PERFECT has/have been repaired PAST SIMPLE was/were repaired PAST CONTINUOUS was/were being repaired PAST PERFECT had been repaired FUTURE SIMPLE will be repaired (…) (…) (…) WHEN DO WE USE THE PASSIVE VOICE? My bike was stolen yesterday. Somebody stole my bike yesterday.
We often use the passive voice when we don’t say, we don’t know, or we don’t care who does the action.
Steven Spielberg directed Jurassic Park.
Jurassic Park was directed by Steven Spielberg.
In the first sentence, the focus of attention is on the director.
In the second sentence, the focus of attention is on the film.