The Passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 5

The Passive

The Passive 

What is the passive?

The passive voice is used to change the focus of the sentence:

- when we  do not mention WHO did the action

- when we want to start the sentence with the most important information (the action)

- when we want to write in a more formal manner (i.e. in an essay)

subject	onderwerp
(in-)direct object	meewerkend/lijdend voorwerp
verb	werkwoord
tense	tijd
past participle	voltooid deelwoord

Active > Passive

1. Identify the subject + object. 

2. Identify the tense. 

3. Replace subject with object. 

4. Add 'to be' and change verb into past participle

5. Add the rest of the sentence. 

Ms Rebel explained the passive to the class. (= active)

The passive was explained to the class by Ms Rebel. (= passive)

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?

(Leidend voorwerp)

The lion bit the man.

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 (voltooid deelwoord)?

- 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.

ACTIVE= He is stealing a bike.

ACTIVE

ONDERWERP = WIE /WAT het doet staat vooraan de zin.

PASSIVE: The bike is stolen.

PASSIVE

DE ACTIE  staat vooraan. NIET wie het doet

....all the possibilities......

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

ACTIVE > PASSIVE
She bought four apples.

ACTIVE > PASSIVE
Mother waters the flowers.

ACTIVE > PASSIVE
The police arrested the thieves.

ACTIVE > PASSIVE
My dad drives a blue car.