Passive vs Active

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Active voice

Wild penguins attacked 

my sister yesterday.

Passive voice

My sister was attacked by wild penguins.

Subject

Subject

Action

Action

What is passive?

When do we use the passive?

When the action is more important than the person who does it.

When do we use the passive?

when the action is more important than the person

How do we make the passive?

to be + past participle (voltooid deelwoord)

When do we use the passive?

When the action is more important than the person who does it.

Examples: 

Active:        A zebra stopped the traffic.

passive:      The traffic was stopped by a zebra. 

Active:         The teacher teaches the student.

passive:       The student is taught (by the teacher).

Active:          The dog bites the man.

Passive:        The man is bitten (by the dog).

What happens?

- The object of the active sentence becomes the subject in the      passive sentence

-  The subject of the active sentence becomes the agent in the       passive sentence 

Active:          He steals a bike.

Passive:       The bike is stolen.

What is the subject in the sentence?

The lion bit the man.

What is the object in the sentence?

The lion bit the man.

Is the sentence active or passive?

The lion bit the man.

1. Passive
2. Active

Make the sentence passive:

The lion bit the man.

How to recognize a passive sentence?

1)       Check if there is a form of 'to be' used.

           > am, are, is, was, were, been 

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

3)       Is it followed by 'by + noun or pronoun'? 

           if not, can it be followed by for example; 'by zombies'?

all answers are 'YES!'. That's a passive sentence. 

am / is / are + past participle

active:       Someone cleans the office everyday.

passive      

active:        My boss doesn't ask me to work late.

passive:     

was / were + past participle 

Active:         Someone painted our house last month.

Passive:      

Active:        The noise did not wake me up.

passive:      

Boys like to play soccer.

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 Government is planning a new road near my house

1. Passive
2. Active

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