The Passive VoiceThe Passive Voice

Carmela GrilloneCarmela Grillone

FAO International ConsultantFAO International Consultant

UseUse

The passive voice draws your attention The passive voice draws your attention to the person or thing affected by an to the person or thing affected by an action: when you want to emphasize action: when you want to emphasize the object giving less importance to the object giving less importance to

those who perform the actionthose who perform the action

StructureStructure

Passive Subject +To Be+ Past Passive Subject +To Be+ Past ParticipleParticiple

ExampleExample

We have produced over 20 different We have produced over 20 different models in the past 2 yearsmodels in the past 2 years

Changes toChanges to

Over 20 different models have been Over 20 different models have been produced in the past 2 yearsproduced in the past 2 years

Use of Use of byby

If you consider the agent (the If you consider the agent (the performer of the action) important performer of the action) important you will use you will use “by”. “by”.

The agent, therefore, should not be The agent, therefore, should not be used unless relevant.used unless relevant.

Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet”Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet”Changes toChanges to““Romeo and Juliet” was written by Romeo and Juliet” was written by

ShakespeareShakespeare

Some hintsSome hints

Only verbs that take an object can be Only verbs that take an object can be used in the passiveused in the passive

Example:Example:

I walked in the streetI walked in the street

You cannot transform this sentence You cannot transform this sentence into passiveinto passive

ExerciseExercise They make Fords in Cologne.They make Fords in Cologne. Simple Present Simple Present Fords are made in Cologne.Fords are made in Cologne.

Susan is cooking dinner. Susan is cooking dinner. Present Continuous Present Continuous Dinner is being cooked by SusanDinner is being cooked by Susan

James Joyce wrote "Dubliners". James Joyce wrote "Dubliners". Past Simple Past Simple "Dubliners" was written by James Joyces."Dubliners" was written by James Joyces.

They were painting the house when I arrived. They were painting the house when I arrived. Past Continuous Past Continuous The house was being painted when I arrived.The house was being painted when I arrived.

They are going to build a new factory in Portland. They are going to build a new factory in Portland. A new factory is going to be built in Portland A new factory is going to be built in Portland Future IntentionFuture Intention

I will finish it tomorrow. I will finish it tomorrow. Future Simple Future Simple It will be finished tomorrow.It will be finished tomorrow.