The Passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

The PASSIVE voice

Lesson Goals

By the end of this lesson I can 

...know when the passive is used

...use the passive voice correctly

...change sentences from active to passive

active vs. passive

Passive Voice

Use the form of to be (active sentence) + past participle 

Why use the passive?

When the action is important, but the 'doer' isn't. 

A billion drinks are sold every day.

(It doesn't matter who sells them.)

Active / passive?
Alan teaches geography.

1. active
2. passive

Active / passive?
They often listen to music.

1. active
2. passive

Houses have been built.

1. active
2. passive

Active/passive?
The keys were lost at the party.

1. Active
2. Passive

Active/passive?
The farmer milked the cows

1. Active
2. Passive

Active/passive?
The airplane is delayed by half an hour.

1. active
2. passive

Active/passive?
Many questions were asked.

1. Active
2. Passive

Active/passive?
Julia rescued three cats.

1. active
2. passive

How do you create a passive?

My sister bakes a cake. (present simple tense)

1. Start with the direct object (lijdend voorwerp). -> A cake

2. Use the correct form of to be. -> is (present simple tense)

3. Use the past participle of the verb mentioned in the active voice. -> baked

4. End the sentence with 'the agent' (the subject from the active sentence) -> by my sister.

A cake is baked by my sister.

Make this sentence passive.
They write a letter

Make this sentence passive.
I read a book.

Make this sentence passive.
Mom cooked dinner.

Make this sentence passive.
The students have done a test

Active or Passive

1. The grapes are grown in California. → 
2. The hamster can be kept in a cage. → 
3. The party has already started. → 
4. The car is standing at the garage. → 
5. The ship has left the harbour. → 
6. The police didn't find the robber last week. → 
7. The first fast food restaurants were opened in the USA in 1916. → 
8. The train is going to arrive late. → 
9. The search will be stopped because of the storm. → 
10. The friends have been looking forward to meeting her. → 

Active or Passive Answers

1. The grapes are grown in California. → Passive
2. The hamster can be kept in a cage. → Passive
3. The party has already started. → Active
4. The car is standing at the garage. → Active
5. The ship has left the harbour. → Active
6. The police didn't find the robber last week. → Active
7. The first fast food restaurants were opened in the USA in 1916. → Passive
8. The train is going to arrive late. → Active
9. The search will be stopped because of the storm. → Passive
10. The friends have been looking forward to meeting her. → Active

Thumbs up / down or answer the question.

I can write sentences in the passive and I can change active sentence to passive sentences

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure yet..

Well done!

Homework

Page 118 - 121

Ex. 51, 52, and 53