UMBB-Faculty of Sciences-M’hammed Bougara University-Boumerdes

Department of Mathematics
Module: English Level: Master 1
Teacher: Miss Slimani Academic Year: 2019-2020

Lesson3: Paraphrasing: Active / Passive Voice:

*The passive voice is formed with the verb to be (in the appropriate tense) + past participle (of the main
verb)
NB: when rewriting active sentences into passive voice, note the following:
-(To be) is put in the tense of the active voice main verb.
-The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence (agent).
Examples:
1) The authorities destroy many fake products. (main verb is in the present simple)

- Many fake products are destroyed. (to be in the present simple+ past participle of the main verb)

2) The police arrested the criminal. (main verb is in the past simple)

-The criminal was arrested by the police. (to be in the past simple)+ (past participle of the main verb)

3) Costumers bought foreign products.

-Foreign products were bought by costumers.

4) The government will impose taxation. (main verb is in the future simple)

-Taxation will be imposed by the government. (to be in the future simple)+ (past participle of the main verb)

5) The students are organizing a graduation party. (main verb is in the present continuous)

-A graduation party is being organized by the students. (to be in the present continuous)+(p.p of the main v)

6) The students were organizing a graduation party. (the main verb is in the past continuous)

-A graduation party was being organized by the students. (to be in the past continuous+ p.p of the main v)

7) Samantha has given a good presentation. (main verb is in the present perfect: to have in the present
simple+ past participle of the verb)

-A good presentation has been given by Samantha. (to be in the present perfect: to have in the present+past
participle of to be)+ past participle of the main verb (to give).

8) Samantha had given a good presentation. (main verb is in the past perfect)

- A good presentation had been given by Samantha. (to be in the past perfect: to have in the past+ past
participle of to be)+ the past participle of the main verb.

1
*Passive Sentences with Two Objects:

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes

the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what

you want to put the focus on.

Example:

-Rita wrote a letter (object1) to me (object2)

A letter was written to me by Rita Or I was written a letter by Rita.

-Julian teaches English (object1) to the students (object2).

English is taught to the students by Julian. Or the students are taught English by Julian.

Activities:

Activity:

Rewrite the following sentences into passive form:

a. They will build a new bridge next year.

b. Brian Brody directed The Ultimate Space Adventure.

d. Someone found my wallet.

f. They will deliver my computer on Monday.

g. Mary invited Paul to her birthday party.

h. British astronomers discovered a new planet.

i. John gives Elizabeth a beautiful ring.

j. Fiona will tell the truth to Monika.

k. Sophia sold a car to a doctor.

l. The manager congratulates the employees.

m. A thief stole my purse.