U14.2 passives
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Passives David Estrella I., MBA, CELTA
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Transcript of U14.2 passives
PassivesDavid Estrella I., MBA, CELTA
Passives: Use
Use passive voice when the focus is on the object (not on the subject).
We don’t know who or what does the action, or is not important.
Example:
My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know who did it.
Passives: Use
Sometimes a sentence in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made. In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was
made, but I do not blame anyone
(e.g. You have made a mistake.).
Passives: Use
The sentences where we say that someone does something are called active sentences.
Example:
John plays basketball in the park. (active)
someone does something
Passives: How to change it
To change an active sentence to passive, follow these steps:
1. Identify the direct object in the sentence.
(The direct object is the who or the what of the verb.)
2. Use the direct object of the active sentence as the subject of the passive sentence.
Passives: How to change it
3. Write the verb BE. You need to change the verb BE depending on the
tense of the active sentence.
4. Write the verb (from the active) in past participle.
5. If the subject of the active contains important information, include it with the preposition BY before it.
Passives: How to change it
Someone writes a letter in the office. (active)
Subject + verb + direct object + indirect object
A letter is written by someone in the office. (passive)
Passives: How to change it
Robert drove to Quito last night. (active)
There is no direct object in this sentence.
If there is no direct object the change is not possible.
Passives: How to change it
Passives: ExamplesTense Subject Verb ObjectSimple Present
Active: Rita writes a letter.Passive: A letter is written by Rita.
Simple Past
Active: Rita wrote a letter.Passive: A letter was written by Rita.
Present Perfect
Active: Rita has written a letter.Passive: A letter has been written by Rita.
Future I Active: Rita will write a letter.Passive: A letter will be written by Rita.
Passives: ExamplesTense Subject Verb Object
Present Progressive
Active: Rita is writing a letter.Passive: A letter is being written by Rita.
Past Progressive
Active: Rita was writing a letter.Passive: A letter was being written by Rita.
Past Perfect Active: Rita had written a letter.Passive: A letter had been written by Rita.
Change the sentence from active to passive
Camilo takes out the trash twice a week.
Passives: Exercises
Change the sentence from active to passive
Ana asked a question in class yesterday.
Passives: Exercises
Passives: Exercises
Change the sentence from active to passive
Sponge Bob has eaten a Krabby Patty.
Changing the sentences is easy because you follow the steps.
But what do you do in this type of exercises?
Computers _____ (buy) every year before class starts.
We ask can (the subject) do the action?
Passives: Filling the gaps
So:
Can computers buy every year before class starts?
The answer is NO, simply because computers can’t buy anything.
That answer means the sentence is passive.
Computers are bought every year before class starts.
Passives: Filling the gaps
Passives: Filling the gaps
Let’ s look at another example.
Carlos _____ (eat) at work.
We ask: Can Carlos eat at work? The answer is YES.
The sentence is active.
Carlos eats at work.
Passives: Exercises
Fill in the gaps with the active or passive form of the verb in parenthesis.
The White House and the Capitol ____ (connect) by Pennsylvania Avenue.
Passives: Exercises
Fill in the gaps with the active or passive form of the verb in parenthesis.
The football match ____ (win) by our team after
Johnny scored an awesome goal.
Passives: Exercises
Fill in the gaps with the active or passive form of the verb in parenthesis.
We always ____ (go) to school by bus.
Passives: Exercises
Fill in the gaps with the active or passive form of the verb in parenthesis.
The Fellowship of the Ring ___(be) the first book of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which ___ (set) in a fictitious world. It ___ (tell) the story of Frodo and a magic ring.
