4. Because it was filled with
problems and needed to
be solved.
Why was the math book thrown in jail?
5.
6.
7. Passsive voice is used when the focus is on
the action , not on the actor.
Passive
My grandfather built a house Subject
Object
Active
A house was built by my grandfather.
Subject Object
8. The Passive voice present is often used to describe:
1. Processes:
First the apples are picked,
then they are cleaned,
and finally they are packed.
9. 2. General thoughts, opinions, and beliefs:
New York is considered the most diverse city in the U.S.
10. Hungarian is seen as one of the
world’s most difficult languages
to learn.
12. Practice: Complete the sentences with the correct
passive form of the verbs in brackets.
a. English _____________ (speak) in many countries.
b. This show ________________ (watch) by millions
of people.
c. Paper ___________________ (make) from wood.
d. Hundreds of people ________________ (kill) in
accidents every year.
13. e. London ___________________ (visit) by
thousands of tourists every year.
f. The biology class __________________ (teach)
by Mr Green.
g. Lunch ______________ (serve) at twelve o’clock.
h. Books ______________ (write) by authors.
15. We use the passive when the agent (the person or
thing doing the action) is unkown or not important.
Examples:
The newspaper “El Comercio” was founded in 1839.
These articles were written in 2015.
El Caballero Carmelo was published in 1913
16. When you want to avoid mentioning the agent.
Examples:
The first car was invented in England.
The books of the Bible were inspired.
17. Use the Passive with By if you mention the agent.
1. When you introduce necessary new information about the
agent.
Messi was hired by Barcelona.
2. When you want to give credit to someone who created
something.
Facebook was created by Mark Zuckerberg.
18. Be (is / was / have been, etc) + Past paticiple
Sb. Stole my bike My bike was stolen ( by sb)
We made a mistake A mistake was made ( by sb)
Sb. Wrote a letter A letter was writen ( by sb)
19. SIMPLE PRESENT
Main Verb Is / are + Past Participle
Somebody cleans this room everyday
This room is cleaned everyday (by sb)
20. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
IS / ARE + Verb (ing)
IS / ARE + Being + past participle
Somebody is cleaning this room at the moment.
This room is being cleaned at the moment
21. PAST SIMPLE
Main Verb was / were + Past Participle
Somebody cleaned this room yesterday
This room was cleaned yesterday.
