ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

ACTIVE OR PASSIVE VOICE

• Active Voice: In a normal, active sentence, the doer of the action is also the subject; any receiver of the action takes the object position in the sentence. E.g.:

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• Passive Voice: Position of the subject and object are reversed. The object from the active sentence becomes the subject in the passive version. E.g.:

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• The active and passive versions have the same basic meaning even though the subject and object have been switched. The receiver

of the action is now in the subject position, but it is still the

receiver of the action.

Voice refers to whether or not the subject is actually performing the action described by the verb. There are two types of voice:

1) ACTIVE VOICE: the subject is performing the action described by the verb

2) PASSIVE VOICE: the subject is NOT performing the action but is, instead, being acted upon.

EXAMPLES:

ACTIVE: Mr. Ali constructed the new buffet table.

PASSIVE: The new buffet table was constructed by Mr. Ali.

***Notice how the Direct Object. in the active voice sentence becomes the subject in the passive voice sentence.

FORMING THE PASSIVE

• The passive is formed with the “be” verb and a past participle and can be in any tense.
• Intransitive verbs (verbs that are not followed by an object e.g.: happen, sleep, some, seem) CANNOT be formed in the passive.
• He was sleeping. (cannot be passive)

Grammatical Structure

Active -------------------- Passive

• e.g. eats ------------------- is eaten
• i.e. verb -------------------- be+*past participle

(*past participle of eat = eaten)

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STRUCTURE OF

PASSIVE VOICE VERBS

Active

• Simple present:
• Marie eats cookies.
• Present Progressive:
• Marie is eating the cookie.
• Present Perfect:
• Marie has eaten the cookie.
• Simple Past:
• Marie ate the cookie.
• Past Progressive:
• Marie was eating the cookie.

Passive

• Simple Present:
• Cookies are eaten by Marie.
• Present Progressive:
• The cookie is being eaten by Marie.
• Present Perfect:
• The cookie has been eaten by Marie.
• Simple Past:
• The cookie was eaten by Marie.
• Past Progressive:
• The cookie was being eaten by Marie.

VERB FORM IN THE PASSIVE

• Past Perfect:
• Marie had eaten the cookie.
• Simple Future:
• Mary will eat the cookie.
• Be going to:
• Marie is going to eat the cookie.
• Future Perfect:
• Marie will have eaten the cookie.

• Past Perfect:
• The cookie had been eaten by Marie.
• Simple Future:
• The cookie will be eaten by Marie.
• Be going to:
• The cookie is going to be eaten by Marie.
• Future Perfect:
• The cookie will have been eaten by Marie.

Active

Passive

VERB FORM IN THE PASSIVE

PASSIVE WITH MODALS

• When using modals the passive is formed in the present using a modal + be + past participle.
• The window can’t be opened.
• Children should be taught to read in school.
• Passives with modals in the past are formed with a modal + have been + past participle.
• The report should have been done last week.
• That building must have been built in the 1970s.
• Jack ought to have been invited to the faculty meeting.

USING THE PASSIVE

• The passive is often used without any reference to the doer of the action. In this form, it is not important to know who performs the action OR the speaker does not know who performs the action.
• Corn is grown in Mexico. (We know that farmers grow corn so it is not necessary to use the “by phrase”)
• My house was built in 1901. (I don’t know who built my house so I do not use the “by phrase”)

• The “by phrase” is used when it is important to know who performs the action.
• “Great Expectations” was written by Charles Dickens. (It is important to know who wrote the book)
• When the speaker knows who performs the action but wants to call attention to the particular items, the passive is used.
• This sweater was made by my grandmother but that sweater was made by my aunt. (The emphasis is on each particular sweater because they were made by different people.)

• The passive is often used when describing a process where the same person performs the action in every step.
• The meat was marinated. (by the chef)
• It was cooked for 40 minutes. (by the chef)
• It was cut into thin strips. (by the chef)

• The passive is often use, in some cases, where the passive voice is more appropriate to the content.
• If you are intentionally trying to hide your subject:

“The crime was committed by an unknown assailant.”

• If you are intentionally trying to focus on the receiver of the action:

“Many victims were hurt by the drunk driver.”

Examples Using the Passive Voice:

1. People speak Emglish in many countries

Compare: English is spoken in many countries.

2. Somebody/They pulled down the building last week.

Compare: The old building was pulled down (by then/somebody)last week.

3. We will hold a meeting tomorrow.

Compare: A meeting will be held tomorrow (by us).

*( ) means optional.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Some More Examples:

�1. Active : They believe me.� Passive : I am believed by them.�2. Active : He is praising me.� Passive : I am being praised by him.�

Interrogative Passive Sentences, examples:�a) Active : Who taught you grammar ?� Passive : By whom was grammar taught to you?�b) Active : Who stole the chair ?� Passive : By whom was the chair stolen ?�c) Active : Who can help me ?� Passive : By whom can I be helped ?

Imperative Passive Sentences, examples:�a) Active : Please help the needy.� Passive : You are requested to help the needy.�b) Active : Please examine this question.� Passive : You are requested to examine this question.�c) Active : Obey the rules of the road.� Passive : You are advised to obey the rules of the road.�d) Active : Tell him to leave the room at once.� Passive : You are advised to leave the room at once.

Active to Passive Voice : Some Special Cases

Rule 1

Active : They say that famine has spread everywhere. �Passive : It is said that famine has spread everywhere.

Rule 2

a) Active : Give me a book. Passive : Let a book be given to me.�b) Active : Post this letter. Passive : Let this letter be posted.�c) Active : Open the door. Passive : Let the door be opened. Or The door should be opened.

Rule 3

a) Active : Do not abuse others. Passive : Let others not be abused.�b) Active : Do not insult the beggar. Passive : Let the beggar not be insulted.�Rule 4

Active : The rich should not hate the poor. Passive : The poor should not be hatred by the rich.�Active : She is to help me. Passive : I am to be helped by her.

Active : We have to find her. Passive : She has to be found by us.

Active : I can help her. Passive : She can be helped by me. 

Rule 5

Active : They say that famine has spread everywhere. �Passive : It is said that famine has spread everywhere. �

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Find out if the following sentences are in the active or passive voice.

1. I washed my car three weeks ago.
2. The dishes were washed and put away.
3. John's hair was cut short.
4. Joe always helps his classmates.
5. The shirts will be ironed.
6. Milk is collected every day.
7. Mum cooks meals for us.
8. Tom will invite his good friends to his party.
9. Lily was bored by the movie.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. He opens the door.
2. We set the table.
3. She pays a lot of money.
4. I draw a picture when I am alone.
5. They wear blue shoes.
6. They don't help you.
7. He doesn't open the book.
8. You do not write the letter.
9. Does your mum pick you up everyday?
10. Did the police catch the thief during the robbery?

Rewrite the following sentences using the passive voice.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

End of Session