The Passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• 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')

Samen oefenen

• My dog eats a lot of food.
  
• A lot of food is eaten by my dog.
• Our friends bought a tent.
  
• a tent was bought by our friends.
• The girls have enjoyed the holiday.
  
• The holiday has been enjoyed by the girls.
• We will rob the bank.
• The bank will be robbed by us.

En nu oefenen!

Klik op de tijd die je wilt oefenen om naar de juiste website gestuurd te worden:

PRESENT SIMPLE

PAST SIMPLE

PRESENT PERFECT

FUTURE SIMPLE

Maak nu de opdrachten in je portfolio!