The document discusses the use of the passive voice in English. It explains that the passive voice is used when the action is more important than the subject performing the action. It provides examples of changing active sentences to passive sentences. The key elements are: 1) making the direct object of the active sentence the subject of the passive sentence, 2) using the appropriate form of "to be" plus the past participle of the main verb, and 3) optionally including "by" plus the original subject. Various tenses and structures of the passive voice are covered.

1. Use of the passive voice
De Manuel Pérez González
Para Inglés 2º Bachillerato
Teresa Guzmán Pastor
Modificado por Mercedes Ramos
Do you wish a
wine to drink?
Better, a wine
to drink wished
for me.

2. We use the passive voice when
the action is important not who
makes it.
USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
Do you
wash
your car?
No I don´t. The car is washed
for me. Now, I am not
important, now is it.

3. How to change an active sentence into a passive one:
1st
Write the direct object as the new subject.
2nd
Write the verb “to be” in the tense of the active
sentence.
3rd
Write the verb of the active sentence in past
participle.
Let´s see some examples
USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
4th
Now write the rest of the sentence
5th
Write: by + the subject of the active sentence
when necessary

4. PASSIVE VERB FORMS
Verb tense Structure Example
Present simple am/are/is +PP These pictures are painted in Spain
Past simple was/were + PP The clothes was washed today
Present perfect have/has been +PP The picture has been painted by John
Past perfect simple had been + PP When I arrived the home had been stolen
Future with will will be +PP The shop will be closed tomorrow
Going to future am/are/is going to be+ PP My house is going to be sold
Modal verb can modal + be + PP The fish could be caught by the
fisherman
Modal verb must modal + be + PP The politician must be enclosed in prison
Modal verb should modal + be + PP The car should be washed tomorow
USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

5. USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
What do we need to form a passive
sentence?
Remember the structure:
Object + verb “to be” in the tense of the active
sentence + Past Participle + complements + by +
subject of the active sentence (when necessary)

6. USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
Active to passive transformation
Active: They read the newspaper every day
Passive: The newspaper is read every day by them
1º In the passive voice we
use the object of the active
voice sentence as subject.
2º Verb to be in the
tense of the active
sentence.
OBJECTSUBJECT AGENT VERB
3º Verb of the
sentence in
Past Participle.
COMPLEMENT
COMPLEMENT
4º If you want to say at the end of the sentence
who has done the deed, you simply add the
preposition “by + subject agent”.
But beware!
Remember, the subject
pronoun must be
changed into the object
pronoun

7. USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
Let´s see more exemples1- Leather shoes are made in this factory
2- Dinner is served from 18,00 to 20,00
3- The house was completely destroyed by the fire
4- A new shopping center is going to be built in this area
1- They make leather shoes in this factory
2- They serve dinner from 18,00 to 20,00
3- The fire completely destroyed the house
4- They are going to build a new shopping-center in this
area

8. USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
INDIRECT COMPLEMENT PASSIVE
When we have an indirect complement ( a person) in
the active sentence, this is going to be the subject of
the passive sentence. All the other changes are the
same.
Someone has sent him a parcel.
He has been sent a parcel
Remember to change the complement pronoun into a
subject pronoun.

9. USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
Active voice
1- The postman has brought you a letter.
2- They will offer Mary a post as a teacher next year.
3- Someone gave John a surprise yesterday
Passive voice
1- You have been brought a letter.
2- Mary will be offered a post as a teacher next year.
3- John was given a surprise yesterday

10. USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
IMPERSONAL PASSIVE
With verbs such as THINK, CONSIDER, KNOW, BELIEVE,
EXPECT, SAY and SUPPOSE, it is possible to have to passive
sentences:
1- Writing IT as a subject
2- Using the subject of the second sentence as the subject of the
passive
ACTIVE
People say that George has arrived
PASSIVE
It is said that George has arrived

11. USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
Using the subject of the second
sentence as a subject of the passive
People think that the race will begin at 9,00
The race is thought to begin at 9.00
Subject of the second clause + verb of the first
clause in passive + to + verb of the second
clause

12. USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
SPANISH – ENGLISH
These Spanish sentences are passive in English
1. Se venden coches usados
2. Te están esperando en la calle
3. Nos informarán de la noticia mañana
4. La casa fue construida en 2008
1. Used cars are sold
2. You are being waited for in the street
3. We will be informed about the news tomorrow
4. The house was built in 2008

13. USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE