LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2

THE PASSIVE VOICE

The Active Voice

We say things in the active voice when we want to show who or what has done
something. In the active voice the agent (the person or thing that does something) is the
subject of the sentence.
Mary cleaned the office. (Who cleaned the office? Mary did=the subject)
He stole my car. (Who stole my car? He did=the subject)
The Passive Voice
The passive voice is used when the subject of a sentence is the person or thing affected
by the action of the sentence. We particularly use the passive voice when we don't
know or aren't bothered exactly who has done something. This is called passive
without agent, where the recipient of the action becomes the subject.
The office was cleaned. (What was cleaned? - The office=the subject)
My car was stolen. (What was stolen? - My car=the subject)
We often use the passive to report what someone has said but to avoid who said it.
I was told he wasn't coming.
You were asked to bring some wine to the party.
Sometimes you may want to use the passive voice in order to emphasize the passive
subject but wish to mention who carried out the action. This is called passive with
agent and the agent is usually introduced with the word by.
Moby Dick was written by Herman Melville.
If the agent of the action is unknown or unimportant or is implicit in the verb, do not use
the passive with agent.
My car was stolen by someone.
The thief was arrested by the police for stealing a valuable painting.
When you can't use the passive
Intransitive verbs (e.g. die and arrive) cannot be used in the passive. This is because
they cannot have objects, so there is nothing to become the passive subject of the
sentence.
My great uncle was died last year.
Formation of the Passive Voice
Subject + BE + the past participle
The auxiliary verb be can be put in any tense.
The office is cleaned every day.
The office was cleaned yesterday.
The office has never been cleaned.
The office is being cleaned at this very moment.
The office will be cleaned this evening.
The office will have been cleaned by Friday.
Etc.
LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2

The Passive Infinitive

The passive infinitive (be + past participle) is used after modal auxiliary verbs and other
verbs which are followed by an infinitive.
Someone is going to tell him the truth.  He is going to be told the truth.
Someone has to send these letters.  These letters have to be sent.
Somebody should pay her back as soon as possible.  She should be paid back
as soon as possible.
In the Passive, when verbs have two objects, it is the person that usually becomes the
subject.
Examples of some verbs that can have two objects are: ask, give, lend, offer, pay, send,
show, teach, and tell.
He sent me flowers.  I was sent flowers.
Somebody is going to show us the new flat.  We are going to be shown the
new flat.
They have taught her all the rules.  She has been taught all the rules.

EXERCISE:
Put the following sentences into the Passive. Only use the agent when necessary.
1. The police finally caught the thieves.
2. They speak English in that shop.
3. Jane’s mother will make the cake.
4. Someone had found her keys in the park.
5. Is anybody going to invite them to the party?
6. Somebody should call Susan and give her the homework assignment.
7. Vittorio and Lucchino are designing my sister's wedding dress.
8. Does he have to write the letters today?
9. John's father told me the latest news.
10. The company has offered the job to Mandy.

ANSWERS:

1. The thieves were finally caught.

2. English is spoken in that shop.
3. The cake will be made by Jane’s mother.
4. Her keys had been found in the park.
5. Are they going to be invited to the party?
6. Susan should be called and given her homework assignment.
7. My sister’s wedding dress is being designed by Vittorio and Lucchino.
8. Do the letters have to be written today?
9. I was told the latest news by John’s father.
10. Mandy has been offered the job.