48867 using the passive voice

- 28th March, 2013 Grammar Notes Form of the passive voice The objective of a sentence in the active voice becomes the subject of a passive verb A passive construction is made up of a subject (receiver of the action) + verb to be + past participle of main verb If you’re changing an active structure into the passive form, use the verb to be in the passive in the same tense of the main verb They are making a cake for her (active) A cake is being made for her (passive) Use of Active x Passive Sentences Read these examples attentively: a) Contractors build 100,000 new homes in this country every year b) More than 100,000 new homes are built in this country every year (by contractors) Notice that in sentence a) we place the focus on who does the action, while in sentence b) we emphasise what happens rather than who does the action We can say that when people emphasise the facts or actions, they prefer to use the passive voice and when they give more importance to who does the action they use the active voice in English The agent is only included – with by if it adds important information This garden was designed in 2001 by my uncle Jeffrey The passive voice is also used to describe processes Eggs and milk must be added to the bread dough If you build a passive sentence with a modal verb (should, can, could, may, might, must) you’ll use a passive infinitive ( be bought, be solved, be built, be done, etc.) Verbs such as ask, give, offer, pay, send, show, teach and tell, have two objects – a person (indirect object) and a thing (direct object) The most common passive form of sentences with these verbs is usually with the indirect object becoming the subject of the passive verb: She was given a new car last month I Complete the dialogues using passive forms of the verbs Read the model A: Has anyone repaired the dishwasher? B: Yes, it has just been repaired (just - repair) A: Has anyone repaired the dishwasher ? B: No, it _(not yet –repair) A: Have you thrown those old love letters away ? B: I don’t remember but they _ ( should - not – throw away) in my opinion A: Your cat doesn’t look well B: You’re right It doesn’t It should (take) to the vet A Have they sold their old car? B I think it ( could – sell ) if it didn’t cost so much! A Why didn’t she come to your party? B Because she _ (not – invite) A: Do they include service in the bill? B: Yes, service _ (include) A: Will they postpone the meeting? B I’m sure the meeting (postpone) A: Can we leave our bicycles in the driveway? B: No Bicycles (leave) in the driveway A: Are they paving the street? B: Yes, the street _(pave) 10 A: Were they serving dinner when you arrived? B: Yes, dinner _ (serve) when I arrived 11 A: Were you late for dinner? Had they served dinner when you arrived? B: No, I wasn’t late Dinner _ (not- serve) when I arrived 12 A: Did they have to postpone the meeting? B: Yes, the meeting _(postpone) II Rewrite the sentences in the passive form beginning the sentences as shown: Most people don’t use this bridge very often This bridge People speak French and English in Montreal French and English _ The airline cancels flights every weekend Flights _ They buy new computers every two years New computers _ They’re buying new expensive cars for the senators New expensive cars _ Millions of people are watching that silly reality show every Saturday night That silly reality show She ‘s baking an apple pie for us An apple pie _ My friends organised a surprise party for my birthday A surprise party _ The manager has showed us the new machine in the factory We _ 10 Nobody told me that George had married an Italian girl I 11 He didn’t know that somebody was recording his conversation with a suspect He didn’t know his conversation 12 They should have invited Sue to his party Sue 13 Somebody has probably left this mobile phone in the taxi This mobile phone 14 Somebody could have taken it away by now It could _ 15 Someone can pick you up before a.m at the hotel, if you want You can _ 16 Nobody can find the missing boy The missing boy _ 17 It seems that no one has repaired the dishwasher It seems that the dishwasher _ 18 Those men have just cleaned his office His office 19 They’ll certainly translate his book into many foreign languages His book _ 20 You must send your complaint to the head office Your complaint _ Task I B: No, it hasn’t been repaired yet B: I don’t remember but they shouldn’t be thrown away, in my opinion B: You’re right It doesn’t It should be taken to the vet B Because she wasn’t invited B: Yes, service is included B I’m sure the meeting will be postponed B: No Bicycles can’t be left in the driveway B: Yes, the street is being paved 10 B: Yes, dinner was being served when I arrived 11 B: No, I wasn’t late Dinner hadn’t been served when I arrived 12 B: Yes, the meeting had to be postponed B I think it could be sold if it didn’t cost so much! Task II 10 11 This bridge isn’t used very often French and English are spoken in Montreal Flights are cancelled every weekend New computers are bought every year New expensive cars are being bought for the senators That silly reality show is being watched (by millions of people) every Saturday night An apple pie is being baked for us A surprise party was organised for my birthday We’ve been shown the new machine in the factory I wasn’t told that George had married an Italian girl He didn’t know his conversation had been recorded 12 Sue should have been invited to his party 13 This mobile phone has probably been left in the taxi 14 It could have been taken by now 15 You can be picked up before a.m at the hotel, if you want 16 The missing boy can’t be found 17 It seems that the dishwasher hasn’t been repaired 18 His office has just been cleaned 19 His book will certainly be translated into many foreign languages 20 Your complaint must be sent to the head office