2. The Passive Voice
• Active and passive voices are used in English to
express actions.
• While in the active voice the subject is the doer, in
the passive, the subject receives the effects of the
action. Thus, only transitive verbs (those that take
a direct object) can undergo the passive
transformation.
3. • Active: My parents will place two solar panels on the roof.
subject verb direct object
• Passive: Two solar panels will be placed by my parents on the roof.
subject verb agent
In the sentence in the active voice, the primary focus is on the
subject (the agent or doer of the action). In the passive
voice, the focus is on the object of the sentence.
4. • No part at all of the verb form in the active
sentence can be deleted in the corresponding
passive one. Therefore, the modal
auxiliaries, the have plus past participles,
and the be plus –ing forms that appear in an
active sentence will appear in the pasive one.
• Although there is a change in word order—and
sometimes new elements—the passive sentence
always preserves the meaning of the active
sentence, and what it really occurs is just a
change in emphasis.
5. When to Use the Passive Voice
• To signal that the performer is unknown.
The investigation will be carried on in
Germany.
• To hint that the “doer” is a general group.
The meeting should be held in the
conference room.
6. • To avoid mentioning the performer of the action.
The concert could be given inside the
cathedral.
• To place emphasis on the receiver rather than on the
performer of the action.
The thief must be put in jail by the
policeman.
• To describe a scientific experiment or process.
The plants must be labeled for further
research.
7. The Passive Voice with Modal
Auxiliaries
Person/
object
+
can
could
may
might
should
must
+ be +
past
participle of
verb
8. • To form the passive voice of modal auxiliaries,
use modal + be + past participle.
• Note that modal auxiliaries have the same
functions in the passive voice as they do in the
active.
Active Passive
Modal Passives
We should build more wind
turbines.
More wind turbines should
be built.
The government must create
laws to protect the
environment.
Laws to protect the
environment must be
created.
Scientists will perfect the
necessary technology soon.
The necessary technology
will be perfected soon.
9. Use the words within parentheses to complete the memo.
Changes in company policy
This is a friendly reminder regarding certain office rules. The dress code
for most days is “business casual”; jeans (1. may/ wear) only on “casual
Fridays”. And please help keep the office kitchen clean and tidy.
Cups (2. must / wash) and put away. Food (3. must/ not/ leave) on
the counter; it (4. may/ keep) in the fridge, but please be mindful of
expiration dates. Finally, I’d like to remind you that all food items that are
not meant to be shared (5. should/ label) clearly with your name and
kept in the kitchen. Food (6. must/ not/ store) in desk drawers.
10. Use the words within parentheses to complete the memo.
Changes in company policy
This is a friendly reminder regarding certain office rules. The dress code
for most days is “business casual”; jeans 1. may be worn only on “casual
Fridays”. And please help keep the office kitchen clean and tidy.
Cups 2. must be washed and put away. Food 3. must not be left on
the counter; it 4. may be kept in the fridge, but please be mindful of
expiration dates. Finally, I’d like to remind you that all food items that are
not meant to be shared 5. should be labeled clearly with your name
and kept in the kitchen. Food 6. must not be stored in desk drawers.
