A brief explanation for EFL students of the Transformation from Active to Passive and the different structures.

1. THE PASSIVETHE PASSIVE

2. We use the Passive Voice when theWe use the Passive Voice when the AgentAgent
isis unknownunknown oror unimportantunimportant::
People speak EnglishPeople speak English ==
English is spoken all over the world.English is spoken all over the world.
They sell cars in that shopThey sell cars in that shop ==
Cars are sold in that shop.Cars are sold in that shop.
They built a houseThey built a house ==
A house was built.A house was built.
(Spanish = Se …)(Spanish = Se …)

3. Or if we want to emphasize theOr if we want to emphasize the ObjectObject
of the Active Sentence:of the Active Sentence:
HamletHamlet was written by Shakespeare.was written by Shakespeare.
A windowA window has just been broken.has just been broken.

4. Overview of theOverview of the
3 Main Passive Structures3 Main Passive Structures
1) Direct Object > Passive Subject1) Direct Object > Passive Subject
They forgot their homework at homeThey forgot their homework at home
Their homework was forgotten at homeTheir homework was forgotten at home
2) Indirect Object > Passive Subject2) Indirect Object > Passive Subject
They are going to show us the photos tonightThey are going to show us the photos tonight
We are going to be shown the photos tonightWe are going to be shown the photos tonight
3) “Gossip” Passive: What people say / expect…3) “Gossip” Passive: What people say / expect…
They expect that many students will come to the party:They expect that many students will come to the party:
It is expected that many students will come to the partyIt is expected that many students will come to the party
Many students are expected to come to the party tonightMany students are expected to come to the party tonight

5. Transforming from Active to Passive:Transforming from Active to Passive:
ExamplesExamples
ACTIVE:ACTIVE:
MaryMary boughtbought a booka book
TheyThey have just givenhave just given meme the good newsthe good news
TheyThey saysay thatthat pricesprices will risewill rise again soonagain soon
PASSIVE:PASSIVE:
A bookA book was boughtwas bought by Maryby Mary
II have just been givenhave just been given the good news (the good news (BY themBY them)/)/
The good newsThe good news has just been givenhas just been given TO meTO me ((BY themBY them))
ItIt is saidis said thatthat pricesprices will risewill rise again soonagain soon
PricesPrices are saidare said to riseto rise again soonagain soon

6. CHANGES:CHANGES:
1) The Subject in the Active becomes the Agent1) The Subject in the Active becomes the Agent
in the Passivein the Passive
(Omitted when not specific / Attention to Pronouns)(Omitted when not specific / Attention to Pronouns)
2) The Direct or (when there is) Indirect2) The Direct or (when there is) Indirect
Object in the Active Voice becomes theObject in the Active Voice becomes the
Passive SubjectPassive Subject
3) VERB VOICE:3) VERB VOICE: Verb “To Be” inVerb “To Be” in the samethe same
TenseTense as the Active Verb and the Active Verbas the Active Verb and the Active Verb
in the Past Participlein the Past Participle

7. PASSIVE VOICE VERB FORMSPASSIVE VOICE VERB FORMS
Complete the Chart:Complete the Chart:
HeHe writeswrites novels:novels:
He is writing novels:He is writing novels:
He wrote novels:He wrote novels:
He was writing novels:He was writing novels:
He has written novels:He has written novels:
He had written novels:He had written novels:
He can/ will/ may/ …write novels:He can/ will/ may/ …write novels:
He can/may / will/ have writtenHe can/may / will/ have written
novels:novels:
NovelsNovels are writtenare written by him* (notby him* (not
“he”).“he”).
Novels are …Novels are …
Novels were …Novels were …
Novels were …Novels were …
Novels have …Novels have …
Novels had …Novels had …
Novels can/ will/ may …Novels can/ will/ may …
Novels can/ may/ will …Novels can/ may/ will …

8. Check the chart:Check the chart:
He writes novels:He writes novels:
He is writing novels:He is writing novels:
He wrote novels:He wrote novels:
He was writing novels:He was writing novels:
He has written novels:He has written novels:
He had written novels:He had written novels:
He can/ will/ may/ …write novels:He can/ will/ may/ …write novels:
He can/may / will/ have written novels:He can/may / will/ have written novels:
Novels are written by him.Novels are written by him.
Novels are BEING WRITTENNovels are BEING WRITTEN
Novels were WRITTENNovels were WRITTEN
Novels were BEING WRITTENNovels were BEING WRITTEN
Novels have BEEN WRITTENNovels have BEEN WRITTEN
Novels had BEEN WRITTENNovels had BEEN WRITTEN
Novels can/ will/ may BE WRITTENNovels can/ will/ may BE WRITTEN
Novels can/ may/ will HAVE BEENNovels can/ may/ will HAVE BEEN
WRITTENWRITTEN
..

10. Verbs with Two Objects:Verbs with Two Objects:
When the active sentence has two ObjectsWhen the active sentence has two Objects
(verbs such as lend, give, tell, send, …)(verbs such as lend, give, tell, send, …) ::
Mick will tellMick will tell usus everything.everything.
Jack has lentJack has lent meme a pen.a pen.
TheThe INDIRECT OBJECTINDIRECT OBJECT usuallyusually becomes thebecomes the
SUBJECTSUBJECT in the Passive:in the Passive:
WeWe will be toldwill be told everythingeverything by Mick.by Mick.
II have been lenthave been lent a pena pen by Jack.by Jack.

11. ““GOSSIP” Passive Voice:GOSSIP” Passive Voice:
Verbs likeVerbs like Believe, Think, Consider, Estimate, Know,Believe, Think, Consider, Estimate, Know,
Expect, …Expect, … when followed by awhen followed by a (that) Clause(that) Clause::
They believedThey believed that Jenny is from Canada.that Jenny is from Canada.
Teachers thinkTeachers think that Will studies hard.that Will studies hard.
Change to:Change to:

12. 1)1) ItIt ++ Passive VerbPassive Verb ++ Subordinate ClauseSubordinate Clause
ItIt was believedwas believed that Jenny is from Canada.that Jenny is from Canada.
ItIt is thoughtis thought that Will studies hard.that Will studies hard.
OROR
2)2) Subordinate SubjectSubordinate Subject ++ Passive Verb +Passive Verb +
Subordinate Active Verb in Infinitive:Subordinate Active Verb in Infinitive:
JennyJenny was believedwas believed to beto be from Canada.from Canada.
WillWill is thoughtis thought to studyto study hard.hard.

13. HAVE/ GETHAVE/ GET SOMETHINGSOMETHING DONEDONE::
When you arrange to / pay for / have someoneWhen you arrange to / pay for / have someone
else do a thing for you (Get is more informal):else do a thing for you (Get is more informal):
I hadI had my hairmy hair cut (by the hairdresser)cut (by the hairdresser)
The Prince is havingThe Prince is having his portraithis portrait painted (by apainted (by a
painter).painter).
We often haveWe often have our shoppingour shopping delivered.delivered.
I’ve just hadI’ve just had my carmy car repaired (by a mechanic).repaired (by a mechanic).

14. More about The Passive:More about The Passive:
In informal English “GET” is usedIn informal English “GET” is used
instead of “BE”:instead of “BE”:
The keys got lost.The keys got lost.
They are getting married.They are getting married.
NEED or WANT + Verb-ING = Passive:NEED or WANT + Verb-ING = Passive:
Your car needs washing (= to be washed)Your car needs washing (= to be washed)
My room wants cleaning (= to be cleaned)My room wants cleaning (= to be cleaned)

16. Passive VoicePassive Voice Review and PracticeReview and Practice onon
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