Unit 13 PASSIVE vOICE

The Passive Voice Can be+V3 (to Be) + V3 Can be used with different tenses and with modals. The tense of the sentence is shown by the verb BE. Use the past participle with every tense. Active Passive Simple Present They take a vote. A vote is taken. Simple Past They took a vote. A vote was taken (by them.) Future They will take a vote. A vote will be taken. They /are going to/ take a vote. A vote /is going to be/ taken. Present Perfect They have taken a vote. A vote has been taken. Modal They must take a vote. A vote must be taken. Can be+V3 Should, would, may, might, have to, could (to Be) + V3

USES: The passive voice is used more frequently without a do-er than with a do-er. People speak English in the U.S. English is spoken in the U.S. Independence Day is celebrated in July. done by people The jurors are given a lunch break. The meat was cooked well done. Person who did action not important The jurors will be paid at the end of the day.   The criminal was arrested. Obvious/clear who did the action The test is given on the passive voice. Do not know who did the action The car was stolen yesterday. The woman was killed in the car accident.

Active vs. Passive Active: The lawyers presented the case yesterday. Passive: The case was presented in two hours. Active: The judge and the lawyers choose jurors. Passive: People who don’t understand English are not chosen.

Negatives and Questions with the Passive Voice Simple Past The test was given. The students were given their grades. Were they given a hard test? No, they weren’t. How many tests were the students given? Why didn’t they take many tests? Who was finished with the test at 11:00?

Present Perfect I have been chosen to receive the scholarship. I haven’t been chosen before. Pp=has/have+V3 Have you ever been chosen? Has/have+been+v3 No, I haven’t. How many times have you been chosen to receive a scholarship? Why haven’t you been chosen? Which people have been chosen?

Choosing Active Voice and Passive Voice A) A driver using a cell phone caused the accident. P) The accident was caused by a driver using a cell phone. A) A driver hit a teenager. P) The teenager was injured/hit. P) The manufacturer of the cell phone cannot be held responsible. P) Some employees are expected to do business while driving. P) It was found that 80% of accidents are the result of a distracted driver. P) It is believed that cell phone use distracts drivers.

Some verbs have no objects. We cannot make these verbs passive Some verbs have no objects. We cannot make these verbs passive. Some verbs with no object are: Happen Go Fall Become Live Sleep Come Look Die Seem Work Complain Be Remain Arrive Stay Appear Rain Run Sound Grow Depend Laugh Leave When were you born? I was born in 1981.

A) She sued them. P) They were sued by her. A) He helps us. P) We are helped by him.

HAVE and WANT are not usually used in the passive voice. He has a cell phone. NOT A cell is had by him. She wants a new car. NOT A new car is wanted by her.  

Passive example The answer was written by me. I am taught by Lauren. Smoking is not allowed in class. This book was written by me. The speakers were turned on by the teacher. The cell was stolen by a classmate. The glass was broken. My money was stolen.