Using the Passive Voice

Active voice vs. passive voice

Active voice takes the form A does B

We chose plastic film to cover the microphone.

Passive voice takes the form B is done (by A) Plastic film was chosen (by us) to cover the microphone.

Active voice subjects perform an act

Active voice We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object

Passive voice subjects are acted on

Active voice We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object

Passive voice Plastic film was chosen to cover the microphone.

Subject Verb Object

Passive voice differs from 3rd person

Third person, but active voice The team ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object

Passive voice
Plastic film was chosen to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object

Combine to be + past participle

To be is very irregular:
Present tense Past tense

1st person
3rd person

I am
He, she, it is

We are
You are

I was
You were

We were
You were They were

2nd person You are

They are He, she, it was

Past participles usually add -ed or t: presented, measured, built, burnt Irregular past participles must be memorized

Omit the agent of the action

Active Workers installed burglar alarms. Passive, with agent Burglar alarms were installed by the workers. Passive, with the agent omitted Burglar alarms were installed.

Remember tense and number

Active Voice

Passive voice

I finish a project in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours

A project is finished in eight hours.

Three projects are finished in eight hours

I finished a project in eight hours.

A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three Three projects were projects in eight hours. finished in eight hours.

Remember tense and number

Active Voice

Passive voice

I finish a project in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours

A project is finished in eight hours.

Three projects are finished in eight hours

I finished a project in eight hours.

A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three Three projects were projects in eight hours. finished in eight hours.

Remember tense and number

Active Voice

Passive voice

I finish a project in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours

A project is finished in eight hours.

Three projects are finished in eight hours

I finished a project in eight hours.

A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three Three projects were projects in eight hours. finished in eight hours.

Remember tense and number

Active Voice

Passive voice

I finish a project in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours

A project is finished in eight hours.

Three projects are finished in eight hours

I finished a project in eight hours.

A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three Three projects were projects in eight hours. finished in eight hours.

Remember tense and number

Active Voice

Passive voice

I finish a project in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours

A project is finished in eight hours.

Three projects are finished in eight hours

I finished a project in eight hours.

A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three Three projects were projects in eight hours. finished in eight hours.

Remember tense and number

Active Voice

Passive voice

I finish a project in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours

A project is finished in eight hours.

Three projects are finished in eight hours

I finished a project in eight hours.

A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three Three projects were projects in eight hours. finished in eight hours.

Remember tense and number

Active Voice

Passive voice

I finish a project in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours

A project is finished in eight hours.

Three projects are finished in eight hours

I finished a project in eight hours.

A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three Three projects were projects in eight hours. finished in eight hours.

Remember tense and number

Active Voice

Passive voice

I finish a project in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours

A project is finished in eight hours.

Three projects are finished in eight hours

I finished a project in eight hours.

A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three Three projects were projects in eight hours. finished in eight hours.

Simple Present / Past

am is are was were

+ V3

Present / Past Continuous

am is are was were

being+ V3

Present / Past Perfect

has have had

been+ V3

Modals

Modal

be+ V3
have been+ V3

Using the Passive Voice

Definitions Changing to the passive voice Practice examples

Change to the passive voice

The team used the following materials: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of Super Glue, a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter.

The following materials were used: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of Super Glue, a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter. The EG 1003 course also supplied the launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks.
In addition, equipment was supplied by the EG 1003 course: the launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks.

Change to the passive voice

The team used the following materials: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of Super Glue, a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter.

The following materials were used: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of Super Glue, a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter. The EG 1003 course also supplied the launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks.
In addition, equipment was supplied by the EG 1003 course: the launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks.

Change to the passive voice

The team used the following materials: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of Super Glue, a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter.

The following materials were used: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of Super Glue, a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter. The EG 1003 course also supplied the launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks.
In addition, equipment was supplied by the EG 1003 course: the launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks.

Change to the passive voice

The team used the following materials: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of Super Glue, a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter.

The following materials were used: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of Super Glue, a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter. The EG 1003 course also supplied the launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks.
The launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks were supplied by the EG 1003 course.

Change to the passive voice

First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA. First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.

The kit was inspected to ensure that all parts were present. Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue. The four control surfaces (fins) were attached to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue.

Change to the passive voice

First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA. First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.

The kit was inspected to ensure that all parts were present. Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue. The four control surfaces (fins) were attached to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue.

Change to the passive voice

First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA. First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.

The kit was inspected to ensure that all parts were present. Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue. The four control surfaces (fins) were attached to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue.

Change to the passive voice

First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA. First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.

The kit was inspected to ensure that all parts were present. Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue. The four control surfaces (fins) were attached to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue.

Change to the passive voice

First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA. First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.

The kit was inspected to ensure that all parts were present. Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue. The four control surfaces (fins) were attached to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue.

Change to the passive voice

First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA. First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.

The kit was inspected to ensure that all parts were present. Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue. The four control surfaces (fins) were attached to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue.

Change to the passive voice

We pressed the red power switch, activating the model. The red power switch was pressed, activating the model. The team noted the time to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. The time was noted to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

The yellow button was pressed, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

Change to the passive voice

We pressed the red power switch, activating the model. The red power switch was pressed, activating the model. The team noted the time to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. The time was noted to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

The yellow button was pressed, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

Change to the passive voice

We pressed the red power switch, activating the model. The red power switch was pressed, activating the model. The team noted the time to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. The time was noted to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

The yellow button was pressed, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

Change to the passive voice

We pressed the red power switch, activating the model. The red power switch was pressed, activating the model. The team noted the time to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. The time was noted to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

The yellow button was pressed, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

Change to the passive voice

We pressed the red power switch, activating the model. The red power switch was pressed, activating the model. The team noted the time to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. The time was noted to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

The yellow button was pressed, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

Change to the passive voice

We pressed the red power switch, activating the model. The red power switch was pressed, activating the model. The team noted the time to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. The time was noted to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched. Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

The yellow button was pressed, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

Change to the passive voice

The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons. I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.

