PASSIVE

VOICE
XPLORE 12
Unit 1.2. Killer English
Unit 3.2. Real Hunger Games

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 The Passive Voice is used whenever
an action is more important than
the agent for example, in
reporting the news, in public
notices or scientific experiments.

Example:
The original text was written in Sanskrit
but this one has been largely manipulated.

Here the focus is on the writing of the text and what

has happened to it rather than who was responsible
for manipulating it.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 In passive constructions the agent is only mentioned
when necessary.

When there is an understanding of who carried out

the action it is always incorrect to add the agent or
when this information is not known or would be too
complicated to add.

Example:
She was taught foreign
languages [by teachers] at
school.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 After modal verbs the auxiliary verbs be or have
been are used; the have been construction shows a
past event which didnt happen.

Example:
A multilingualism approach should
be followed.

Example:
Information could have been sent
in one language [but it wasnt].

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

Some linguists have defined English as a killer-
language.

English has been defined as a killer- by some

language linguists.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 ACTIVE PASSIVE

have defined has been defined

To be + Past Participle

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 PASSIVE VOICE TWO OBJECTS

Many verbs like give, lend, award, offer,

warn, teach can have two objects.

When putting these verbs into the passive, it

is more usual to use the indirect object as
the subject.

Example:
I was given a language lesson.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

School has given useful skills.

have been given useful skills by school.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 Passive constructions are often used with
verbs like say, believe, estimate and know.

it + passive verb + that-clause

subject + passive verb + to-infinitive

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 it + passive verb + that-clause

It is estimated that 51 million children

suffer from malnutrition.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 subject + passive + to-infinitive

51 million children are estimated to suffer

from malnutrition.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 Sometimes there are two passive constructions in the
same sentence.
Example:
It is known that global English has been shaped
by cultural interactions.

Global English is known to have been shaped by

cultural interactions.

Other verbs which are used in this way include:

consider, think, understand, report, expect, fear,
claim and deny.
Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho
 Now Practise!

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 1. Rewrite these sentences in the active or
passive voice.
a. The students designed a leaflet to draw attention to
languages in danger of extinction.
AAleaflet was designed to draw attention to languages in
danger of extinction.
b. Some language researchers have advised UN officials that
actions need to be taken to protect endangered languages.
UN
UNofficials
officialshave been advised that actions need to be
taken to protect endangered languages.
c. Unesco is setting up a programme to make recordings of
dialects.
A programme to make recordings of dialects is being set
up by Unesco.
Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho
d. A research had already shown to linguists that the English
language is threatening others.
Linguists
Linguistshad already been shown that the English
language is threatening others.
e. A list of actions was devised to protect minority
languages.
Unesco
Unesco devised a list of actions to protect minority
languages.
f. The linguistic programme developed by the UN hasnt
been acknowledged by several governments.
Several
Several governments
governments havent acknowledged the
linguistic programme developed by the UN.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 2. Rewrite the following sentences beginning
with the words given.
a. They assumed that the obstacles to the inclusion
programme were overcome.
ItIt
was assumed that the obstacles to the inclusion
programme were overcome.
The
The obstacles
obstacles to the inclusion programme were assumed
to be overcome.
b. Analysts have foreseen that the Human Rights
Committee wont implement any measures to solve
the problem.
ItIt
has been foreseen that the Human Rights Committee
wont implement any measures to solve the problem.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

c. That expert is estimating that conflicts due to racial
discrimination will increase in our cities.
ItIt
is being estimated that conflicts due to racial
discrimination will increase in our cities.
d. Journalists have reported that a consensus between
the major political parties was reached.
ItIt
has been reported that a consensus between the major
political parties was reached.
e. The police expects that the demonstration during
the G9 summit will turn violent.
ItIt
is expected that the demonstration during the G9
summit will turn violent.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho

 Further Practice!

Passive Voice Quiz 1

Passive Voice Quiz 2

PASSIVE VOICE
XPLORE 12
Unit 1.2. Killer English
Unit 3.2. Real Hunger Games
Teresa Pinto de Almeida Paula M. Arajo Telma Coelho