THE PASSIVE VOICE

(A.) The teacher returned the exams on

Monday.
(B.) The exams were returned on Monday.

The two sentences have basically the same

meaning, but the emphasis changes
according to which subject the writer
uses. In sentence (A), the writer focuses
on the teacher, while in sentence (B) the
focus is on the exams.
 Forming the Passive Voice

The passive voice is formed with the verb be +

past participle. The tense is shown by the
form of the verb be. The verb be must agree
with the subject.

An outstanding student is awarded* the

scholarship every year.
Shannon was awarded* the scholarship last
night.

*This is not a past tense –ed.

 The Simple Present

am / is / are + past participle

The newspaper is read throughout the world.

 The Present Progressive

am / is / are + being + past participle

The new library is being built.

 The Present Perfect

has / have + been + past participle

The house has been painted recently.

 The Simple Past

was / were + past participle

The books were returned to the library on time.

 The Past Progressive

was / were + being + past participle

By the time I got to the plane, the doors were being

closed.
 The Past Perfect

had + been + past participle

The dinner had been prepared before we arrived.

 The Simple Future

will be + past participle

We will be tested on this material.

 Be going to

am / is / are going to + be + past participle

The show is going to be held next month.

 The Future Perfect

will have been + past participle

We will have been given the assignment details by

then.
 Using Modals in the Passive Voice

Present/future:
modal + be + past participle
The computer can be upgraded.

Past modals:
modal + have been + past participle
The traffic delays must have been caused
by
snow.
 Using Infinitive & Gerunds with the
Passive Voice

verb + infinitives:
verb + to be + past participle
The children like to be kissed before going to
bed.

verb + gerunds:
gerund + being + past participle
He dislikes being treated like a child.
The verb be is followed by –ing (the present
participle) to form the progressive.
 We are planning our next vacation.
 They were living in Guadalajara last year.

The verb be is followed by –ed (the past

participle) to form the passive.
 Essays are turned in every Monday.
 My essay was turned in yesterday.
 Passive voice in questions

 Compare the following two sentences:

 The church was built in 1945.

 a) When was the church built?

 A simple rule for questions in the passive it would be

the following:

 Question word + to be + subject + past participle

 When was the church built?
 Using the Passive Voice
Use the passive voice in the following
circumstances:
1. When the person or thing doing the
action is obvious, unknown, or
unimportant.
 Many trees were planted to replace
those lost in the fire.
 The house was built in 1850.
 Tobacco is grown in the South.
2. When you don’t want to mention the person doing
the action.

 Several failing grades were received in ESL 184.

 The information was given to the police
investigator.
 The new law was passed without our
knowledge.
3. When you want to emphasize the
receiver of the action or the result of
the action.

 International students are housed in

the homes of local families.
 A new computer system is being
installed to improve our computer’s
speed.
 Children can be taught good manners
at an early age.
4. When you are describing a process.

 The specimens were collected and placed on a

slide.
 The eggs are beaten until they are creamy.
 The wheel is attached to the axle before the
nuts are tightened.
Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct
object) can be used in the passive voice.
Intransitive verbs cannot be made passive. Do
not use these verbs in the passive voice.

appear belong exist seem

arrive come happen sleep
be die occur rise
Correct the errors in the passive voice.

1. I was transfer to another math class.

2. Bacterial infections were existed before man.
3. Many new books are writing every year.
4. The award will be gave at the ceremony.
5. I hope to accept at this university.