Passive voice Prepared by Koyantayeva Makbal. Form Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs) Example: A letter. - презентация

1 Passive voice Prepared by Koyantayeva Makbal

2 Form Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs) Example: A letter was written. When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following: the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle) the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

3 Past simple I drew the picture The picture was drawn by me

4 Present continuous My friends are waiting for me in the hall I am being waited by my friends in the hall

5 TenseActivePassive present simpleI make a cake.A cake is made (by me). present continuousI am making a cake. A cake is being made (by me). past simpleI made a cake.A cake was made (by me). past continuousI was making a cake. A cake was being made (by me). present perfectI have made a cake. A cake has been made (by me). pres. perf. continuous I have been making a cake. A cake has been being made(by me). past perfectI had made a cake. A cake had been made (by me). future simpleI will make a cake. A cake will be made (by me). future perfectI will have made a cake. A cake will have been made (by me).

6 Passive Sentences with Two Objects SubjectVerbObject 1Object 2 Active:Ritawrotea letterto me. Passive:A letterwas writtento meby Rita. Passive:Iwas writtena letterby Rita.

7 Personal and impersonal passive They build houses. – Houses are built. he says – it is said

8 When should we use the Passive? When we want to change the focus of the sentence: The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. (We are more interested in the painting than the artist in this sentence) When who or what causes the action is unknown or unimportant or obvious or 'people in general': He was arrested (obvious agent, the police). My bike has been stolen (unknown agent). The road is being repaired (unimportant agent). The form can be obtained from the post office (people in general).

9 In factual or scientific writing: The chemical is placed in a test tube and the data entered into the computer. In formal writing instead of using someone/ people/ they (these can be used in speaking or informal writing): The brochure will be finished next month.

10 In order to put the new information at the end of the sentence to improve style: Three books are used regularly in the class. The books were written by Dr. Bell. ('Dr. Bell wrote the books' sound clumsy) When the subject is very long: I was surprised by how well the students did in the test. (More natural than: 'how well the students did in the test surprised me')