GRAMMAR II

CHAPTER EIGHT
THE PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION
What is the passive voice?
- In general we tend to use the active voice. That is when a subject does an
action to an object:

Somebody stole my laptop.

(subject = Somebody / action(verb) = stole / object = my laptop)

- The passive voice is used when we want to emphasize the action (the verb)
and the object of a sentence rather than subject. This means that the subject
is either less important than the action itself or that we don’t know who or
what the subject is.

My laptop was stolen.

(The object – now the subject = My laptop / action= was stolen)
 CHAPTER EIGHT
THE PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION
The passive construction is often used in the following situations:

1- The speaker considers the performer of the act expressed by the verb
unimportant or not essential to the meaning he wishes to convey:
Harvard was founded in 1636.
The United Nations Charter was signed in 1945.
George was wounded in the war.
(In these statements the founders of Harvard, the signers of the Charter, and
the agent that wounded George are not particularly important in conveying
the information given.)
My brother gave me a laptop on my last birthday
My laptop was given to me on my last birthday by my brother
I was given a laptop on my last birthday by my brother
 CHAPTER EIGHT
THE PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION
The passive construction is often used in the following situations:

2- The speaker wishes to emphasize the receiver of the activity expressed

by the verb (the subject in the passive construction):
The man was hit by a speeding car.
The books was given to me by the instructor.

3- The speaker wishes to make a statement seem objective or impersonal:

It is believed that the political situation is critical.
It is thought by experts that the project will fail.
 CHAPTER EIGHT
THE PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION
 CHAPTER EIGHT
THE PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION
Tense passive

Present simple Is/am/are + p.p.v

Past simple Was/were + p.p.v

Present progressive Is/am/are + being + p.p.v

Past progressive Was/were + being + p.p.v.

Present perfect Has/have + been + p.p.v.

Past perfect Had been + p.p.v.

Going to Is/are/am + going to be + p.p.v

Will Will be + p.p.v.

modals Modal + be + p.p.v

 CHAPTER EIGHT
THE PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION
1- Jaime writes 20 emails everyday.
….are written….
2- Daniela broke my laptop last night.
------was broken……
3- Susan is painting my bedroom now.
……..is being painted….
4- Belen and Angeles were teaching English yesterday.
…….was being taught……
5- They have built a new restaurant near my house
……has been built……
6- Somebody had stolen my dog.
……..had been stolen….
 CHAPTER EIGHT
Actions are more important than the person who
do them

1- Who are your university studies paid by?

……….are paid by my father.
My father pays my studies.

2- Have you ever been attacked by a dog?

No, I have never been attacked by a dog.

3- What were you given on your last birthday?

I was given a book.
 CHAPTER EIGHT
Personal and Impersonal Passive
 CHAPTER EIGHT
Passive Voice links to practice

https://agendaweb.org/verbs/passive-voice-intermediate-exercises.html

https://agendaweb.org/verbs/passive-voice-exercises.html

https://agendaweb.org/verbs/passive-voice-advanced-exercises.html

https://agendaweb.org/verbs/passive-verbs-exercises.html

https://agendaweb.org/verbs/passive-mixed-tenses-exercises.html