3.3 The Passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2,3

The Passive

unit 3

Active sentences

When the subject of a sentence performs the verb’s action, we say that the sentence is active

Sentences usually consist of the  three basic parts; subject - verb - object

Cows produce milk

                          The cashier counted the money

                   The dog chases the squirrel

 

Cows > subject    produce > verb    milk > object

When do we use the passive?

1.  to change the focus of the sentences

2. when it is not important to mention who performs the  action.

3. focus is on the action and not the ''doer''

4. to start a sentence with the most logical or important information.

5. in more formal (newspapers and scientific writing)

How to make the passive

We make the passive using to be +  past participle

We start the sentence with the object.

The subject of the sentence becomes the object.

Sometimes we add '' by" to indicate who performed the action.

For each sentence carefully check what tense should be used.

Active : Sally writes a letter.

Passive: A letter is written by Sally

How to make the passive

We make the passive using to have/get +  past participle

• When the subject causes the action by arranging for someone else to do it.> We had an extension built ...
• when the subject experiences the action, often unexpected/unpleasant. > He had his tools stolen...
• when less formal, we use 'get' > I got my shoes repaired
• when action is planned/intended > It was built by volunteers 

Passive with two objects

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects  means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.  

Active  :    Rita = subject        wrote = verb         a letter = object 1      to me = object 2

Passive:   A letter = subject   was written = verb  to me = object 1   by Rita = object 2

Impersonal passive

News reports and more formal texts (impersonal situations) get a passive form with 'to + inf.'

Advertising is believed to be essential to the success of the new product.

        subject  + passive + infinitive with to                                                                          .

 Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception :  say, think, know

Active : They say that women live longer than men. 

Passive : It is said that women live longer than men.

Examples of verbs which can be used impersonal: 

agree /  believe /  / discover / estimate / expect / find / known / mention / propose / recommend  / show / suppose / suggest / understand

The earthquake injured thousands.

1. active
2. passive

The washing machine was broken.

1. active
2. passive

The game was stopped because of the rain.

1. active
2. passive

The referee stopped the game because of the rain.

1. active
2. passive

Can you tell me where rice is grown?

1. active
2. passive

The Times
(read) by millions of people in England

1. is read
2. are read
3. is being read
4. will be read

The bridge
(destroy) by the storm last night.

1. are destroyed
2. is destroyed
3. has been destroyed
4. was destroyed

In the UK, everyone
(drive) on the left.

1. is driven
2. drove
3. drives
4. will be driven

I will never forget this experience.

1. The experience was not forgotten by me
2. The experience will never be forgotten by me.
3. This experience is not forgotten by me.
4. This experience would never be forgotten by me.

Did she do her duty?

1. Is her duty done by her?
2. Had her duty done by her?
3. Was she done her duty?
4. Was her duty done by her?

She has written a novel.

1. A novel had been written by her.
2. A novel has written by her.
3. A novel has been written by her.
4. A novel has being written by her.

The police have caught the thief.

1. The thief has been caught by the police.
2. The thief was caught by the police.
3. The thief had been caught by the police.
4. The thief were caught by the police.

The tiger was chasing the deer.

1. The deer had chased by the tiger.
2. The deer was chased by the tiger.
3. The deer will be chased by the tiger.
4. The deer was being chased by the tiger.

Rewrite : Sheila drinks a cup of tea.

Rewrite: She sang a song

Rewrite: We were not painting the gate.

Rewrite: Next week, cleaners are going to clean my window.

rewrite, use impersonal passive: It is believed that the pandemic will recover next year.

I understand the passive

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