The Passive Voice Carmela Grillone FAO International Consultant

The Passive Voice Carmela Grillone FAO International Consultant

Use The passive voice draws your attention to the person or thing affected by an action: when you want to emphasize the object giving less importance to those who perform the action Structure Passive Subject +To Be+ Past Participle

Example We have produced over 20 different models in the past 2 years Changes to Over 20 different models have been produced in the past 2 years

Use of by If you consider the agent (the performer of the action) important you will use “by”. The agent, therefore, should not be used unless relevant. Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet” Changes to “Romeo and Juliet” was written by Shakespeare

Some hints Only verbs that take an object can be used in the passive Example: I walked in the street You cannot transform this sentence into passive

Exercise n n n They make Fords in Cologne. Fords are made in Cologne. Simple Present Susan is cooking dinner. Dinner is being cooked by Susan Present Continuous James Joyce wrote "Dubliners" was written by James Joyces. Past Simple They were painting the house when I arrived. Past Continuous The house was being painted when I arrived. They are going to build a new factory in Portland. A new factory is going to be built in Portland I will finish it tomorrow. It will be finished tomorrow. Future Intention Future Simple