1. Using Passive Voice

2. Forming the Passive 1
• In an active sentence, the subject of
the verb “does” the action of the
verb, and the direct object
“receives” the action.
– Bob Marley wrote Africa Unite.

3. Forming the Passive 2
• The direct object of the active sentence
becomes the subject of the passive
sentence. That is, the “receiver” of the
action becomes the subject.
Africa Unite was written by Bob Marley.
• This is called the “by-phrase”
• The “by-phrase” is not required and should be used
only if it provides important information.

4. Forming the Passive 3
• Only verbs which have a direct
object can be made passive.
• Intransitive verbs cannot be made
passive.
– The accident happened last night.
– X The accident was happened last night.

5. Forming the Passive 4
• The verb of the passive sentence is some
form of be + past participle
• All tenses which occur in active sentences
also occur in passive sentences.

6. Practice Sentences
• Write two practice sentences using either
simple present or simple past tense.
• Write one sentence using active voice and
one sentence using passive voice.
• Write about a favorite musician or an
author and one of their books or songs.

7. Using the Passive
• Use the passive to emphasize the direct
object of the sentence when:
– The “doer” of the action is unknown.
• Rice has been cultivated for thousands of years.
– The “doer” of the action is not important.
• The experiment was conducted in the laboratory.
– The “doer” of the action is hidden.
• Mistakes were made.

8. Problems with passives
• Using passive when active is more
appropriate.
• Using too many passive sentences in
a text.

9. Problems with Passives
• Trying to make an intransitive verb
passive.
– X The incident was occurred at 6:05
yesterday morning.

10. Problems with Passives
• Forming the passive incorrectly.
– X Corn is feed to livestock in the U.S.

11. Problems with Passives
• Using an incorrect preposition with a
stative passive.
– X Alexander is devoted with his work.