A matter cartridge was obtained from the TA.

We snapped this cartridge into the model. This cartridge was snapped into the model. We mounted the model on the launch stand. The model was mounted on the launch stand.

Change to the passive voice

The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons. I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.

A matter cartridge was obtained from the TA.

We snapped this cartridge into the model. This cartridge was snapped into the model. We mounted the model on the launch stand. The model was mounted on the launch stand.

Change to the passive voice

The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons. I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.

A matter cartridge was obtained from the TA.

We snapped this cartridge into the model. This cartridge was snapped into the model. We mounted the model on the launch stand. The model was mounted on the launch stand.

Change to the passive voice

The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons. I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.

A matter cartridge was obtained from the TA.

We snapped this cartridge into the model. This cartridge was snapped into the model. We mounted the model on the launch stand. The model was mounted on the launch stand.

Change to the passive voice

The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons. I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.

A matter cartridge was obtained from the TA.

We snapped this cartridge into the model. This cartridge was snapped into the model. We mounted the model on the launch stand. The model was mounted on the launch stand.

Change to the passive voice

The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons. I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.

A matter cartridge was obtained from the TA.

We snapped this cartridge into the model. This cartridge was snapped into the model. We mounted the model on the launch stand. The model was mounted on the launch stand.

Change to the passive voice

The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons. I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.

A matter cartridge was obtained from the TA.

We snapped this cartridge into the model. This cartridge was snapped into the model. We mounted the model on the launch stand. The model was mounted on the launch stand.

Change to the passive voice

The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons. I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.

A matter cartridge was obtained from the TA.

We snapped this cartridge into the model. This cartridge was snapped into the model. We mounted the model on the launch stand. The model was mounted on the launch stand.

Change to the passive voice

We then used the Antimatter Containment Vessel to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.

The Antimatter Containment Vessel was then used to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.
Albert put the stopper into the hole in the tank. The stopper was put into the hole in the tank. When everything was in place, we launched the rocket. When everything was in place, the rocket was launched.

Change to the passive voice

We then used the Antimatter Containment Vessel to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.

The Antimatter Containment Vessel was then used to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.
Albert put the stopper into the hole in the tank. The stopper was put into the hole in the tank. When everything was in place, we launched the rocket. When everything was in place, the rocket was launched.

Change to the passive voice

We then used the Antimatter Containment Vessel to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.

The Antimatter Containment Vessel was then used to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.
Albert put the stopper into the hole in the tank. The stopper was put into the hole in the tank. When everything was in place, we launched the rocket. When everything was in place, the rocket was launched.

Change to the passive voice

We then used the Antimatter Containment Vessel to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.

The Antimatter Containment Vessel was then used to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.
Albert put the stopper into the hole in the tank. The stopper was put into the hole in the tank. When everything was in place, we launched the rocket. When everything was in place, the rocket was launched.

Change to the passive voice

We then used the Antimatter Containment Vessel to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.

The Antimatter Containment Vessel was then used to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.
Albert put the stopper into the hole in the tank. The stopper was put into the hole in the tank. When everything was in place, we launched the rocket. When everything was in place, the rocket was la unched

Change to the passive voice

We then used the Antimatter Containment Vessel to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.

The Antimatter Containment Vessel was then used to pour antimatter into the tank in the model.
Albert put the stopper into the hole in the tank. The stopper was put into the hole in the tank. When everything was in place, we launched the rocket. When everything was in place, the rocket was launched.

Change to the passive voice

Lucy noted the time of arrival for the rocket and the strobe light flash. The time of arrival was noted for the rocket and the strobe light flash. We used the atomic clocks to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.

The atomic clocks were used to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.
The team also noted the effects of the impact.

The effects of the impact were also noted.

Change to the passive voice

Lucy noted the time of arrival for the rocket and the strobe light flash. The time of arrival was noted for the rocket and the strobe light flash. We used the atomic clocks to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.

The atomic clocks were used to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.
The team also noted the effects of the impact.

The effects of the impact were also noted.

Change to the passive voice

Lucy noted the time of arrival for the rocket and the strobe light flash. The time of arrival was noted for the rocket and the strobe light flash. We used the atomic clocks to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.

The atomic clocks were used to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.
The team also noted the effects of the impact.

The effects of the impact were also noted.

Change to the passive voice

Lucy noted the time of arrival for the rocket and the strobe light flash. The time of arrival was noted for the rocket and the strobe light flash. We used the atomic clocks to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.

The atomic clocks were used to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.
The team also noted the effects of the impact.

The effects of the impact were also noted.

Change to the passive voice

Lucy noted the time of arrival for the rocket and the strobe light flash. The time of arrival was noted for the rocket and the strobe light flash. We used the atomic clocks to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.

The atomic clocks were used to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.
The team also noted the effects of the impact.

The effects of the impact were also noted.

Change to the passive voice

Lucy noted the time of arrival for the rocket and the strobe light flash. The time of arrival was noted for the rocket and the strobe light flash. We used the atomic clocks to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.

The atomic clocks were used to verify that the rocket had arrived before the light.
The team also noted the effects of the impact.

The effects of the impact were also noted.

Using the Passive Voice

Definitions Changing to the passive voice Practice examples