The Passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo g, t
• Leerjaar 3

The Passive

Het verschil tussen passief en actief

The dog bites the man --> The man was bitten by the dog.

The teacher hit the pupil --> the pupil was hit by the teacher

Actieve zinnen Passief maken 1

Present simple + Past simple

Vorm van to be + voltooid deelwoord

I deliver the post every day --> The post is delivered every day (by me)

He asked me to do this --> I was asked to do this (by him)

Actieve zinnen Passief maken 2

Present continuous + Past continuous

Vorm van to be + being + voltooid deelwoord

He is playing a game --> A game is being played (by him)

We were having a good time --> A good time was being had (by us)

Actieve zinnen Passief maken 3

Present Perfect

Have/has been + voltooid deelwoord

I have done my work --> My work has been done (by me)

They have asked a question --> A question has been asked (by them)

Actieve zinnen passief maken 4

The future simple

will be + past participle

I will help him tomorrow --> He will be helped tomorrow (by me)

They will fly the aeroplane --> The aeroplane will be flown (by them)

When to use the passive? (1)

1. When we want to change the focus of the sentence:

The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. 

2. When who or what causes the action is unknown or unimportant or obvious or 'people in general':

He was arrested . (obvious)

My bike has been stolen . (unknown)

The road is being repaired. (unimportant)

The form can be obtained from the post office. (people in general)

When to use the passive? (2)

3. In factual, scientific or formal writing:

The chemical is placed in a test tube and the data entered into the computer.

The brochure will be finished next month.

4. In order to put the new information at the end of the sentence to improve style:

Three books are used regularly in the class. The books were written by Dr. Bell. 

('Dr. Bell wrote the books' sound clumsy)

5. When the subject is very long:

I was surprised by how well the students did in the test. 

(More natural than: 'how well the students did in the test surprised me')

Maak passief:
My dog eats a lot of food.

1. My dog has eaten a lot of food.
2. A lot of food was eaten by my dog.
3. My dog ate a lot of food.
4. A lot of food is eaten by my dog.

Maak passief:

Our friends bought a tent.

1. A tent was bought by our friends.
2. A tent is being bought by our friends.
3. A tent is bought by our friends.
4. Our friends have bought a tent.

Maak passief:

The girls have enjoyed the holiday.

1. The holiday was enjoyed by the girls.
2. the girls enjoyed the holiday.
3. The holiday has been enjoyed by the girls.
4. the holiday is enjoyed by the girls.

Maak passief:

We will rob the bank.

1. the bank is being robbed by us.
2. The bank will be robbed by us.
3. The bank was robbed by us.
4. The bank will robbed by is.

Aan de slag

Maak opdracht 4.1D (Grammar) in de studieplanner van Learnbeat.