2. Passive Voice - Uses
1. When we want to change the focus of the sentence
The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci
2. When who or what causes the action is unknown, unimportant, obvious or “people in general”
He was arrested (obvious agent, by the police)
My bike has been stolen (unknown agent)
The road is being repaired (unimportant agent)
The form can be obtained from the post office (people in general)
3. In formal writing instead of using someone/people/they
The brochure will be finished next month
3. Passive Voice - Chart
Present simple
Present progressive
Past simple
Past progressive
Present perfect
Past perfect
Future simple
Future + going to
Modal
Modal perfect
I make a pie
I am making a pie
I made a pie
I was making a pie
I have made a pie
I had made a pie
I will make a pie
I’m going to make a pie
I must make a pie
I should have made a pie
A pie is made
A pie is being made
A pie was made
A pie was being made
A pie has been made
A pie had been made
A pie will be made
A pie is going to be made
A pie must be made
A pie should have been made
4. Give me a headline
WHAT has happened or will happen?
WHO did it or who was affected by it?
WHEN did or will it happen?
WHERE did or will it happen?
WHY is it important today?
5. Give me a headline
WHAT has happened or will happen?
WHO did it or who was affected by it?
WHEN did or will it happen?
WHERE did or will it happen?
WHY is it important today?
6. Give me a headline
WHAT has happened or will happen?
WHO did it or who was affected by it?
WHEN did or will it happen?
WHERE did or will it happen?
WHY is it important today?
7. Give me a headline
WHAT has happened or will happen?
WHO did it or who was affected by it?
WHEN did or will it happen?
WHERE did or will it happen?
WHY is it important today?
8. ABBA makes a comeback
1. THE LEAD: What?
Who? Where?
When? Why?
Passive voice
2. THE BODY:
Argument, story
Inversions
3. THE TAIL: extra
information
Never
Rarely
Only then
Not only… but
No sooner
Only later
Nowhere
Little
In no way
On no account
9. Bosses in Portugal banned from texting workers
1. THE LEAD: What?
Who? Where?
When? Why?
Passive voice
2. THE BODY:
Argument, story
Inversions
3. THE TAIL: extra
information
Never
Rarely
Only then
Not only… but
No sooner
Only later
Nowhere
Little
In no way
On no account
10. La Palma volcano erupts
1. THE LEAD: What?
Who? Where?
When? Why?
Passive voice
2. THE BODY:
Argument, story
Inversions
3. THE TAIL: extra
information
Never
Rarely
Only then
Not only… but
No sooner
Only later
Nowhere
Little
In no way
On no account
11. Pet lion returned to the owner
1. THE LEAD: What?
Who? Where?
When? Why?
Passive voice
2. THE BODY:
Argument, story
Inversions
3. THE TAIL: extra
information
Never
Rarely
Only then
Not only… but
No sooner
Only later
Nowhere
Little
In no way
On no account
12. Heatwave in Canada and United States
1. THE LEAD: What?
Who? Where?
When? Why?
Passive voice
2. THE BODY:
Argument, story
Inversions
3. THE TAIL: extra
information
Never
Rarely
Only then
Not only… but
No sooner
Only later
Nowhere
Little
In no way
On no account
