THE PASSIVE VOICE

THE PASSIVE VOICE
I.Look at these sentences :
-Active : Mr.Brown wrote the report .
S V O
-Passive : The report was written by Mr.Brown .
1 2 3 4 5
II.Remember these things :
The Active object becomes the passive subject .
Adding “ TO BE “ after the subject (To Be =The same form as the active verb and in agreement with its subject .
Setting the past participle
Adding the preposition “ By”
The Active subject becomes the passive object after BY
*NOTE :-The words such as I , YOU , WE , THEY……..PEOPLE , ONE , ANYONE , ANYBODY , SOMEONE , SOMEBODY , EVERYONE , ….is omitted from Passive voice.
+ The position of adverbs and preposition phrases in passive sentences:
-Adv of place stand before BY + Agent .
-Adv of time stand after BY + Agent
-Adv of manner usually stand between BE and PP
III. THE PASSIVE FORMS :
1.PRESENT SIMPLE : S + IS / ARE / AM + P.P
-Mr.Green teaches English => English is taught by Mr. Green .
2.PAST SIMPLE : S + WAS / WERE + P.P
-Nam wrote this letter . => This letter was written by Nam .
3.PRESENT – PAST CONTINUOUS : S + IS / ARE / AM + BEING + PP
WAS / WERE
-The police are questioning Tom. =>Tom is being questioned by the police .

4.PRESENT PERFECT – PAST PERFECT : S + HAVE / HAS + BEEN + PP
HAD
-The fire has destroyed many houses . => Many houses have been destroyed by the fire .
5.MODAL VERBS : S + CAN / MAY / MUST / WILL / SHALL + BE + PP
USED TO /BE GOING TO/HAVE TO
*Two common passive constructions with verbs expressing opnions and rumours like SAY , REPORT ,THINK , ASSUME , BELIEVE ,RUNOUR ,……
S + BE + PP + V5
IT + BE + PP + THAT –CLAUSE
-People say that prevention is better than cure .
a)Prevention is said to be better than cure
b)It is said that prevention is better than cure .
-Everybody believed that he had died of SIDA
a)He was believed to have died of SIDA
b)It was believed that he had died of SIDA
*Passive voice with relative pronouns :
E.g :The teacher who teach him English is my father .
=>He is taught English by the teacher who is my father .
E.g :I don’t know whom the doctor will examine next .
=>I don’t know who will be examined next by the doctor .
*Note :The relative pronoun must be placed right after the noun or pronoun it qualifies .
+Who ( A) -> By whom (P )
+ Whom ( A ) -> who (P)
E.g :Who invented the telephone ?
=>By whom was the telephone invented ?
*Passive voive in imperative sentences :
E.g :-Write down your name and address . =>Let your name and address be written down.
-Take off your hat . => Let your hat be taken off .
-Let talk to her . =>Lewt her be talked to by us .
-Don’t let the others see you . => Don’t let you be seen by the others .
*Other Patterns :
-I’d like them to make me a cup of tea . =>I’d like (myself ) to be made a cup of tea .
-It’s necessary to call him up . =>It’s necessary for him to be called up .
-It’s impossible to do this. =>It’s impossible for this to be done
*Change into passive voice :
1 . The teacher corrects our exercises at home .
Ali’s absence worried his mother .
They are building several new schools in our town .
We have made great progress in industry ,science and medicine .
Sam killed a lion last week .
You must hand in your report before the end of this month .
I had just finished the job when the factory closed .
Noone has opened that box for the past hundred years .
Are you going to mail these letters soon ?
He should have finished the report yesterday .
Scientists began to carry out researches on SIDA two years ago .
They say that he is the richest man in our town .
I can assure you I will arrange everything in time ( 2 passive )
We are to pity rather than despise these homeless boys .( 2 passive )
We haven’t moved anything since they sent you away to cure you .( 3 passive )
*FURTHER PRACTICE :
She fell into water because somebody pushed