Active versus Passive Voice

Da Vinci was a great painter, a genial scientist, a complete

artist. He is famous, so is his Mona Lisa. In the Active
Voice the message refers to the
man/painter/scientist/artist and what he did, what his
actions were, we look at da Vinci as a doer of different
actions.

In the Passive Voice the message highlights the works of

the man, of the painter, of the scientist, of the artist, for in
this case they (the actions done) are the reminder of
Leonardo da Vinci’s genius.

  

(subject/active) (main verb/active) (object/active)
Leonardo da Vinci painted The Mona Lisa. (the main verb is in the simple past tense.)

  

(subject/passive) (verb/passive) (object/passive)
The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
Auxiliary verb to be is in the simple past (the same tense as the main verb in the active)9 the
past participle of the main verb (the action done), that’s the rule!

1. Camões wrote
Lusíadas.
2. Shakespeare played his own plays.
3. Padre António Vieira used to read
sermons to the people of Lisbon.
4. Gil Vicente created fantastic
characters. 1. Everyone has written
love letters at some point in life.
2. Fernando Pessoa sent a lot of letters to
his friends.
3. I haven’t received any letters lately.
4. Famous companies are sending junk
mail to everyone.
1. Portuguese people prefer
wine to beer.
2. German people drink a lot of beer.
3. The Spaniards have drunk orchata for
a long time.
4. The French are still enjoying the
bubbling champagne. 1. Casablanca was directed
by Michael Curtis.
2. Robert de Niro has directed several
films.
3. Robert de Niro starred The Raging Bull.
4. Some people claim that Marilyn
Monroe was killed by federal agents.