Using the

Passive Voice
 Using the Passive Voice

• Definitions

• Changing to the passive voice

• Practice examples
 Active Voice vs. Passive Voice

• Active voice takes the form “A does B”

• We chose the plastic film to cover the microphone

• Passive voice takes the form “B is done (by A)”

• Plastic film was chosen (by us) to cover the microphone
 Active Voice: Subjects Perform an Act
Active voice
We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.

Subject Verb Object

 Active Voice: Subjects Perform an Act
Active voice
We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.

Subject Verb Object

Passive voice
Plastic film … was chosen … to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object
 Active Voice: Subjects Perform an Act
Third person, but active voice
The team ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object

Passive voice
Plastic film … was chosen … to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object
 Using the Passive Voice

• Definitions

• Changing to the passive voice

• Practice examples
 Combine “To be” + Past Participle

• “To be” is very irregular:

Present Tense Past Tense
1st person I am We are I was We were
2nd person You are You are You were You were
3rd person He, she, it is They are He, she, it was They were

• Past participles usually add “-ed” or “-t”: presented,

measured, built, burnt

• Irregular past principles must be memorized

 Omit the “Agent” of the Action
• Active
• Workers installed burglar alarms.

• Passive, with agent

• Burglar alarms were installed by the workers.

• Passive, with the agent omitted

• Burglar alarms were installed.
• Complete the sentences. Use the following verbs into
suitable gaps with the passive (Present or Past)
 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours. A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours. A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours. A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours. Three projects were finished in eight hours.
 Using the Passive Voice
• Definitions

• Changing to the passive voice

• Practice examples
 Practice 1
1. The police have arrested two bank robbers.
Two bank robbers have been arrested .

2. They found the robbers late last night.

The robbers were found late last night.

3. They are also investigating another robbery in the area.

Another robbery is being investigated in the area.

4. Thieves have stolen two paintings from the local art gallery.
Two paintings have been stolen from the local art gallery.
5. They took the paintings during the night.
The paintings were taken during the night
6.The police have found one of the stolen pictures.
One of the stolen pictures has been found by police.

7. They are organizing a national search for the other.

A national search is being organized for the other.
8. The art gallery usually keeps the most important paintings
in a safe room.
The most important paintings are usually kept in a safe room.
9. During April you can see the paintings in a special exhibition.
The paintings can be seen in a special exhibition.
10.The police are watching the art gallery day and night to prevent
further robberies.
The art gallery is being watched day and night to be prevented
further robberies.
 Practice 2
Clean damage find give invite make show steal take

1. The room …………………………. every day.

2. I saw an accident yesterday. Two people ………………to
hospital.
3. Paper ……………………………………. from wood.
4. There was a fire at the hotel last week. Two of the rooms
…………. .
5. Where did you get this picture? It ………….to me by a
friend of mine.
 Homework
• Turn the following from active into passive.
1.Which painting did they eventually choose?
Which painting was eventually chosen?
2. They will change the arrangement again.
the arrangement will be changed again.
3. She must pay bill on time.
Bill must be paid on time.
4. He wasn’t allowed to buy it.
it wasn’t allowed to buy.
5. Someone has thrown the report away.
The report has been thrown away.
6. They will appoint him as new chairman?
Will he be appointed as new chairman?
7. Someone started this meeting two hours ago.
This meeting was started two hours ago.
8. Everyone knows that smoking is dangerous.
It is known that smoking is dangerous
Smoking is known to be dangerous.
•Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
1. John collects money.______________________
2. Anna opened the window.__________________
3. We have done our homework. ______________
4. I will ask a question. ______________________
5. He can cut out the picture. _________________
6. The sheep ate a lot. _______________________
7. We do not clean our rooms. ________________
8. William will not repair the car.______________
9. Did Sue draw this circle? __________________
10.Could you feed the dog? __________________
6. Many American programmers ……… on British television.
7. Did Jim and Sue go to the wedding?
No. They………………. but they didn’t go.
8. How old this film? It ………………………….in 1965.
9. My car …………………………………last week but the next day
it ………………….by the police.