Introduction to the Passive Voice

The passive voice occurs in both spoken and written English, and it is used very frequently in technical writing.

Most verbs that take an object can be used in the passive voice.

In sentences in the active voice, the primary focus is on the subject (the agent or doer of the action). To give primary focus to the object of the sentence, the sentence can be changed to the passive voice. Mohammed Adam 1

The Passive voice

Subject verb direct object

Active The moon orbits the earth

Passive The earth is orbited by the moon

subject verb agent

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Rules

The simple present tense:

Object + (am, is, are) + PP.

The past simple tense:

Object + (was / were) + PP.

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Followed

Simple present tense:

• Active: Several planets orbits the sun.

Moons orbits some of the planets.

• Passive: The sun is orbited by several planets.

some of the planets are orbited by

the moon.

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Followed

The past simple tense:

• Active: The Dutch invented a simple telescope.

The Italians later developed several

telescopes.

• Passive: A simple telescope was invented by

the Dutch.

Several telescopes were later

developed by the Italians. Mohammed Adam 5

Passive Voice Verbs and Prepositions.

The following verb and prepositions are frequently used in the passive voice.

• By + agent is not normally used with these combinations.

• Other participle and preposition combinations include verbs of emotion such as bore (be bored with), interest (be interested in), and so on.

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Passive Voice Verbs and Prepositions.

• be based on: The idea was based on a book. • be composed of: The moon is not composed of green cheese. • be involved in: She’s involved in difficult situation. • be known for: He’s known for his great sense of humor. • be made from: Steel is made from iron ore. Mohammed Adam 7

followed

• be made up of: Our class is made up of people from many places. • be noted for: Miki is noted for her kindness and generosity. • Be related to: Are you related to Paul? • be used for: Machines are used for measuring distances in space • be used to: Machine are used to measure distances in space. Mohammed Adam 8

Uses of by + agent

By + noun (or pronoun) can be used in passive voice sentence to tell who what performed the action of a verb. Use by + agent with new or important information. • Active: Galileo first used the telescope in astronomy. • Passive: The telescope was first used in astronomy by Galileo. (if the subject is obvious or unimportant , omit it). • Active: People make telescopes with a series of lenses. • Passive: Telescopes are made (by people) with a series of

lenses. Mohammed Adam 9

It with the passive Voice

It is sometimes used with the passive voice to avoid naming the agent or source of information.

• It with the passive is often used with verbs such as: believe, feel, hope, report, say and think).

Active: People believed that the Earth was the

center of the universe.

Passive: It was believed that the Earth was the

center of the universe. Mohammed Adam 10

Followed

• A clause with that follows the verb. That can also be deleted.

Active: Some people thought that everything

revolved around the earth.

Passive: It was thought that everything

revolved around the Earth.

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Followed

• The present tense is used with current beliefs

or information that is true.

Active: People now believe the planets revolve

around the sun.

Passive: It is now believed that the planets

revolve around the sun

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The passive Voice with the Present Perfect tense.

Formation: Has / Have + been + PP

Active: China has launched many satellites.

Passive: Many satellites have been launched by

China.

Active : Scientists have improved technology.

Passive: Technology has been improved. Mohammed Adam 13

The passive voice with the present continuous tense

Formation : am / is / are + being + PP Active: The Chinese are sending ships into outer space. Passive : Ships are being sent into outer space by the Chinese. Active: researchers are launching a new rocket today. Passive: A new rocket is being launched today.

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The passive Voice with modal Auxiliaries.

Formation: Modal + be + PP Active: We could launch space station. Passive: Space stations could be launched. Active: We should start space colonies. Passive: Space colonies should be started. Active: Scientists will perfect the necessary technology soon. Passive: The necessary technology will be perfected soon.

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