Monday 5 November 2012

The Passive Voice

Use of Passive
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).
Form of Passive
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)
Examples of Passive
Tense
Subject
Verb
Object
Simple Present
Active:
Rita
writes
a letter.
Passive:
A letter
is written
by Rita.
Simple Past
Active:
Rita
wrote
a letter.
Passive:
A letter
was written
by Rita.
Present Perfect
Active:
Rita
has written
a letter.
Passive:
A letter
has been written
by Rita.
Future I
Active:
Rita
will write
a letter.
Passive:
A letter
will be written
by Rita.
Hilfsverben
Active:
Rita
can write
a letter.
Passive:
A letter
can be written
by Rita.
TenseSubjectVerbObject
Present ProgressiveActive:Ritais writinga letter.
Passive:A letteris being writtenby Rita.
Past ProgressiveActive:Ritawas writinga letter.
Passive:A letterwas being writtenby Rita.
Past PerfectActive:Ritahad writtena letter.
Passive:A letterhad been writtenby Rita.
Future IIActive:Ritawill have writtena letter.
Passive:A letterwill have been writtenby Rita.
Conditional IActive:Ritawould writea letter.
Passive:A letterwould be writtenby Rita.
Conditional IIActive:Ritawould have writtena letter.
Passive:A letterwould have been writtenby Rita.
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.
SubjectVerbObject 1Object 2
Active:Ritawrotea letterto me.
Passive:A letterwas writtento meby Rita.
Passive:Iwas writtena letterby Rita.
As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. Thats why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive
Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.
Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.
Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is calledImpersonal Passive.
Example: he says – it is said
Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer than men.
Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer than men.
The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).
Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.

Exercises

Elementary
Exercise 1 (new)
1. Guess the Voice and the Tense. 2. Make the sentences Passive. 3. Make up the sentences using the Passive Voice. 4. Ask questions beginning with the question-words.
Exercise 2 (new)
Turn the following active constructions into passive.
Exercise 3 (new)
Turn the following active constructions into passive.
Exercise 4 (new)
Turn the following active constructions into passive.
Exercise 5 (new)
Turn the following active constructions into passive.
Exercise 6 (new)
Put the following sentences into the passive voice.
Put the following statements into the passive voice.
Exercise 8
Change the following sentences from the Active voice to the passive voice.
Exercise 9
Choose the right answer.
Exercise 10 (new)
1. Complete the sentences with the correct passive tense. 2. Write sentences and questions in the passive. 3. Complete the conditional sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
Exercise 11 (new)
Rewrite the sentences using the passive voice.
Exercise 12 (new)
Change these sentences from active to passive voice.

Intermediate
1. Translate into English, using verbs in the required time. 2. Choose the right answer.
Exercise 2
Choose the best way to complete these passive voice sentences.
Exercise 3
Choose the best way to complete these passive voice sentences.
Exercise 4
Choose the best way to complete these passive voice sentences.
Exercise 5
Put the verb in parentheses () into the passive voice. Use past simple passive only. 
Exercise 6
Correct the mistakes in these passive voice sentences. 
Exercise 7
Correct the mistakes in these passive voice sentences.
Choose the best way to complete these passive voice sentences.
Correct the mistakes in these passive voice sentences.
Choose the best way to complete these passive voice sentences.
Exercise 11 (new)
1. Match each sentence with the appropriate oppsite picture "a" or "b". 2. Write the corresponding letter the box provided.
Exercise 12 (new)
Put the following sentences into the passive voice.

Advanced
Exercise 1
Fill the gaps with the correct tenses (active or passive voice).
Exercise 2
Choose the right verb.
Exercise 3
1. Fill in the missing word in each sentence- one word in each sentence. 2. Choose the correct words. 3. Rewrite the following sentences in the Passive Voice.
Exercise 4
Rewrite the sentence given in the example in passive voice. Use the correct tense.
Exercise 5
Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets.
Exercise 6
Complete the questions with the verbs in brackets.
Exercise 7
Rewrite the sentences in the more natural form of passive voice.
Exercise 8
Rewrite the sentences. Use the passive voice and keep the same tense.
Exercise 9
Make sentences in passive voice. Use the correct tense.
Exercise 10
Make questions in passive voice.
Exercise 11 (new)
Choose the best way to complete these passive voice sentences.
Exercise 12 (new)
Rewrite the following sentences in the Passive Voice.

Test
Key


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