The document explains the differences between active and passive voice in English grammar, emphasizing that passive voice focuses on the action, not the actor. It provides examples of transforming sentences from active to passive voice and includes verb tenses applicable in both forms. Additionally, the document discusses the use of certain structures and phrases commonly used with the passive voice.

1. PASSIVE
VOICE
Yurani V
alencia
Laura
Cortez
Jhorman
Rodríguez
Oral Communication
3
Universidad de
AntioquiaEscuela de
Jaime Patiño -
2011

2.  We use active voice to say what
the actor/subject does
 Passive voice is used to say what happens
to the object
Passive and
Active

3. What is passive voice?
Passive voice is used when the focus is on
the action, not on the actor.
Passive VS. Active
My grandfather built a house.
Subject Object
A house was built by my grandfather.
Subject Object

4. Be (is/was/have been, etc) + Past
participle
Sb. stole my
bike
My bike was stolen (by
sb)
We made a
mistake
A mistake was made (by
us)
Sb. wrote a
letter
A letter was written (by
sb.)
General Structure

5. PRESENT SIMPLE
Main Verb Is/are + Past Participle
Somebody cleans this room
everyday This room is cleaned
everyday (by sb)
Verb Tenses

6. PAST SIMPLE
Main Verb Was/were + Past Participle
Somebody cleaned this room
yesterday This room was cleaned
yesterday
Verb Tenses

7. SIMPLE FUTURE
Will + Main Verb Will + be + Past
Participle Somebody will clean this room
tomorrow This room will be cleaned
tomorrow
Verb Tenses

8. MODAL INFINITIVE (Should, could, may
,
might…)
Modal + Have + Verb (participle)
Modal + Have + Been + Past
Participle
Somebody should have cleaned this
Verb Tenses

9. PRESENT PERFECT
Have/has + Verb (participle)
Have/has + Been + Past
Participle This room looks nice.
Somebody has cleaned this
room
This room looks nice. It has
Verb Tenses

10. PAST PERFECT
Had + Verb (participle)
Had + Been + Past
Participle
This room looks nice.
Somebody had cleaned this
room
Verb Tenses

11. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Is/are + Verb(ing)
Is/are + Being + Past Participle
Somebody is cleaning this room at the
moment
Verb Tenses

12. PAST CONTINUOUS
Was/were + Verb(ing)
Was/were + Being + Past Participle
Somebody was cleaning this room when I
arrived This room was being cleaned when I
Verb Tenses

13. One object: Jane wrote a letter
Two objects: Jane wrote a letter to
Jack
or
Jane wrote Jack a letter
1. A letter was written (by Jane)
2. Jack was written a letter (by
Jane)
Verbs with two objects: Example
#1

14. One object:We gave the information
Two obj.:We gave the information to The
Police
or
We gave The Police the information
1. The information was given to The Police
2. The police were given the information (by
us)
Verbs with two objects: Example
#2

15. One object:They donated the money
Two obj.:They donated the money to the Non-profit
organization
or
They donated the Non-profit organization the money
1. The money was donated to the Non-profit
organization
2. Non-profit organization was donated the
money (by
them)
Verbs with two objects: Example
#3

16. One object: He told the story
Two obj.: He told the story to the children
or
He told the children the story
1. The story was told to the children
2. The children were told the story (by
him)
Verbs with two objects: Example
#4

17. The passive of doing/seeing is being done/being seen
I am doing a homework »
A homework is being done by me
He is driving a car »
A car is being driven by him
I don’t like being… Ex #1

18. Active: I do not like people telling me what to do
Passive: I do not like being told what to do
Verb (ing)
doing/seein
g
being verb
(participle) being
done/seen
Active: They don’t like people asking them
questions
Passive: They don’t like being asked questions
I don’t like being… Ex #1

19. Active: I remember somebody giving me a gift
Passive: I remember being given a gift (by sb)
Active: Mr. Miller do not like people keeping him busy
Passive: Mr. Miller hates being kept busy
I don’t like being… Ex #1

20. 
The window was broken by some kids who
were playing ball

The window got broken.

The glass was shattered by a baseball.

The glass got shattered.
Ge
t

21. 
Tedwas stung by a bee while he was sitting in
the garden

Ted got stung.

I do not want these things to be damaged

I do not want these things to get damaged.
Ge
t

22. Henry is very old. Nobody knows exactly how old he is,
but It is said that he is 108 years old.
or
He is said to be 108 years old.
Use this structure with verbs of perception like:
Thought Believed Considered Reported
Known Expected Alleged Understood
It is said that… He is said
to…

23. Jane works very hard…
It is said that Jane works 16 hours a
day [She is said to work …]
The police are looking for a missing
boy… It is believed that the boy was
wearing blue
shirt
[He is believed to wear blue shirt]
It is said that… He is said
to…

24. Sometimes be supposed to… = be said to…
 Let’s go and see that film, it is supposed to be
very good.
[it is said to be very good.]
But sometimes be supposed to… = be planned, arranged
or expected
 You were supposed to clean the window, did not you?
(Be) supposed to…

25. In other cases, not to be supposed to means not
to be allowed to.
 You are not supposed to park your car here. It
is private parking only
.
 The policeman was not supposed to yell.
He must be polite.
Not to be supposed
to…

26. PEOPLE SAY THAT WOMEN LIVE
LONGER THAN MEN

27. IT IS SAID THAT WOMEN LIVE
LONGER
THAN MEN

28. WOMEN ARE SAID TO LIVE LONGER
THAN
MEN

29. WOMEN ARE SUPPOSED TO LIVE
LONGER
THAN MEN

30. IT IS SUPPOSED THAT WOMEN
LIVE LONGER THAN MEN