Passive VoicePassive Voice

When the When the agentagent is is unknownunknown Spanish "SE" : Spanish "SE" :

Se venden pisos: Se venden pisos: Flats are soldFlats are sold

Spanish "Ellos/as" omitted : Spanish "Ellos/as" omitted : Le dieron un beso a Pepita: Le dieron un beso a Pepita: Pepita was given Pepita was given

a kissa kiss

When do we use it?When do we use it?

To make the To make the objectobject of the active verb of the active verb more more importantimportant

AmericaAmerica was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus

When the description of the When the description of the agentagent is very is very longlong

A charity record has been made by A charity record has been made by many famous names many famous names in the world of pop music.in the world of pop music.

When do we use it?When do we use it?

SubjectSubject: Person or object that suffered/enjoyed : Person or object that suffered/enjoyed the results of an action. the results of an action.

The verb "The verb "to beto be" in the tense the action " in the tense the action occurredoccurred. .

The The Past Participle Past Participle of the verb that represents of the verb that represents the action itself. the action itself.

Whatever Whatever complementscomplements that verb needs. that verb needs.

BByy + the + the agentagent. .

Structure of the sentenceStructure of the sentence

Structure of the verbStructure of the verb

TENSES EXAMPLES

Present Simple Pigs are often used to find truffles

Present Continuous My house is being redecorated at the moment

Present Perfect I have never been given flowers on my birthday

Past Simple This picture was painted by Picasso

Past Continuous When I saw him he was being followed by the police

Past Perfect She was angry because she had already been told three times

Future Simple When you get there everything will be finished

Going to - Future They are not going to be easily convinced

Conditional Simple You would be punished if they found out

Conditional Perfect If you hadn’t told them would I have been invited?

to BEBE gives us the tense of the action

the main verb is always in Past ParticiplePast Participle

THE PASSIVE VERBTHE PASSIVE VERBto BE (in the active tense) + Past Participle (main verb) to BE (in the active tense) + Past Participle (main verb)

ACTIVE PASSIVE

She wants an ice-cream An ice-cream is wanted

He sent a letter A letter was sent

We will buy a new car next week A new car will be bought

The passive sentenceThe passive sentence

ACTIVE VOICEACTIVE VOICE

Active Subject

Active Verb

Direct Object

Robert gave a coina coin

byPassive Verb

Passive Subject

Agent

PASSIVE VOICEPASSIVE VOICEwas given by

The passive sentenceThe passive sentence

ACTIVE VOICEACTIVE VOICE

Active Subject

Active Verb

Direct Object

Indirect Object

Robert gave a coin TomTomto

byDirect Object

Passive Verb

Passive Subject

Agent

PASSIVE VOICEPASSIVE VOICEwas given by

1/1/TheyThey builtbuilt this housethis house in 1466 in 1466

2/ 2/ This house This house was built was built in 1466in 1466

1/ 1/ Channel islanders Channel islanders speakspeak French & EnglishFrench & English

2/ 2/ French & English French & English are spoken are spoken by Channel by Channel islandersislanders

1/ 1/ This book This book will change will change your lifeyour life

2/ 2/ Your life Your life will be changed will be changed byby this bookthis book

ExamplesExamples

1/ 1/ TheyThey have cut have cut the grassthe grass

2/ 2/ The grass The grass has been cuthas been cut

1/ 1/ My mother My mother is going to give is going to give meme a present a present

2/ 2/ I I am going to be given am going to be given a present a present by my by my mothermother

1/ 1/ SusanSusan wrotewrote an e-mail an e-mail to himto him

1/ 1/ HeHe was written was written an e-mail an e-mail by Susanby Susan

ExamplesExamples

1/ 1/ TheyThey can’t answer can’t answer your questionyour question

2/ 2/ Your question Your question can’t be answeredcan’t be answered

1/ 1/ Someone Someone had to take had to take her her to hospitalto hospital

2/ 2/ SheShe had to be takenhad to be taken to hospitalto hospital

1/ 1/ They They shouldn’t allowshouldn’t allow the children the children to do these things to do these things

2/ 2/ The children The children shouldn’t be allowed shouldn’t be allowed to do these thingsto do these things

1/ 1/ SomeoneSomeone must tell must tell him him if we want him to knowif we want him to know

2/ 2/ He He must be told must be told if we want him to knowif we want him to know

More examplesMore examples