The passive voice. FAO International Consultant

1. The Passive Voice
Carmela Grillone
FAO International Consultant

2. Use
The passive voice draws your attention
to the person or thing affected by an
action: when you want to emphasize
the object giving less importance to
those who perform the action
Structure
Passive Subject +To Be+ Past
Participle

3. Example
We have produced over 20 different
models in the past 2 years
Changes to
Over 20 different models have been
produced in the past 2 years

4. Use of by
If you consider the agent (the
performer of the action) important
you will use “by”.
The agent, therefore, should not be
used unless relevant.
Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet”
Changes to
“Romeo and Juliet” was written by
Shakespeare

5. Some hints
Only verbs that take an object can be
used in the passive
Example:
I walked in the street
You cannot transform this sentence
into passive

6. Exercise
 They make Fords in Cologne. Simple Present
 Fords are made in Cologne.
 Susan is cooking dinner. Present Continuous
 Dinner is being cooked by Susan
 James Joyce wrote "Dubliners". Past Simple
 "Dubliners" was written by James Joyces.
 They were painting the house when I arrived. Past Continuous
 The house was being painted when I arrived.
 They are going to build a new factory in Portland.
 A new factory is going to be built in Portland Future Intention
 I will finish it tomorrow. Future Simple
 It will be finished tomorrow.