Passive Voice

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

Passive or Active?

Grammar for Formal Writing

What is the subject in this sentence?

The lion bit the man.

(onderwerp)

The lion bit the man.

What is the object in this sentence?

The lion bit the man.

Passive sentences in 5 steps

1. Identify the subject, verb and object 
   
2. Identify the tense by looking at the verb
   
3. Use object as new subject (singular/ plural)
   
4. Add form of 'to be' and change verb into past participle
   
5. Add rest of the sentence and agent if needed
   

am / is / are + past participle

Active

Someone cleans the office every day. 

My boss doesn't ask me to work late.

Passive

The office is cleaned every day. 

I am not asked by my boss to work late.

was / were + past participle

Active

Someone painted our house last month.

The noise did not wake me up.

Passive

Our house was painted last month.

I was not woken up by the noise.

have / has been + past participle

Active

UPS has delivered the letters. 

Thomas has written many books. 

Passive

The letters have been delivered by UPS. 

Many books have been written by Thomas. 

How to recognize a passive sentence...

- Check if there is a form of 'to be' used (am, are, is, was, were, been)

- Is it followed by a participle?

- Is it followed by 'by + noun or pronoun? If not, can it be followed by  'by zombies'?

Are all answers 'yes'? Congratulations, you have a passive sentence.

The Government is planning a new road near my house.

1. passive
2. active

'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 search will be stopped because of the storm.'

1. passive
2. active