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1. ESL MiniLesson
THE
PASSIVE VOICE
Peter Mangiaracina

2. INTRODUCTION
In the passive voice, the object of the sentence becomes
the subject.
The original verb becomes the verb “to be” plus a
participle.
The original subject becomes the agent preceded with the
word “by.”
In many cases, the agent is not needed.
Peter Mangiaracina

3. This is an active sentence:
SUBJECT VERB OBJECT
This is a passive sentence:
PATIENT AUXILIARY PARTICIPLE by + AGENT
Peter Mangiaracina

4. Relationship of Active Sentence to Passive Sentence
Doctors use penicillin
SUBJECT VERB OBJECT
Conjugation of original verb Original verb in participle form
PATIENT AUXILIARY PARTICIPLE by + AGENT
Penicillin is used by doctors
Peter Mangiaracina

5. WHEN TO USE
In place of sentences with generalized subjects.
When receiver of an action is more important than the
subject.
When we don’t need or want to mention the subject.
When writing medical articles.
Peter Mangiaracina

6. WHEN NOT TO USE
When writing med-lit discussions.
When writing general fiction or non-fiction.
Peter Mangiaracina

7. WHY NOT USE THE PASSIVE?
It uses the verb “to be” as a necessary part of its
structure, and the verb “to be” is the weakest verb in
the English language.
E-PRIME
Peter Mangiaracina