1. The Passive

2. Sample sentences The window was broken last night.
Our IT system is being renewed at the moment.
A loan can be arranged within six days.
Interest rates were raised by 1%.
I have been offered a new job.
A new job has been offered to me.

3. We use the passive: 1. When who does the action is not important.
The new design hasn’t been chosen.
2. When who does the action is clear from the situation:
I was being asked some difficult questions at the interview.
3. When who does the action is unknown:
The window was broken last night.

4. Passive can be formed ONLY with transitive verbs – those that have an OBJECT
Someone is walking in the street.-NO OBJECT
Somebody damaged in transit.
the goods
OBJECT

5. ACTIVE PASSIVE speak . Mexicans Spanish is spoken in Mexico.
ACTIVE: Subject Object
speak
PASSIVE:
Mexicans
Spanish
is spoken
in Mexico.

6. ACTIVE PASSIVE founded . Subject Object Richard Branson Virgin Records
by .
Richard Branson
Virgin Records
was founded

7. Form:
TO BE + past participle

8. Steps in making an active sentences passive:
Adam Smith wrote “The Wealth of Nations”. (active)
Find the object of the active sentence.
Put the object at the beginning of the passive sentence.
Put the verb TO BE in the tense of the main verb of the active sentence.
Add past participle of the main verb of the active sentence
Add BY + subject of the active sentence (if necessary)
1. “The Wealth of Nations”
2. “The Wealth of Nations”…
3. was (because of WROTE)
4. written
5. by Adam Smith.
The Wealth of Nations was written by Adam Smith. (passive)

9. “Romeo and Juliet” was written by Shakespeare.
ACTIVE PASSIVE
Subject Object
wrote by
“Romeo and Juliet” was written by Shakespeare.
Shakespeare
“Romeo and Juliet”
was written

10. The goods are being shipped next week by our supplier.
ACTIVE PASSIVE
Subject Object
is shipping next week.
next week by
The goods are being shipped next week by our supplier.
Our supplier
the goods
are being shipped

11. The project won’t be finished by next month.
ACTIVE PASSIVE
Subject Object
will not finish by next month.
by next month.
The project won’t be finished by next month.
They
the project
won’t be finished

12. A loan can be arranged within six days.
ACTIVE PASSIVE
Subject Object
can arrange within six days.
within six days.
A loan can be arranged within six days. We
a loan
can be arranged

13. Verbs with two objects me a better salary. They promised
give, lend, offer, promise, sell, send, take smth. to smbd.
book, buy, keep, make, prepare, save smth. for smbd. me
a better salary.
indirect object
direct object

14. A new job was offered to me.
ACTIVE PASSIVE
Subject Indirect object Direct object
offered 1.
I was offered a new job. 2.
A new job was offered to me.
They
a new job me I
was offered
was offered to me

15. ACTIVE PASSIVE Subject Indirect object Direct object gave 1.
We were given a large order. 2.
A large order was given to us.
They
a large order us We
were given
was given to us

16. THE PASSIVE: USES
If we want to mention who performs the action we can use a phrase beginning with by:
The decision was taken by the committee.
The missing file has been found by one of the cleaners.
The goods are being shipped next week by our supplier in China.

17. ACTIVE: Peter Franks runs the Marketing Department.
THE PASSIVE: USES
Active or passive: If it is important to say who performs an action, we can use the active or we can use the passive and the word by:
ACTIVE: Peter Franks runs the Marketing Department.
PASSIVE: The Marketing Department is run by Peter Franks.
Both of these sentences are correct.

18. THE PASSIVE: USES
If we were already talking about Peter Franks, we would probably use the active:
Peter Franks is an old colleague of mine. He works for Butterfield International, and he runs the Marketing Department.
If we were talking about the Marketing Department, we would probably use the passive:
The Marketing Department is a large and very successful division that employs over 100 people. It is run by Peter Franks.

19. THE PASSIVE: USES
Systems and processes
The passive is often used to talk about systems and processes, because we are more concerned with the process itself than who carries it out. For example, here is a description of the wine-making process:

20. Wine is made from the fermented juice of grapes
Wine is made from the fermented juice of grapes. Grapes are picked at optimum sugar/acidity levels. After picking, the grapes are taken to the winery, de-stemmed and crushed in a variety of presses. The juice is then clarified by settling or by centrifuge, yeast and sugar are added and the wine is left to ferment in tanks. When fermentation is finished the wine is poured into a clean tank to stabilise. It can then be filtered and bottled and left to mature.

21. Active Passive
Thank you for your order for Pcplus software which we received this morning. Our team is dealing with your order, and we expect that we will deliver the package to you within 10 working days. I have included our current price list as an attachment. Please note we only guarantee these prices until 31 December. Thank you for choosing soft.com.
Thank you for your order for Pcplus software which was received this morning.
Your order is being dealt with by our team and we expect that the package will be delivered to you within 10 working days.
Our current price list has been included as an attachment.
Please note that these prices are guaranteed until 31 December.

22. are currently being reviewed
Complete each sentence with a passive verb. You may need a negative form.
The goods _________ (damage) in transit last night.
This advert _________ (see) by thousands of people every day.
The project _________ (finish) by the end of the month.
Fifty retail outlets _________ (close) over the last year.
5. All of our IT systems currently _________ (review).
6. Your order _________ (can/ship) until we receive payment.
were damaged
is seen
will not be finished
have been closed
are currently being reviewed
cannot be shipped