Passive Voice

Active/ Passive Voice definition A verb is said to be active voice when it expresses an action performed by its subject. A verb is said to be passive voice when the action it expresses is performed upon its subject.

Active / Passive examples active voice The coach instructed the players. The subject performs the action. Passive voice The players were instructed by the coach. The subject receives the action.

Passive or active? The album was received unfavorably by the fans. The student body elects its council reps. Angelo’s courageous act averted a tragedy. A bit part was played by the well-known actor. Someone at the airport recognized the popular actor. A volunteer usually leads the discussions. That counting game is played by more than one person. A prophet’s warnings are usually ignored at first. WC Handy composed many famous jazz pieces. Handy’s contributions to music are appreciated by many listeners.

Passive or active? The album was received unfavorably by the fans. p The student body elects its council reps. a Angelo’s courageous act averted a tragedy. a A bit part was played by the well-known actor. p Someone at the airport recognized the popular actor.a A volunteer usually leads the discussions. a That counting game is played by more than one person.p A prophet’s warnings are usually ignored at first.p WC Handy composed many famous jazz pieces.a Handy’s contributions to music are appreciated by many listeners. p

Passive voice in Spanish Passive voice is always made with the same pattern. Ser + past participle If you look at the examples, ser is the first part of the passive voice structure followed by a past participle in English.

Look at the passive examples. The album was received unfavorably by the fans. A bit part was played by the well-known actor. That counting game is played by more than one person. A prophet’s warnings are usually ignored at first. Handy’s contributions to music are appreciated by many listeners. Do you see where ser and past participles going to happen?

REMEMBER Remember regular past participles are made by adding –ado or –ido to the stem. There are the irregulars. Abierto / visto / puesto / dicho / cubierto / escrito / vuelto / hecho / muerto / roto

Click here to go to a review of the past participle (along with the present perfect tense).

Passive voice Passive voice is made using ser (present or preterit tense) + past participle. The book was written… El libro fue escrito… The map is read… El mapa es leído…

Passive voice Unlike the perfect tenses, the past participle will agree with the subject of the sentence. La mesa es puesta… The table is set…

Passive voice -- try The paper is finished… The books are studied… The tables were broken… The dress are bought… The house was painted…

Answers El papel es terminado… Los libros son estudiados Las mesas fueron rotas… Los vestidos son comprados… La casa fue pintada…

Click here to go to a review of the passive voice. Click here to go to a review of the passive and impersonal se.