This document discusses the passive voice in English. It explains that the passive is used when the focus is on the object rather than the subject of the sentence. It is often used when the subject or agent performing the action is unknown or unimportant. The document provides examples of active and passive sentences and outlines the formation of the passive voice in various tenses, including using "be" plus the past participle. It notes some common uses of the passive voice, such as in formal writing and when discussing scientific processes.

1. THE PASSIVE
NEF Intermediate 6A

2. THE PASSIVE: USAGE
 You can often say things in two ways, in the
active or the passive.
Picasso painted Gernika (active)
Gernika was painted by Picasso (passive)

3. THE PASSIVE: USAGE
 In the active sentence, the focus is on the
person (Picasso)
 In the passive, the focus is on the painting
(Gernika)
The passive is often used when you don’t know
or it is not important who does or did the
action
My cart was stolen last night when I was
sleeping

4. THE PASSIVE
 If you want to say who did the action (the
agent) use ‘by’
The road has been blocked by the police
 Generally, the agent is not mentioned

5. THE PASSIVE
 We often use the passive to talk about
processes (e.g., scientific processes)
Then the water is heated to 100 degrees ….
 We often use the passive in formal writing
(e.g., newspaper reports)
Many buildings have been damaged by the
earthquake

6. THE PASSIVE: FORM
 To form the passive: be + past participle
Present simple A lot of films are shot on location
Present
continuous
My car is being repaired today
Past simple Jim was arrested last month
Past Continuous
She died when the film was being
made
Present Perfect My car has been stolen

7. ACTIVE VS PASSIVE
Present simple
They shoot a lot of films on location
A lot of films are shot on location
Present continuous
They are repairing my car today
My car is being repaired today
Past simple
They arrested Jim last month
Jim was arrested last month
Past continuous
She died when they were making the
film
She died when the film was being
made
Present perfect
They have stolen my car
My car has been stolen

8. THE PASSIVE: FORM
 To form the passive: be + past participle
Past Perfect
We saw that the window had been
broken
Future (will/going
to)
The prisoner will be released next
month
The verdict is going to be given
tomorrow
Infinitive with to
People used to be imprisoned for
stealing bread
Infinitive without to You can be fined for double-parking
Gerund He paid a fine to avoid being sent to jail

9. ACTIVE VS PASSIVE
Past Perfect
We saw that they had broken the
window
We saw that the window had been
broken
Future (will/going
to)
They will release the prisoner next
month
The prisoner will be released next
month
They are going to give the verdict
tomorrow
The verdict is going to be given
tomorrow
Infinitive with to
They used to imprison people for
stealing