Passive VoicePassive VoicePresent simple and continuous,

Past simple and continuous.

Aim of this class

• To talk about different issueshighlighting the action instead of highlighting the action instead of

the doer.

Then again… When do we use the Passive Voice?

The Passive Voice?

• The passive voice is used when the attention is on the action. It is not important or unknown, however, who or what are performing the action.

Example: An involuntary mistake was made in the tax return.(Passive)

• In that case, we focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but we do not • In that case, we focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but we do not blame anyone. Let us look this other example.

Example: They made an involuntary mistake in the tax return.(Active voice)

• In the example above the focus is on the ones performing the action. In this case “They,” of course we could write names to be even more precise but let us not get sidetracked by issues unrelated to grammar.

So… How do we properly use thepassive voice?

Let us see the formula for success!

Form of the Passive Voice

• Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: The dog wrote a letter -> A letter was written (by the dog).

• When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the • When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

a. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence

b. the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)

c. the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

It seems complicated but we are almostthere…

ALMOST THERE!

Let us see the box of tenses.

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.Past Passive: A letter was written by Rita.

PresentContinuous

Active: Rita is writing a letter.

Passive: A letteris being written

by Rita.

PastContinuous

Active: Rita was writing a letter.

Passive: A letterwas being written

by Rita.

Ok. Time to exercise our knowledge!

Are you ready?

Let’s go!

Change from active to passive in present simple tense

He opens the door.

The door is opened by him.

We set the table.

The table is set by us.

They wear blue shoes.

Blue shoes are worn by them. Blue shoes are worn by them.

They don't help you.

You are not helped by them.

He doesn't open the book.

The book is not opened by him.

You do not write the letter.

The letter is not written by you.

Does your mum pick you up?

Are you picked up by your mum?

One more time, now in past simple.

Change from active to passive in pastsimple tense

She sang a song.

A song was sung by her.

We stopped the bus.

The bus was stopped by us.

They didn't let him go.

He was not let go by them. He was not let go by them.

She didn't win the prize.

The prize was not won by her.

They didn't make their beds.

Their beds were not made by them.

Did you tell them?.

Were they told by you?.

Did he send the letter?

Was the letter sent by him?

How about present continuous now?

Change from active to passive in present continuous tense

Sheila is drinking a cup of tea.

A cup of tea is being drunk by Sheila.

My father is washing the car.

The car is being washed by my father.

She is taking a picture of him.

A picture of him is being taken by her. A picture of him is being taken by her.

I am writing a poem.

A poem is being written by me.

He is not wearing a tie.

A tie is not being worn by him.

Is she preparing the party?.

Is the party being prepared by her?.

Are they talking about the meeting?

Is the meeting being talked about by them?

Just one left. Are we ready for the pastcontinuous?

Change from active to passive in pastcontinuous tenseWe were talking about Francis.

Francis was being talked about by us.

He was playing the guitar.

The guitar was being played by him.

She was watching a film.

film was being watched by her. film was being watched by her.

I was repairing their bikes.

Their bikes were being repaired by me.

They were not eating dinner.

Dinner was not being eaten by them.

We were not painting the gate.

The gate was not being painted by us.

Were they carrying bags?

Were bags being carried by them?

That was amazing!

Ok. Time to go now.

But… before than that… What did we learntoday?

Excellent! Time to go now!Excellent! Time to go now!