Passive Voice

SUBJECT	ACTIVE VERB	OBJECT
The hungry tiger	ate	Chantal's lunch.
SUBJECT	PASSIVE VERB	AGENT
Chantal's lunchThe object became the subject.	was eatenThis is always a form of the verb BE + a past participle.	(by the hungry tiger).

Note: The agent introduced by “by” is not used in the passive voice 80% of the time. A number of verbs do not have a passive. For example, the following two sentences cannot be expressed in the passive voice. I have a helicopter. This cup holds two pints.

Here are a few examples. Note that the verb tense does not change in the passive voice.

☺ Nikita eats twelve bananas every day.
☻ Twelve bananas are eaten every day.
☺ Yukie has bought a new air conditioner.
☻ A new air conditioner has been bought.
☺ Elena will study the passive voice today.
☻ The passive voice will be studied today.

There are a number of situations in which the passive voice can be used. The most common are these:
A. To draw attention to the person acted upon
B. When the actor is not important
C. In scientific or technical writing

Let’s check out some examples for each of these situations.

Active: Lady Gaga selected Nikita to dance with her. Passive: Nikita was selected. (It was Nikita who was selected over all the other guys)

Passive: At times, the moon can be observed in the early morning hours. (Who observes the moon is unimportant)

Passive: After sanding down the surface, the first coat of primer paint is applied immediately. (As perhaps written in a technical manual)

Practice With Changing Focus

We will practice using the passive voice to focus on the person acted upon. Re-write the following sentences using the passive voice.

1. Melissa ate Monica's sandwich.
2. Yukie is watching Len carefully.
3. Nikita wears green and red socks every day.

1) Active: Yan is wearing Weiting's socks. Passive: Weiting's socks _____________ by Yan.

Wrong

were worn

Right

are being worn

Wrong

were being worn

Wrong

are worn

2) Active: The dentist extracted the bad tooth. Passive: The bad tooth _____________ (by the dentist).

Wrong

extracted

Wrong

had extracted

Right

was extracted

Wrong

had been extracted

3) Active: We need more firemen to put out the fire. Passive: More firemen ____________ to put out the fire.

Wrong

were needed

Wrong

is needed

Wrong

are being needed

Right

are needed

4) Active: Bobby has taken the broken computer to the shop. Passive: The broken computer _____________ to the shop.

Wrong

was taken

Right

has been taken

Wrong

had been taken

Wrong

is being taken

5) Active: The sumo wrestler was eating five fatburgers every five minutes. Passive: Five fatburgers ________________ by the sumo wrestler every five minutes.

Right

were being eaten

Wrong

are being eaten

Wrong

were eaten

Wrong

was being eaten

6) Active: If you're not careful, the bees will sting you. Passive: If you're not careful, you _________________ by the bees.

Wrong

are stung

Wrong

going to be stung

Right

will be stung

Wrong

maybe stung

7) Active: Monica had eaten all the chocolate cake before Melissa got there. Passive: The chocolate cake ________________________ before Melissa arrived.

Wrong

was eaten

Wrong

had eaten

Right

had been eaten

Wrong

had ate

8) Active: Mrs. Pearson hit Mr. Pearson with her broom on Halloween. Passive: Mr. Pearson ________________________ by Mrs. Pearson's broom on Halloween.

Wrong

was hitting

Wrong

had hit

Right

was hit

Wrong

had been hit

Advanced

Yesterday, you received mail addressed to another person. Today, the postman drove up to your mail box and you told him of the mistake. Which explanation below is more appropriate?

1. You delivered this yesterday by mistake.
2. This was delivered yesterday by mistake.

The Passive Voice in Action

Advanced