This document discusses the use and formation of passive voice. It notes that passive voice focuses on the object of the sentence rather than the subject, and is used when the subject is unknown or unimportant. It provides examples of active and passive sentences. The document then outlines the steps to change an active sentence to passive: identify the direct object, use it as the subject, add the appropriate form of "be", use the verb in past participle form, and include the original subject with "by" if important. Various tenses are shown in examples. Exercises provide blanks to fill with active or passive verbs. The document explains how to determine which to use by considering if the subject can perform the action.

1. Passives
David Estrella I., MBA, CELTA

2. Passives: Use
Use passive voice when the focus is on the object (not
on the subject).
We don’t know who or what does the action, or is not
important.

3. Example:
My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my
bike was stolen. I do not know who did it.
Passives: Use

4. Sometimes a sentence in passive is more polite than
active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was
made, but I do not blame anyone
(e.g. You have made a mistake.).
Passives: Use

5. The sentences where we say that someone does
something are called active sentences.
Example:
John plays basketball in the park. (active)
someone does something
Passives: How to change it

6. To change an active sentence to passive, follow these
steps:
1. Identify the direct object in the sentence.
(The direct object is the who or the what of the verb.)
2. Use the direct object of the active sentence as the
subject of the passive sentence.
Passives: How to change it

7. 3. Write the verb BE.
You need to change the verb BE depending on the
tense of the active sentence.
4. Write the verb (from the active) in past participle.
5. If the subject of the active contains important
information, include it with the preposition BY
before it.
Passives: How to change it

8. Someone writes a letter in the office. (active)
Subject + verb + direct object + indirect object
A letter is written by someone in the office. (passive)
Passives: How to change it

9. Robert drove to Quito last night. (active)
There is no direct object in this sentence.
If there is no direct object the change is not possible.
Passives: How to change it

10. Passives: Examples
Tense Subject Verb Object
Simple
Present
Active: Rita writes a letter.
Passive: A letter is written by Rita.
Simple
Past
Active: Rita wrote a letter.
Passive: A letter was written by Rita.
Present
Perfect
Active: Rita has written a letter.
Passive: A letter has been written by Rita.
Future I Active: Rita will write a letter.
Passive: A letter will be written by Rita.

11. Passives: Examples
Tense Subject Verb Object
Present
Progressive
Active: Rita is writing a letter.
Passive: A letter is being written by Rita.
Past
Progressive
Active: Rita was writing a letter.
Passive: A letter was being written by Rita.
Past
Perfect
Active: Rita had written a letter.
Passive: A letter had been written by Rita.

12. Change the sentence from active to passive
Camilo takes out the trash twice a week.
Passives: Exercises

13. Change the sentence from active to passive
Ana asked a question in class yesterday.
Passives: Exercises

14. Passives: Exercises
Change the sentence from active to passive
Sponge Bob has eaten a Krabby Patty.

15. Changing the sentences is easy because you follow the
steps.
But what do you do in this type of exercises?
Computers _____ (buy) every year before class starts.
We ask can (the subject) do the action?
Passives: Filling the gaps

16. So:
Can computers buy every year before class starts?
The answer is NO, simply because computers can’t buy
anything.
That answer means the sentence is passive.
Computers are bought every year before class starts.
Passives: Filling the gaps

17. Passives: Filling the gaps
Let’ s look at another example.
Carlos _____ (eat) at work.
We ask: Can Carlos eat at work? The answer is YES.
The sentence is active.
Carlos eats at work.

18. Passives: Exercises
Fill in the gaps with the active or passive form of the verb
in parenthesis.
The White House and the Capitol ____ (connect) by
Pennsylvania Avenue.

19. Passives: Exercises
Fill in the gaps with the active or passive form of the verb
in parenthesis.
The football match ____ (win) by our team after
Johnny scored an awesome goal.

20. Passives: Exercises
Fill in the gaps with the active or passive form of the verb
in parenthesis.
We always ____ (go) to school by bus.

21. Passives: Exercises
Fill in the gaps with the active or passive form of the verb
in parenthesis.
The Fellowship of the Ring ___(be) the first book
of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy,
which ___ (set) in a fictitious world. It ___
(tell) the story of Frodo and a magic ring.

22. Questions or comments
 destrell@espol.edu.ec
 Facebook: English.class.with.David.Estrella