Passives repeated

• Engels
• Middelbare school

The passive

Active sentences-> To focus on who did it.

Passive sentences-> To focus on what happened (who did is is not important or unknown).

The passive

You use the passive to focus on what is happening, rather than who is doing it.

In other words:

What happened is more important than who did it.

The passive

To make an active sentence passive, you have to be able to recognise the following:

Subject

Verb 

Object

Indicate the subject, verb and object:

The student handed in the exam paper.

The man bought a phone.

The police officer arrested him.

Indicate the subject, verb and object:

The student handed in the exam paper.

The man bought a phone.

The police officer arrested him.

Indicate the subject, verb and object:

The student / handed in  / the exam paper.

The man / bought / a phone.

The police officer / arrested / him.

                          S                V                 O

                   

Indicate the subject, verb and object:

The student / handed in  / the exam paper.

The man / bought / a phone.

The police officer / arrested / him.

                          S                V                 O

                                 S          V           O

                          

Indicate the subject, verb and object:

The student / handed in  / the exam paper.

The man / bought / a phone.

The police officer / arrested / him.

                          S                V                 O

                                 S          V           O

                                    S                V           O

What is the subject in the following
sentence: "I am cleaning the room."

What is the object in the following
sentence: "I am cleaning the room."

What is the verb in the following
sentence: "I am cleaning the room."

From active to passive

The subject and object switch places. 

+

Form of "to be" + past participle

Which form of "to be" do I use?

- Find the tense of the active sentence

- Use that same tense for the form of to be!

- Add the Past Participle of the original verb

They manufacture these cars in Germany. (present simple)

These cars are manufactured in Germany. 

His great grandfather built this church. (past simple)

This church  was built by his great grandfather.

Which form of "to be" do I use?

- Find the tense of the active sentence

- Use that same tense for the form of to be!

- Add the Past Participle of the original verb

My mother is doing the laundry. (present continuous)

The laundry is being done by my mother.

He has stolen that bike. (present perfect)

That bike has been stolen by him.

Which tense is this?

John has taken all the chocolat.

1. present simple
2. past simple
3. present continuous
4. present perfect

Which tense is this?

Valerie bought a new dress.

1. present simple
2. past simple
3. present continuous
4. present perfect

Which tense is this?

James and Carry are doing the dishes.

1. present simple
2. past simple
3. present continuous
4. present perfect

Make this sentence passive:

The dog catches the ball.

Make this sentence passive:

The dog chased the cat.

Make this sentence passive:

Mike is playing the piano.

Make this sentence passive:

Sean has made a mistake.

Questions?

QUESTIONS

about making PASSIVES?

Go to Classroom: