This document discusses the difference between active and passive voice in sentences. It notes that active voice focuses on the subject performing the action, while passive voice focuses on the action itself or the recipient of the action. It provides examples of rewriting sentences from active to passive voice by changing the subject to the object of the active sentence and using a form of "to be" plus the past participle verb. The document also discusses when to include or omit the agent (person or thing performing the action) in passive voice sentences.

1. Theme:
Passive Voice

2. focus on the
person or
thing that
performs an
action.
Active
sentences
focus on the
person or
thing that
receives or
is the result
of an action.
Passive
sentences
The meaning of passive and
active sentences is usually
similar; but the focus
changes.

3. • Mary + eats + an apple.
• Subject + verb (+object)Active voice
• An apple is eaten.
• Subject + finite form of to be + past participlePassive voice
Active Voice
• Is used when the focus is on
the subject.
• It is important or known, who
or what is performing the
action.
Passive Voice
•Is used when the focus is on the
action.
•It is not important or not
known, however, who or what is
performing the action.
•Sometimes a statement in passive is
more polite than active voice.
Notice that the sentences have the same meaning, but different grammar structure.

4. When rewriting active sentences in passive
voice, take into consideration:
Object of the active
sentence
• Is the subject of
the passive
sentence
The finite form of
the verb in active
sentences
• Change by the
verb to be + past
participle
The subject of the
active sentence
• Becomes the
object of the
passive
sentence (or is
dropped)
Mary
(subject)
eats
(verb)
an apple
(object)
ACTIVE
VOICE
An apple
(subject)
is
eaten
(verb)
by Mary
(object)
PASSIVE
VOICE

5. When to name the agent or subject in the sentence?
Use the passive
voice without an
agent* when:
The agent is
unknown or
unimportant
The agent is
understood from the
context
You want to avoid
mentioning the agent
Use the passive
voice with an agent
(by + noun) when:
You want to make the
receiver of the action
more important than
the one who
performs the action.
The information is
necessary to
complete the
meaning , or when it
is new or surprising
information.
*Agent: the person or thing performing the action.

6. Examples of Passive voice
TENSE SUBJECT VERB
be + past participle
OBJECT
by + agent
Simple Present Active voice Mary eats an apple.
Passive voice An apple is eaten by Mary.
Simple Past Active voice Mary ates an apple.
Passive voice An apple was eaten by Mary.
Present Perfect Active voice Mary has eaten an apple.
Passive voice An apple has been eaten by Mary.
Future Active voice Mary will eat an apple.
Passive voice An apple will be eaten by Mary.
Auxiliary verbs Active voice Mary can eat an apple.
Passive voice An apple can be eaten by Mary.
www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive
www.e-grammar.org/passive-voice/

7. Thanks for attending the class!
Have a nice day!