This document discusses the passive voice in English grammar. It provides examples of active and passive sentences in different tenses, such as present, past, and future. It then explains the meaning and common uses of the passive voice, such as when the agent or "doer" is unknown, unimportant, implied, or when formality or avoiding responsibility is desired. Some reasons for using the passive voice include focusing on the action rather than the actor, and when there is no specific or obvious agent performing the action.

2. The Passive Voice
Tense Active Passive
Present People in Morocco speak
Arabic and French.
Arabic and Frech are
spoken in Morocco.
Present Continuous They’re building a new
library on campus.
A new library is being built
on campus.
Present Perfect The airlines have cancelled
all flights due to bad
weather.
All flights have been
cancelled due to bad
weather.
Past The police arrested 20
people at yesterday’s
demonstration.
20 people were arrested at
yesterday’s demonstration.
Future with will The embassy will mail your
visa to you.
Your visa will be mailed to
you.

3. The Passive Voice
In a passive sentence the object of an active sentence
becomes the subject.
ACTIVE: Willem Kolff invented the first artificial heart.
subject object
PASSIVE: The first artificial heart was invented by Willem Kolff.
subject agent

4. The Passive Voice
Meaning and Use
To talk about what was done, perhaps without even
mentioning the agent. This may be because…

5. The Passive Voice
Meaning and Use
1. We want to follow an academic or scientific style in which the
action is important but the “doer” isn’t relevant or of interest.
The magazine is produced using a special program.
2. We don’t know the “doer”.
My cell phone had been stolen from my bag.
3. We don’t want to name the “doer” for some reason.
Not much has been done towards inproving production times.

6. The Passive Voice
Meaning and Use
4. When we want to sound more formal or avoid personal
responsability.
People who arrive late will not be admitted untill the interval.
5. There’s no specific or obvious “doer”
Almost everything was destroyed by the fire.
6. There is no specific “doer” other than “someone” or “people”.
They have been criticized for their new policies.

7. The Passive Voice
Meaning and Use
7. There is no need to mention the “doer” because it is clear who
it is.
He was arrested for stealing money. (i.e. by the police!)
8. We want to focus on what is done not who did it.
The milk is specially formulated for babies.