This document discusses the passive voice in English. It explains how to form the passive voice using different tenses and with different verbs. It provides examples of when to use the passive voice, such as when the subject is unknown or unimportant. It also discusses using the passive voice with verbs that take two objects and with infinitives and gerunds. Finally, it identifies errors in using the passive voice in sample sentences.

1. THE PASSIVE

2. ACTIVE or PASSIVE?
A government built a hospital.
A hospital was built by the government.
Eruptions are often caused by seismic activity.
Seismic activity often causes eruptions.

3. 1. The passive
Form: subject + be + past participle (+ by + agent/object)
- Present simple?
- Present continuous?
- Present perfect?
- Past simple?
- Past continuous?
- Future simple?
- Going to?
- Modals (should / must / could) ?
*e.g. A government built a hospital. A hospital was built by the government.

4. 2. The passive
Use:
- We want to focus on the action.
- We do not know who does the action.
- It’s obvious who did the action.
1. Many objects have been stolen.
2. The city was destroyed in 1776.
3. The patient was cured.

5. 3. The passive
- Verbs with two objects (generally a thing and a person):
bring / buy / give / lend / offer / owe / promise / refuse / send /
show / tell / teach
e.g. My sister gave me a book for St. George’s Day. (active?)
Option 1: A book was given to me.
Option 2: I was given a book. (*more used and natural)
- They told me the truth.

6. Revision
- How do we form the passive?
e.g. They gave the scientists no warning.  ?
- What does by introduce? Where do we place it?
- What do we use the passive for?
- Passives with two-object verbs?
e.g. I offered him my English notes.  ?

7. 1. People believed that earth was flat.
2. Some people claim that the police use violence.
3. They said that 10,000 people were killed.
- Rewrite these sentences using the passive voice.
- The sentences should start with the subject it.

8. 4. The passive
It was believed that the earth was flat.
It is claimed that the police use violence.
It is said that 10,000 people were killed.
- Structure?
- What do we use this structure for?
With verbs:
BELIEVE / KNOW / THINK / SAY / EXPECT / CLAIM / REPORT
Option 1:

9. Structure:
It + be + past participle of believe / know etc. + (that) clause
Use:
- To talk about what people in general say, think or believe about something.
- Used in the impersonal style of news reports.
Meaning of verbs?

10. 1. They know that some animals hear things that humans
cannot hear.
2. They believed that the leopards died but then they were
found alive.
- Rewrite this sentence using the passive voice.
- The sentences should start with the subject
animals/leopards.

11. 5. The passive
Some animals are known to hear things that humans cannot hear.
The leopards were believed to have died but then they were found alive.
Structure:
Subject + be + past participle of believe / know etc. + to + bare infinitive / have + past
participle
Use:
To + bare infinitive : to talk about things that happen in the present or things that are
always true.
To + have + past participle : to talk about past events
Be in the present: present beliefs
Be in the past: past beliefs
With verbs:
BELIEVE / KNOW / THINK / SAY / EXPECT / CLAIM / REPORT
Option 2:

12. 6. The passive: infinitives and gerunds
Infinitives:
People need to be warned about possible tsunamis.
They wanted to be informed about the situation.
Gerunds
People don’t like being evacuated from their homes.
They were afraid of being pulled into the sea.
Structure?
Use?

13. Structure:
to be + past participle
being + past participle
Use:
Infinitive:
- to talk about a potential action
Gerund:
- to talk about an ongoing action at the time.
- after verbs that express preference or after prepostions.

14. What’s incorrect?
1. It is often claimed Paris to be one of the most beautiful
cities.
2. Galileo Galieli is said to invent the telescope.
3. It was reported to have started the fire incident.
4. Avalanches are said that they are caused by loud noises.
5. A long time ago the moon is believed to be made of
cheese.
6. Guardiola is not interested in to be interviewed after this
week’s match.
7. The survivors was given water.
8. I never remember what I dream on.
9. I remember to be wake up by a loud noise.
10. They had hoped being found by the rescue team.

15. What’s incorrect?
1.
2.
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4.
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10.