ENGLISH GRAMMAR REPORT : GROUP SIXTH

Njaka- Fetra- Mampionona- Domohina- Safidiniaina- Ziona- Ando- Josoa

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
I- ACTIVE VOICE
The subjects perform the action denoted by the verb. The subject is doing the verb.
 He delivers the letters.
S V O
(There is an interchange of the place of Subject and the Object)
 The letters is delivered by the man.
S (o) V (P.p) O (s)
Rules:
- We must know where are the verb, subject and object in the sentence
- We must know the tense of verbs too.
- We must to know to conjugate the verb “to be” and learn the “past participle”
The interchange of subject- object
 He delivers the letters The letters is delivered by him (or the man)

II- PASSIVE VOICE

In the passive voice, the subject receives the action.
 The letters is delivered (by him)
Rules:
Passive SUBJECT + TO BE+ PAST PARTICIPLE (past participle) + OBJECT
 Passive voice sentences with 2 objects:
 Jack offered me a gift.
I was offered a gift by Jack
A gift was offered to me by Jack.
 IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
The impersonal passive is used with reporting verbs. It report with an unspecified group of
people say or believe.
Form:
It is know that the sun arises in the East.
We know that the sun arises in the East.
 The Passive Voice without an agent:

Examples
The invitation has been sent out.
The winner’s name is placed in
envelopes.
Active: Someone stole my wallet.
Passive: My wallet was stolen last
week.
Active: Someone told me that you
like movies.
Passive: I was told that you like
movies.
Explications
The passive voice is used when it is
not important to mention who
performate the action.
The passive voice is used when you
do not know the agent or when we
prefer not to mention the agent

1
ENGLISH GRAMMAR REPORT : GROUP SIXTH
Njaka- Fetra- Mampionona- Domohina- Safidiniaina- Ziona- Ando- Josoa
 IMPERATIVE PASSIVE
Changing imperative sentences into passive voice
A sentence that expresses a request, an advice or an order is called an imperative sentence.
 Respect the older (advice)
 Don’t waste your time (advice)
 Open the door (order)
 Don’t make a noise (order)
 Please help me (request)

The way of converting imperative sentence into passive voice is a bit different than that for
ordinary sentences.
- In imperative sentence, the subject is not directly mentioned.
- It reflects a message conveyed to the listener in form of advice, request or order.
The listener of the sentence is basically the subject for the stated message, but it is not
mentioned in the sentence.

Rules for converting IMPERATIVE sentences from active voice into passive voice

- The imperative sentence in passive always starts with the word « LET »
- The word « BE » is used as an auxiliary in the passive.
- The 1st form of verb (in imperative sentences in active voice, it is generally used)
infinitive without TO
(Speak) is changed into 3rd form of verb.
(Past participle = spoken) for making passive voice of the imperative sentences.

Respect the older = respect is the 1st form.

LET+ OBJECT+ BE+PP

LET the older BE respected.

LET your time not be wasted.
LET the door be opened.
LET a noise not be made.
LET me be helped.

VERBE WITH TWO OBJECTS

Some verbs have 2 objects: Direct Object (D.O) and Indirect Object (I.O)
AV: They gave Spielberg an award. = Spielberg
PV1: Spielberg was given an award.
PV2: An award was given to Spielberg.
Explication:
When an active sentence has two objects, the passive sentence can begin with either
object. Notice that if the DO (an award) becomes the subject of the passive sentence,
TO is used before the IO.
Language note: some verbs that use two objects are:
Bring, give, hand, lend, often, owe, pay, sell, serve, show, take, teach, tell, and write

2
ENGLISH GRAMMAR REPORT : GROUP SIXTH
Njaka- Fetra- Mampionona- Domohina- Safidiniaina- Ziona- Ando- Josoa

CHANGE OF VERB

ACTIVE PASSIVE

1) PRESENT SIMPLE To be+ V(PP)

- The cat kills the mice. The mice are killed by the cat

2) PAST SIMPLE Past to be + PP

- The company hired new workers New workers were hired by the
last year. company..

3) PRESENT CONTINUOUS
- Michael is writing a poem. A poem is being wrote by Michael.

4) PRESENT PERFECT
- They have already discussed the The book has already been discussed.
book.

5) FUTURE SIMPLE
- The company will hire new New workers will be hired by the
workers. company.

6) MODALS The letters must be delivered.

- She must deliver the letters.

7) PAST PERFECT The letters had been delivered (by him)

- He had delivered the letters.