Passive Voice Grammar Reference

PASSIVE VOICE - Grammar reference

1. Form
to be + past participle How to form a passive sentence when an active sentence is given: - object of the "active" sentence becomes subject in the "passive" sentence - subject of the "active" sentence becomes "object" in the "passive" sentence" (or is left out) Active: Peter builds a house.

Passive:

A house

is built

by Peter.

The passive : be + past participle. It can be in any tense: past, present or future. Simple Continuous Present is built is being built Present perfect has been built Past was built was being built Past perfect had been built Future will be built Present infinitive be built Past infinitive have been built -ing form being built e.g. These days, most houses are built of concrete. Their house isnt finished yet. It s still being built. This where the new airport will be built. In my opinion, the school shouldnt have been built so near the main road. * Notice that the continuous form is normally only used in the present and past tenses

2. Using the passive

1. We often use the passive when we are interested in what happened rather than who did the action: e. g. His wallet was stolen. (we dont know who stole it) Shes just been given a new job. (obviously, by her employers) The airport will be finished next spring. (it isnt important who finishes it) 2.We also use the passive in order to keep the same subject over several sentences: I had a terrible time crossing the border. First I had to wait for two hours, and then I was interrogated for an hour by the secret police. (Im talking about my experiences, so I want to keep I as the subject) * Notice that the passive is especially common in scientific writing, especially in describing processes:

e.g. First the metal is heated to a temperature of 500o, then it is poured into a large container

3. The passive with get

1. In conversational English, we often use the passive with get instead of be, especially with particular verbs describing accidental events, e.g.: get lost , get killed, get stolen, get stuck, get mugged, get caught. e.g. Take a map, in case you get lost. He tried to cheat the tax office, but he got caught. 2. The passive is also commonly used with get to talk about things that happen often or repeatedly: e.g. She often gets invited to read her poetry, but she doesnt always get paid.

4. The have passive

They are repairing her car. Active Her car is being repaired. Passive She s having her car repaired. Have passive Someone stole my bike. Active My bike was stolen Passive I had my bike stolen. Have passive The have passive is formed with have ( + object ) + past participle. Like the normal passive, it can be in any tense; Present simple: I usually have my hair cut on Saturday. Going to: Hes going to have his eyes tested. Present perfect: Help! Ive just had my handbag snatched. Past continuous: When I walked in, he was having his back massaged. -ing form: I hate having my photograph taken. The have passive can be used: for things that you arrange to happen (have your eyes tested, have your photograph taken, have your house painted) for things that happen to you without you intending them (have your face slapped, have your car stolen, have your house broken into) *Notice the difference between the have passive and the Present perfect tense: Ive cut my hair. (Present perfect = Ive done it myself) I usually have my hair cut at Tonis. (have passive = I usually get them to do it) Passive reporting verbs known work for the Mafia. believed He is be living in said They are thought to Chicago. have robbed a bank. assumed reported He is thought to be means the same as People think he is Compare: e.g. People think he works for the Mafia. It is thought that he works for the Mafia. * Passive reporting verbs are especially common in more formal written English (e.g. newspaper reports). In conversational English, active forms are more usual: e.g. They say he robbed a bank. Everyone knows hes living in Chicago.

5. Using and not mentioning the agent

Change of focus the passive can change the emphasis of a sentence: e.g. Robert won the prize. (focus on Robert) The prize was won by Robert. (focus on the prize) Unknown agent the agent is not mentioned if unknown: e.g. My wallet has been stolen. (In this case, there is no point in adding an agent: by somebody) Generalised agent if the subject is people in general or you, the agent is not mentioned. e.g. Bicycles are widely used in the city instead of public transport. Obvious agent if the agent is obvious or has already been mentioned, it is not mentioned. e.g. Alex has been arrested! ( we assume by the police ) The company agreed to our request and a new car-park was opened. Unimportant agent if the agent is not important to the meaning of the sentence it is not mentioned. e.g. I was advised to obtain a visa in advance. Impersonality using the passive is a way of avoiding the naming of a specific person who is responsible for an action: e.g. It has been decided to reduce all salaries by 25%. *Notice: In descriptions of processes, there is emphasis on the actions performed rather than on the people who perform them. e.g. Then the packets are packed into boxes of twenty four.

6. Verbs with prepositions

Ending a sentence with a preposition it is possible to end a sentence with a preposition in a sentence where a prepositional verb is made passive: e.g. Someone broke into our house. Our house was broken into. BY and WITH With is used after participles such as: filled, packed, crowded, crammed, etc. e.g. The train was packed with commuters. The difference between by and with may involve the presence of a person: e.g. Dave was hit by a branch. (an accident) Dave was hit with a branch. (a person hit him with one) Make is followed by to when used in the passive: e.g. My boss made me work hard. I was made to work hard by my boss. Cover and verbs which involve similar ideas, such as surround, decorate can use with or by. Cover can also be followed by in. e.g. The cake was covered in chocolate.