V3 - U12- Grammar: Passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3-6

Why do we use the passive? 

• to emphasize the result of an action

        Many refugees have been rescued from the sea 

        The money in his pocket was stolen, while he was sleeping

•  to leave out the actor of an action

          Mistakes have been made in the refugee crisis

• to give a sense of objectivity

          Research into COVID vacine was done in various countries

Fireworks were not allowed in Amsterdam

Best wishes for 2023!

Today's goals

• You can explain the different forms of the passive
• You can use the different forms of the passive in sentences

-Grammar note: Passive

-Do: online practice Passive

When, in 1897, Mark Twain heard that his obituary had been published,
he contacted the United States from London. The often-quoted version of
his message relies on the passive voice for its punchline.

The most pilloried use of the passive voice might be that famous expression of presidents and press secretaries. Politicians have used the passive voice
to spin the news, avoid responsibility or hide the truth. 

Passives

object

How to make a passive voice: 

  Passive = 'to be' + past participle (3rd form)

The dog bites the woman

The woman is bitten (by the dog).

The doctor stitched the wound

The wound was stitched (by the doctor).

What is the object?
Fran gave her a present for passing the exams.

Object in a sentence

                                 Who/what happens to whom

The dog bites the woman

Subject? The dog

Action? bites (in present simple)

Object: Who bites the dog? the woman! 

                                 The woman is bitten (by the dog).

The object in an Active sentence =

the subject in a Passive sentence!

What is the object?
The ambulance takes victims
to the hospital

The Government is planning a new road near my house.

1. passive
2. active

This room has been painted blue.

1. passive
2. active

Cricket is also played in Australia.

1. passive
2. active

The friends have been looking forward to meeting him.

1. passive
2. active

Boys like to play soccer.

1. passive
2. active

The search will be stopped because of the storm.

1. passive
2. active

Make a passive:
Lots of books ... (buy) every year.

1. are bought
2. is bought
3. were bought
4. have been bought

Make a passive sentence:
Not many books ... (read) by children in 1890.

1. are read
2. is read
3. were read
4. have been read

Thanos ___________ ___________ by the mightiest 

heroes  of the Earth.

is

are

was

being

be

defeated

defeat

been

The secretary writes an email

The musicians play another song

The emails are sent by the secretary now

The songs are played in a different order

Active

Passive

My broken tap ___________   ___________   _________ now.

is

repaired

was

being

be

fix

repair

been

___________ your room __________  ___________ yet?

is

has

was

cleaned

has

have

platypus

been

Make a passive. Start with 'a goal'...

Make a passive. Start with 'the oranges'...

Today's goals

• You can explain the different forms of the passive
• You can use the different forms of the passive in sentences

Read up in MyGrammarLab Module 17

Make a passive:
Lots of books ...(read, not) by those children yet.

1. aren't read
2. isn't read
3. weren't read
4. haven't been read

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