Short powerpoint to help explain in class the grammar point. Exercises are incluided.

1. THE PASSIVE
When we do not know who did it, or we do not want to tell

2. WHY DO W E USE THE PASSIVE ?
 We use the passive because we do not know who performed the
action. Ex: Mr Jones has been killed.
 We use the passive because we do not want to say who performed
the action. Ex: The pizza was eaten last night.
 We also use it when we think what happened is more important
than who performed the action. Ex: The treasure was found.

3. THE AGE NT COMPL E ME NT ( MR. BY)
 When we want to mention
the performer of the action, we
use the agent complement at the
end of the sentence, always
introduced by the preposition
“by” Ex: My brother was killed by
his wife.

4. HOW IS THE PASSIVE ?
 The form of the passive is:
• The verb to be in the
corresponding tense +
• The past participle of the
content/action verb.
Ex: is/are (present simple of “to
be”) used (past participle)

5. FORM OF THE PASSIVE-1
 PRESENT SIMPLE: is/are + past participle.
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS: is/are being + past participle.
 SIMPLE PAST: was/were + past participle.
 PAST CONTINUOUS: was/were being + past participle.
 PRESENT PERFECT: has been + past participle.
 PAST PERFECT: had been+ past participle.
 FUTURE: will be + past participle.
 CONDITIONAL: would be + past participle.

6. FORM OF THE PASSIVE-2
 PERFECT CONDITIONAL: would have been + past participle.
 PRESENT INFINITIVE: to be + past participle.
 PERFECT INFINITIVE: to have been + past participle.
 PRESENT PARTICIPLE/GERUND: being + past participle.
 PERFECT PARTICIPLE: having been + past participle.

7. EXAMPLES
 Exercises are used to learn.
 My brother is being rescued at this moment.
 Mary was found yesterday.
 The doctors were being asked at the same time.
 The goal has been achieved.
 The mystery had been solved before you arrived.
 The answer will be known in ten years approximately.
 He told me the mystery would be solved at the end of the class.

8. EXERCISES
 From active to passive:
• Aprender inglés fácil
• Saber inglés
• Better English
 Other exercises:
• Geneva Upper High School
• Tolearnenglish.com

9. Fin