Passive Voice

Learning Objective: To understand the usageof passive voice in different times.

Contents: Active and Passive Voive, verbaltenses and vocabulary related to the level.

Use of Passive VoicePassive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is notimportant or not known, who or what is performing the action.Example: My bike was stolen.In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike wasstolen. We do not know, who did it.Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice,as the following example shows:Example: A mistake was madeIn this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do notblame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.)..

Form of PassiveSubject + verb to be + Past Participle

Simple Present Active: Rita writes a letter.Passive: A letter iswritten by Rita.Simple Past Active: Rita wrote a letter.Passive: A letter

was written by Rita.Future I Active: Rita will write a letter.Passive: A letter will bewritten by Rita.

EXCERCISES

1) Sheila drank a cup of tea. -

2) My father will wash the car. -

3) Farmer Joe milks the cows. -

4) She took a picture of him. -

5) I write a poem. -

6) We do not play football. -

7) He wears a blue tie. -

8) Will she make the party? -

9) Do they read the paper? -

10) Did she water the flowers? -