Active and Passive Voice Active and Passive sentences usually have similar meanings, but a different focus. Active Active sentences focus on what the subject does. subject object My father drove the new car. Passive Passive sentences focus on the object. (the person/ thing receiving the action) Sometimes, we put the word ‘by’ before the subject. object subject The new car was driven by my father.

The Passive be + past participle FORM Active Aniqah wrote the article. The article was written by Aniqah. be + past participle

The Passive Sometimes when we use the passive we do not know who did the action. So, we do not use the passive with ‘by’. Passive My watch was made in Switzerland. My car has been damaged.

The active and the Passive Voice Once a week, Tom cleans the house. (Simple Present) Right now, Sarah is writing the letter. (Present Continuous) Sam repaired the car. (Simple Past) Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom. Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah. The car was repaired by Sam.

The active and the Passive Voice The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. (Past Continuous) Many tourists have visited that castle. (Present Perfect) Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM. (Simple Future) The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. That castle has been visited by many tourists. The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.

Active or Passive? You will be told what to do. Su Lee cancelled her appointment. It was built in 1980. They sell shoes and handbags. James will show you the way. The technician is repairing the printer now. It is being repaired at the moment. Televisions are also sold in the hypermarket.

Exercises Rewrite the sentences using the passive. You cannot smoke here. Smoking _____________ in here. 2. People speak hundreds of languages in India. Hundreds of languages ______________ in India. Trucks delivered the stock to the warehouse. The stock ____________ to the warehouse. Somebody built the house in 1970. The house __________ in 1970.

Exercises Rewrite the sentences using the passive. 5. Somebody has stolen his car. His car __________. 6. Nobody invited me to the party. I ___________ to the party. 7. Our manager made the decision. The decision _________ by our manager. 8. We will finish everything tomorrow. Everything ______________ tomorrow.

Exercises Complete the sentences. Use the passive. I didn’t lose my bag. It ____________ (steal) when I was on the bus. Sonia didn’t fall over. She _________ (push). They didn’t know how to use it. They _____________ what to do by Jenny (show). The delivery __________ this morning. Three items were missing (check). All the parts come from Indonesia and ___________ here in the factory. (assemble) 6. Peter didn’t have an accident. The car ___________ in the park. (damage)