THE PASSIVE VOICE

 How do we form the passive?

• The mechanic repaired my car.

[SUBJECT + VERB + DIRECT OBJECT]

• My car was repaired by the mechanic.

[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.

[PASSIVE SUBJECT + VERB + INDIRECT OBJECT+ PASSIVE AGENT]

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.