Passive Voice in English

The passive voice is used in English to bring emphasis to the part of the sentence that would traditionally be the object of the sentence:  Active voice: Barack Obama delivered the keynote speech. (keynote speech – object)  Passive voice: The keynote speech was delivered by Barack Obama. (keynote speech – subject)  Active: He sent the letter yesterday. (letter – object)  Passive: The letter was sent yesterday (letter – subject)

When to Use the Passive Voice 1. When the agent of an action is unknown or unimportant: Ex. $1,000,000 was given to the hospital by an anonymous donor. Ex. The painting was stolen from the museum last night. 2. To emphasize a deed or action: Ex. The book was written many years ago. Ex. The game-winning goal was scored in the 90 th minute of the match.

When to Use the Passive Voice (Continued) 3. To emphasize who/what an action or deed is done to: ◦Ex. The principal was offended by the student’s harsh words. ◦Ex. The priest’s sermon was interrupted by my girlfriend’s Lady Gaga cell phone ring tone.

Forming the Passive Voice To make a sentence in the active voice passive: ◦1. Identify the object and make it subject of the new sentence. ◦2. Conjugate the verb ‘to be’ in the appropriate verb tense. ◦3. Make the verb of the original sentence a participle. ◦4. Optional: original subject preceded by the preposition ‘by’ and follows the verb. (more on this later)

Forming the Passive Voice Example: ◦James Joyce wrote Ulysses in the first quarter of the 20 th century.  Object of active voice sentence : Ulysses  Verb of active voice sentence: ‘wrote’ (past tense) ◦Ulysses was written by James Joyce in the first quarter of the 20 th century.

Modal verbs Modal verbs in English: ◦Can, could, may, might, will, would, must, shall, should, ought to When modal verbs are present, follow the modal verb with ‘be + past participle’ ◦He might bring some more wine to the party. (Active) ◦Some more wine might be brought to the party. (Passive)

Note about the Original Subject… It is not always necessary to include the original subject in sentences converted to passive voice from active voice. Example: ◦After the ceremony, my grandmother prepared a brunch for the guests. (Active voice) ◦After the ceremony, a brunch was prepared for the guests. (Passive voice)

Examples with different verb tenses The family is taking a photograph in front of the cathedral. (active) A photograph is being taken in front of the cathedral. (passive) Ray Charles will sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl. (active) The National Anthem will be sung by Ray Charles. (passive)

More examples… The teacher has closed all of the windows in the classroom. (A) The windows in the classroom have been closed. (P) The students will have drunk all of the coffee by the time we get to the class. (A) All of the coffee will have been drunk by the time we get to the class.

Warren Buffett could deliver the keynote speech at this year’s Young Investors’ Convention. The keynote speech at this year’s Young Investors’ Convention could be delivered by Warren Buffet.

Practice in Forming the Passive Voice The students sang ‘My Country ‘Tis of Thee’ at the assembly. The pirates had abandoned much of the treasure by the time they reached Key West. Someone removed the inappropriate comments from the website.

Practice… His aunt will take the dog to the veterinary hospital later. In an ugly act of poor sportsmanship, the team’s mascot punched the referee. The babysitter might take the kids to the amusement park later.

Practice… Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in They hadn’t shut the front passenger door before they started driving.

Activity Think of a recent piece of news— preferably a crime committed—and write about it. Include at least three sentences using the passive voice. If you can’t think of a specific piece of news or a crime committed, invent one.

SPECIAL PASSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS DOUBLE OBJECT The banks have given money to the politician -  a) Money has been given to the politician (by the banks) b) The politician has been given money (by the banks) IT SUBJECT It is rumoured that the politician has received money from the banks ALTERNATIVE WITH A PERSONAL SUBJECT The politician is rumoured to have received money from the banks CAUSATIVE HAVE The politician has had his house rebuilt