Passive Voice The passive puts emphasis on the person or thing affected by an action rather than on the agent (whoever does the action).

Use When the agent is not known or not important, or when the agent is obvious from the context. e.g. The car has been repaired.

When the agent is people in general (to avoid using you or one). e.g. Goods can be bought on line.

When the action is more important than the agent, as in describing processes or scientific experiments. e.g. Sulphuric acid is then added.

In order to make a statement more formal and impersonal, often with an it structure. e.g. It was agreed that … Your application has not been successful.

Form To change a sentence from active to passive, the object must become the subject of the new sentence and be followed by a passive form.

The passive is formed with the appropriate tense of the verb to be + past participle.

Farmers grow yerba mate in Misiones. Yerba mate is grown in Misiones. to be + past participle

Examples Leonardo Da Vinci designed the first helicopter. The first helicopter was designed by Leonardo Da Vinci

Someone has repaired my roof. My roof has been repaired.

Someone might steal the car. The car might be stolen.

Exercise 1 Change the sentences into passive voice Argentina produces a lot of crops. Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. The manager will criticize the plan. John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola. Henry Ford made the first car. They have locked the door.

Answers A lot of crops are produced in Argentina. Hamlet was written by Shakespeare. The plan will be criticized by the manager. Coca-cola was invented by John Pemberton. The first car was made by Henry Ford. The door has been locked.

Exercise 2 1) The words ____________ by the teacher today. (to explain - Simple Present) 2) We ___________a letter the day before yesterday. (to send - Simple Past) 3) This car _______. It's too old. (not/to steal - will-future) 4) This street _________ because of snow. (already/to close - Present Perfect) 5) A new restaurant __________ next week. (to open - will-future)

1) The words are explained by the teacher today. 2) We were sent a letter the day before yesterday. 3) This car will not be stolen. It's too old. 4) This street has already been closed because of snow. 5) A new restaurant will be opened next week.

1) He ______________ to the party yesterday. (to invite - Simple Past) 2) The blue box _____________. (can/not/to see - Simple Present) 3) I ___________the book by my friend last Sunday. (to give - Simple Past) 4) The dishes _________by my little brother. (not/to wash - Present Perfect) 5) I __________ by Robert. (not/to ask - will-future)

1) He was invited to the party yesterday. 2) The blue box cannot be seen. 3) I was given the book by my friend last Sunday. 4) The dishes have not been washed by my little brother. 5) I will not be asked by Robert

Exercise 3 Find the mistakes and check. Plastic bags are use by manufactures. Glass bottles was made in the factory. A new report have been written. Four hotels have been built by people. The computer model was saw by the manager.

Used Were Has (By people) Seen

Review Complete the sentences Last year,we Tomorrow, I Every day, she If I were a millionaire, I will watch a film Since January, Computer models

Possible answers Last year,we studied chemistry. Tomorrow, I will buy the books. Every day, she walks to university. If I were a millionaire, I would buy a limo. I will watch a film if it rains. Since 2005, I have lived in Obera. Computer models are used for simulations.