Passive 3rd year

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

The Passive

What is a passive sentence

When to use a passive sentence

How to create a passive sentence

What is a passive
sentence

Use of the Passive

My bike was stolen.

The Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known who or what is doing it.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know who did it.

A mistake has been made.

Sometimes a statement in the passive is more polite than the active voice, as the above example shows.

 

In this case, the focus is on the fact that a mistake was made, but nobody is blamed as opposed to the active sentence 

(e.g. You have made a mistake.).

Put the next sentence in the passive:
John collects money.

Put the next sentence in the passive:
Anna opened the window.

Put the next sentence in the passive:
We have done our homework.

Put the next sentence in the passive:
Are you going to ask that question?

Put the next sentence in the passive:
He can cut out the picture.

Put the next sentence in the passive:
Did the sheep eat the food?

Put the next sentence in the passive:
We do not ever clean our rooms.

Put the next sentence in the passive:
William won't repair the car.

Put the next sentence in the passive:
Did Sue draw this circle?

Put the next sentence in the passive:
You should feed the dog.