The Passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

The PASSIVE

Starts with the 'doer'.                      Starts with the subject that has

                                                      experienced the action.

Passive: What has happened to whom?

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

Passive or active?
The airplane is delayed by half an hour.

1. active
2. passive

Many questions were asked.

1. Active
2. Passive

Julia rescued three cats.

1. active
2. passive

active vs. passive

Passive Voice

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

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 passive:
They write a letter

make passive: I read a book.

Mom cooked dinner.

Make a passive:
The students did an English test yesterday

Well done!