Passive Voice Helpful notes by E.F. Adapted from Carmen Torres

 When the agent is unknown –Spanish "SE" : Se venden pisos. –Flats are sold –Subject is omitted: Le dieron un beso a Pepita. -Pepita was given a kiss. 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?

BE  BE  in the tense of the action Past Participle the principal verb in Past Participle THE PASSIVE VERB to BE + Past Participle + {complements} + by – agent (in the active tense) + (main verb) + {if needed} (in the active tense) + (main verb) + {if needed} 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 They have been cutting the grassThe grass has been being cut The agent The agent of the action [the subject in the active voice]

The passive sentence I ACTIVE VOICE Active Subject Active Verb Direct Object Robertfound a coin by Passive Verb Passive Subject Agent PASSIVE VOICE A coin A coin was found by Robert

The passive sentence II: two-complement verbs ACTIVE VOICE Active Subject Active Verb Direct Object Indirect Object Robertgavea coinTomto by Direct Object Passive Verb Passive Subject Agent PASSIVE VOICE by Robert A coin was given A coin was given to Tom Tom was given a coin Tom was given a coin by Robert

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 after this had to be taken 2/ She had to be taken to hospital after the crash 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

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?

4 GETBE 4 GET is used instead of BE with passive meaning. Informal English. I got stuck in a traffic jam She is getting married NEEDWANT 4 After NEED/WANT the -ing form can be used with passive meaning This job needs doing That room wants cleaning EXTENSION I: get, need, want

something 4 HAVE/ GET something done: Arranging for or paying for somebody to do something for you. (Get is more informal). his hair He had his hair cut her carpet She got her carpet cleaned our car We have had our car mended their book They had got their book translated More passive stuff HAVE + Object + Past Participle EXTENSION II: get/have

4 Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say, Report, Know, Expect, Feel, Understand, Find 1.Introductory IT is used is said he started the fire It is said that he started the fire is thought she doesn't live in London It is thought that she doesn't live in London was known the King is coming tomorrow It was known that the King is coming tomorrow More passive stuff IT + passive verb + complete subordinate sentence without changes EXTENSION III: said, believed, thought

4 Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say, Report, Know, Expect, Feel, Understand, Find is said he started the fire It is said that he started the fire (action in the Past) He is said to have started the fire He is said to have started the fire (Infinitive Perfect) is thought she doesn't live in London It is thought that she doesn't live in London (Present) She is thought to live in London She is thought to live in London (Infinitive Present) More passive stuff Subordinate subject + verb passive + subordinate active verb in INFINITIVE. EXTENSION III: said, believed, thought