1. Using the Passive Voice

2. Using the Passive Voice
Definitions
Changing to the passive voice
Practice examples

3. Active Voice vs. Passive Voice
Active voice takes the form “A does B”
We chose the plastic film to cover the microphone
Passive voice takes the form “B is done (by A)”
Plastic film was chosen (by us) to cover the microphone

4. Active Voice: Subjects Perform an Act
We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject
Verb
Object

5. Active Voice: Subjects Perform an Act
We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject
Verb
Object
Passive voice
Plastic film … was chosen … to cover the microphone.
Subject
Verb
Object

6. Active Voice: Subjects Perform an Act
Third person, but active voice
The team ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject
Verb
Object
Passive voice
Plastic film … was chosen … to cover the microphone.
Subject
Verb
Object

7. Using the Passive Voice
Definitions
Changing to the passive voice
Practice examples

8. Combine “To be” + Past Participle
“To be” is very irregular:
Past participles usually add “-ed” or “-t”: presented, measured, built, burnt
Irregular past principles must be memorized
Present Tense
Past Tense
1st person
I am
We are
I was
We were
2nd person
You are
You were
3rd person
He, she, it is
They are
He, she, it was
They were

9. Omit the “Agent” of the Action
Active
Workers installed burglar alarms.
Passive, with agent
Burglar alarms were installed by the workers.
Passive, with the agent omitted
Burglar alarms were installed.

10. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

11. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

12. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

13. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
Three projects are finished in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

14. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
Three projects are finished in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

15. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
Three projects are finished in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
A project was finished in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

16. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
Three projects are finished in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
A project was finished in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

17. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
Three projects are finished in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
A project was finished in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.
Three projects were finished in eight hours.

18. Using the Passive Voice
Definitions
Changing to the passive voice
Practice examples

19. Change to the Passive Voice
The team used the following materials: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of “Super Glue®,” a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter.

20. Change to the Passive Voice
The team used the following materials: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of “Super Glue®,” a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter.
The following materials were used: a model rocket requiring some assembly, a tube of “Super Glue®,” a cartridge of matter, and a tank of antimatter.

21. Change to the Passive Voice
The EG 1003 course also supplied the launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks.

22. Change to the Passive Voice
The EG 1003 course also supplied the launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks.
The launch stand, the barrier, and two atomic clocks were supplied by the EG 1003 course.

23. Change to the Passive Voice
First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA.

24. Change to the Passive Voice
First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA.
First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.

25. Change to the Passive Voice
First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA.
First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.
I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.

26. Change to the Passive Voice
First, we obtained the rocket kit from a TA.
First, the rocket kit was obtained from a TA.
I inspected the kit to ensure that all parts were present.
The kit was inspected to ensure that all parts were present.

27. Change to the Passive Voice
Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue®.

28. Change to the Passive Voice
Miguel attached the four control surfaces (fins) to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue®.
The four control surfaces (fins) were attached to the fuselage of the model using Super Glue®.

29. Change to the Passive Voice
We pressed the red power switch, activating the model.

30. Change to the Passive Voice
We pressed the red power switch, activating the model.
The red power switch was pressed, activating the model.

31. Change to the Passive Voice
The team noted the time to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched.

32. Change to the Passive Voice
The team noted the time to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched.
The time was noted to verify that there would be enough battery power when the rocket was launched.

33. Change to the Passive Voice
Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

34. Change to the Passive Voice
Francisca pushed the yellow button, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.
The yellow button was pressed, starting the Level 1 Diagnostic for the positronic control system.

35. Change to the Passive Voice
The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.

36. Change to the Passive Voice
The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons.

37. Change to the Passive Voice
The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons.
I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.

38. Change to the Passive Voice
The team took the model out to MetroTech commons.
The model was taken out to MetroTech commons.
I obtained a matter cartridge from the TA.
A matter cartridge was obtained from the TA.

39. Change to the Passive Voice
We snapped this cartridge into the model.

40. Change to the Passive Voice
We snapped this cartridge into the model.
This cartridge was snapped into the model.

41. Change to the Passive Voice
We snapped this cartridge into the model.
This cartridge was snapped into the model.
We mounted the model on the launch stand.

42. Change to the Passive Voice
We snapped this cartridge into the model.
This cartridge was snapped into the model.
We mounted the model on the launch stand.
The model was mounted on the launch stand.

43. Using the Passive Voice
QUESTIONS?