6.4 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 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)

Actieve zinnen Passief maken 3

Present/Past Perfect

Had/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)

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')

Exercise 1

Put the verb in the correct form of the passive

The options are:

present/past simple passive

present/past continuous passive

present perfect passive

The report ________ (write) by the team every month.

The house ________ (build) in 1985.

The project ________ (work on) by the students at the moment.

The movie ________ (watch) by millions of people so far.

The books ________ (read) by the students before the exam.

The new software ________ (install) on all the computers this week.

The concert ________ (enjoy) by everyone who attended it yesterday.

The bridge ________ (repair) when suddenly the storm hit.

The documents ________ (sign) by the CEO yesterday.

The treasure ________ (to write) when we unexpectedly ran out of ink.

Exercise 2

Change the sentences from active to passive

Use by in every sentence

The dog has bitten the man.

The boys were playing a game.

Someone stole my bike yesterday.

A lot of people visit the Grand Canyon.

I had made a cake.

Sara's brother is bullying her.

The girls watched a movie.

The pope will visit Spain next month.

The teacher hit the boy.

The happy man held the baby.

I am selling a lot of doughnuts.

People have worn scarves since ancient times.

The hunters have shot a lot of birds.

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