The Passive Voice Carmela Grillone FAO International Consultant

Use The passive voice draws your attention to the person or thing affected by an action: when you want to emphasize the object giving less importance to those who perform the action Structure Passive Subject +To Be+ Past Participle

Example We have produced over 20 different models in the past 2 years Changes to Over 20 different models have been produced in the past 2 years

Use of by If you consider the agent (the performer of the action) important you will use “by”. The agent, therefore, should not be used unless relevant. Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet” Changes to “Romeo and Juliet” was written by Shakespeare

Some hints Only verbs that take an object can be used in the passive Example: I walked in the street You cannot transform this sentence into passive

Exercise They make Fords in Cologne. Simple Present They make Fords in Cologne. Simple Present Fords are made in Cologne. Fords are made in Cologne. Susan is cooking dinner. Present Continuous Susan is cooking dinner. Present Continuous Dinner is being cooked by Susan Dinner is being cooked by Susan James Joyce wrote "Dubliners". Past Simple James Joyce wrote "Dubliners". Past Simple "Dubliners" was written by James Joyces. "Dubliners" was written by James Joyces. They were painting the house when I arrived. Past Continuous They were painting the house when I arrived. Past Continuous The house was being painted when I arrived. The house was being painted when I arrived. They are going to build a new factory in Portland. They are going to build a new factory in Portland. A new factory is going to be built in Portland Future Intention A new factory is going to be built in Portland Future Intention I will finish it tomorrow. Future Simple I will finish it tomorrow. Future Simple It will be finished tomorrow. It will be finished tomorrow.