1. The Passive Voice

2. (A.) The teacher returned the exams on Monday. (B.) The exams were returned on Monday. The two sentences have basically the same meaning, but the emphasis changes according to which subject the writer uses. In sentence (A), the writer focuses on the teacher, while in sentence (B) the focus is on the exams.

3. Forming the Passive Voice The passive voice is formed with the verb be + past participle. The tense is shown by the form of the verb be. The verb be must agree with the subject. An outstanding student is awarded* the scholarship every year. Shannon was awarded* the scholarship last night. *This is not a past tense –ed.

4. The Simple Present am / is / are + past participle The newspaper is read throughout the world.

5. The Present Progressive am / is / are + being + past participle The new library is being built.

6. The Present Perfect has / have + been + past participle The house has been painted recently.

7. The Simple Past was / were + past participle The books were returned to the library on time.

8. The Past Progressive was / were + being + past participle By the time I got to the plane, the doors were being closed.

9. The Past Perfect had + been + past participle The dinner had been prepared before we arrived.

10. The Simple Future will be + past participle We will be tested on this material.

11. Be going to am / is / are going to + be + past participle The show is going to be held next month.

12. The Future Perfect will have been + past participle We will have been given the assignment details by then.

13. Using Modals in the Passive Voice Present/future: modal + be + past participle The computer can be upgraded. Past modals: modal + have been + past participle The traffic delays must have been caused by snow.

14. Using Infinitive & Gerunds with the Passive Voice verb + infinitives: verb + to be + past participle The children like to be kissed before going to bed. verb + gerunds: gerund + being + past participle He dislikes being treated like a child.

15. The verb be is followed by –ing ( the present participle ) to form the progressive. We are planning our next vacation. They were living in Guadalajara last year. The verb be is followed by –ed ( the past participle ) to form the passive. Essays are turned in every Monday. My essay was turned in yesterday.

16. Using the Passive Voice Use the passive voice in the following circumstances: 1.When the person or thing doing the action is obvious, unknown, or unimportant. Many trees were planted to replace those lost in the fire. The house was built in 1850. Tobacco is grown in the South.

17. 2. When you don’t want to mention the person doing the action. Several failing grades were received in ESL 184. The information was given to the police investigator. The new law was passed without our knowledge.

18. 3. When you want to emphasize the receiver of the action or the result of the action. International students are housed in the homes of local families. A new computer system is being installed to improve our computer’s speed. Children can be taught good manners at an early age.

19. 4. When you are describing a process. The specimens were collected and placed on a slide. The eggs are beaten until they are creamy. The wheel is attached to the axle before the nuts are tightened.

20. Only transitive verbs ( verbs that take a direct object ) can be used in the passive voice. Intransitive verbs cannot be made passive. Do not use these verbs in the passive voice. appearbelongexistseem arrivecomehappensleep bedieoccurrise

21. Correct the errors in the passive voice. 1.I was transfer to another math class. 2.Bacterial infections were existed before man. 3.Many new books are writing every year. 4.The award will be gave at the ceremony. 5.I hope to accept at this university.