Passive Voice

4 When the agent is unknown –Spanish "SE" : Se venden pisos: Flats are sold –Spanish "Ellos/as" omitted : Le dieron un beso a Pepita: Pepita was given a kiss When do we use it?

4 To make the object of the active verb more important America was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus 4 When the description of the agent is very long A charity record has been made by many famous names in the world of pop music. When do we use it?

4 Subject 4 Subject: Person or object that suffered/enjoyed the results of an action. to be 4 The verb "to be" in the tense the action occurred. Past Participle 4 The Past Participle of the verb that represents the action itself. complements 4 Whatever complements that verb needs. yagent 4 By + the agent. Structure of the sentence

Structure of the verb TENSESEXAMPLES Present SimplePigs are often used to find truffles Present ContinuousMy house is being redecorated at the moment Present PerfectI have never been given flowers on my birthday Past SimpleThis picture was painted by Picasso Past ContinuousWhen I saw him he was being followed by the police Past PerfectShe was angry because she had already been told three times Future SimpleWhen you get there everything will be finished Going to - FutureThey are not going to be easily convinced Conditional SimpleYou would be punished if they found out Conditional PerfectIf you hadn’t told them would I have been invited?

BE to BE gives us the tense of the action Past Participle the main verb is always in Past Participle THE PASSIVE VERB to BE (in the active tense) + Past Participle (main verb) ACTIVEPASSIVE She wants an ice-creamAn ice-cream is wanted He sent a letterA letter was sent We will buy a new car next weekA new car will be bought

The passive sentence ACTIVE VOICE Active Subject Active Verb Direct Object Robertgave a coin by Passive Verb Passive Subject Agent PASSIVE VOICE was givenby

The passive sentence ACTIVE VOICE Active Subject Active Verb Direct Object Indirect Object Robertgavea coinTomto by Direct Object Passive Verb Passive Subject Agent PASSIVE VOICE was givenby

this house 1/They built this house in 1466 This house was built 2/ This house was built in 1466 French & English 1/ Channel islanders speak French & English French & English are spoken 2/ French & English are spoken by Channel islanders your life 1/ This book will change your life Your life will be changed 2/ Your life will be changed by this book Examples

the grass 1/ They have cut the grass The grass has been cut 2/ The grass has been cut me 1/ My mother is going to give me a present I am going to be given 2/ I am going to be given a present by my mother to him 1/ Susan wrote an to him was written 1/ He was written an by Susan Examples

your question 1/ They can’t answer your question Your question can’t be answered 2/ Your question can’t be answered her 1/ Someone had to take her to hospital had to be taken 2/ She had to be taken to hospital the children 1/ They shouldn’t allow the children to do these things The children shouldn’t be allowed 2/ The children shouldn’t be allowed to do these things 1/ Someone must tell him if we want him to know 2/ He must be told 2/ He must be told if we want him to know More examples