Passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3-6

Passives

Passive sentences in 5 steps

1. Identify the subject, verb en object

2.  Identify the tense by looking at the verb

3. Use object as new subject (singular/ plural)

4. Add form of 'to be' and change verb into past participle

5. Add rest of the sentence and agent if needed

What is the subject in this sentence?

The lion bit the man.

(Onderwerp)

The lion bit the man.

What is the object in this sentence?

(Leidend voorwerp)

The lion bit the man.

am/ is/ are + past participle

Actives

Someone cleans the office every day.

My boss doesn't ask me to work late.

Passives

The office is cleaned every day. 

I am not asked to work late (by my boss).

was/ were + past participle

Actives

Someone painted our house last month.

The noise did not wake me up.

Passives

Our house was painted last month.

I was not woken up by the noise.

What makes a sentence passive?

The combination of 'to be' + past participle (volt. dlw) makes a sentence passive:

The student is taught (by the teacher).

The man was bitten (by the dog).

How to recognize a passive sentence...

- Check if a form of 'to be' is used (am, are, is, was, were, been).

- Is it followed by a participle (voltooid deelwoord)?

- Is it followed by 'by + noun or pronoun? If not, can it be followed by  'by zombies'?

Are all answers 'yes'? Congratulations, you have a passive sentence.

The Government is planning a new road near my house.

1. passive
2. active

Make a passive.
Start with 'A goal'...

Make a passive.
Start with 'The oranges'...

'Boys like to play football.'

1. Passive
2. Active

'This room has been painted blue.'

1. Passive
2. Active

'Cricket is played in Australia.'

1. Passive
2. Active

'The friends have been looking forward to meeting her.'

1. Passive
2. Active

'The search will be stopped because of the storm.'

1. Passive
2. Active

Passives