THE PASSIVE

The Passive
Active and passive sentences often have similar meanings, but a different focus.
Passive sentences move the focus from the subject to the object of active sentences.
FORM:

SUBJECT + BE + _______________ (+ BY) + AGENT

(the previous object)
(the doer of the verb person that does)
Intransitive or transitive?
If the verb does not take an object in the
sentence then it is intransitive and it is not
possible to form the passive.

How to change from active to passive:

Make the object the new subject of the sentence.

Active
100 million people read the Readers Digest.
(subject)
(object)

Are the examples transitive or intransitive?

He slept for two hours. (no object intransitive)

Passive
The Readers Digest is read by 100 million people.
(subject)
(agent)

Where did it go? (________________________)

She ate a cake.(__________________________)
They went to the office. (___________________)

Circle the correct word below:

The passive is used in more informal/formal contexts
No agent
DO NOT mention the agent if it is unnecessary
if the agent is obvious, unknown or unimportant.
The windows were repaired by someone.

Agent
MENTION the agent if it adds important
or surprising information.
Classes are taught by native teachers.

Classes are taught in the evenings by teachers.

This was written by a three-year old!

Match the rules with the correct example sentences.

The passive is used when the agent (the doer of the verb) is:

not important
unknown
obvious
not as important as the object

_____
_____
_____
_____

a. My car has been stolen. (by someone)

b. The bridge was built in 1986. (by builders)
c. The Mona Lisa was painted by Da Vinci.
d. He was fined for speeding. (by traffic police)
e. English is taught at the ICPNA. (by teachers)
f. The room was cleaned today. (by cleaners)

Note: Sometimes a letter can go next to more than one.

DISCOVER THE GRAMMAR

Read the sentences and decide if they are
active (A) or passive (P)
___ 1. Readers Digest was founded in 1922.
___ 2. It was founded by DeWitt and Lila Wallace.
___ 3. Millions of people read it.
___ 4. It is translated into many other languages.
___ 5. A large-type edition is also printed.

1.

People mine gold in the north.

___Gold is mined in the north___________

2.

He left home early.

___________________________________

3.

She ate two biscuits.

___________________________________

4.

My friend bought a dog.

___________________________________

5.

Something strange happened to me.

___________________________________

6.

Someone stole my watch.

___________________________________

7.

We need two chefs for our restaurant.

___ 6. It is also recorded.

___ 7. Proofreaders are hired to correct mistakes.
___ 8. They look for mistakes in spelling and grammar.
___ 9. Readers Digest is sold at newsstands.
___ 10. It is published once a month.
___ 11. I bought a copy last week.
___ 12. Many articles are condensed from other sources.

Identify the subject, verb and object if there is

one.
Change transitive sentences to the passive.
Eliminate the agent where not necessary.
s
v
o

___________________________________
For which sentences is the passive appropriate?

PRACTICE
Circle the sentence you find more natural, active or passive?
Active

Passive

Hes eating a cake.

A cake is being eaten by him.

A/P

They built the cathedral in 1885.

The cathedral was built in 1885.

A/P

Farmers grow corn in the West.

Corn is grown in the West.

A/P

My friend grew corn.

Corn was grown by my friend.

A/P

MATCHING
With a partner make passive sentences with the phrases and words below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

English
rice
gold and diamonds
145 McDonalds hamburgers
many TVs and videos

mine
speak
sell
grow
make

in the world every second.

in Japan and Korea.
in fields full of water.
by about 1.5 billion people.
in South Africa.

PRACTICE
Jill Jones is writing an article about Bolivia. Use the passive form of the verbs in parentheses and
short answers to complete her interview with a Bolivian cultural attach.
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:
JONES:
ATTACH:

Im writing an article about Bolivia, and Id like to check my information.

Certainly. How can I help you?
First, Id like to find out about the early history of Bolivia. (1)__Was___ the area first
___inhabited___ by the Inca?
(2) ____________________. There was a great civilization on the shores of Lake
Titicaca long before the Inca flourished. That civilization ________ probably (3)
_______________ (create) by ancestors of the Aymara, who still live in Bolivia.
Thats fascinating. Changing the topic, though, let me ask about the agriculture of
your country. I know potatoes are an important crop in the mountains.
(4)____________ corn _________________ (grow) in the Andes as well?
No, it isnt. The climate is too cold and dry. But quinoa is. Quinoa is
a traditional grain that grows well in the mountains.
Quinoa? How (5) ____________ that ______________ (spell), with a k?
No, with a q q-u-i-n-o-a.
OK. Thanks. Now, I know our readers will want to read about llamas. How
(6)_____________ they ________________ (use)?
They have many uses fur, meat, transportation. But only in the highlands.
Really? Why (7) ________ they ________________ (raise) there and not in
the lowlands?
Theyre suited to the mountain climate and terrain. They dont do well in the
lowlands.
I see. I understand that tin is an important resource. Where (8) _____________
it _______________ (mine)?
The richest deposits are in the Andes.
Lets talk about some other resources. How about the eastern part of the country
the Oriente. What crops (9) _____________________ (grow) there?
The most important crop is rice. We also raise cattle there.
Are there any other natural resources in the lowlands?
Yes. Oil. Petroleum (10) ___________________ (find) there.
OK, Lets talk about languages for a moment. I know that Spanish is the official
language of Bolivia. But (11)________ there any other languages __________
(speak)?
(Actually, more people speak Native American languages
than Spanish especially Quechua and Aymara.
Ive heard that naturalists love to visit Bolivia. (12) ___________ condors still
______________ (see) in the mountains?
(13) ______________ . They live in the highest regions. And in the rain forests
there are a lot of fascinating animals parrots, boa constrictors, jaguars many,
many species.
Well, thank you very much. Youve been really helpful. By the way, Im planning to
visit La Paz next month. Ive heard that Bolivian textiles are very beautiful.
Yes, thats true. They (14) ___________ still ___________ (make) by hand.
And be sure to listen to some traditional music, too.

Questions in the passive

In questions in the passive, we invert the subject and verb be (but not the past participle).
Potatoes are grown in the highlands

Make passive questions

Where/grow/potatoes/?
______________________________

Are potatoes grown in the highlands

Where/cars/manufacture?
______________________________

Complete with subject, be and past participle

FORM:

__(Question word) + _________ + __________ + ___________

PRACTICE
Change the active to the passive.
1. Shakespeare wrote that play.

That play was written by Shakespeare.____

2. Bill will invite Ann to the party.

___________________________________

3. Alex is preparing that report.

___________________________________

4. Waitresses and waiters serve customers.

___________________________________

5. The teacher is going to explain the lesson.

___________________________________

6. Shirley has suggested a new idea.

___________________________________

7. Two horses were pulling the farmers wagon.

___________________________________

8. Kathy has returned the book to the library.

___________________________________

9. By this time tomorrow, the president will

___________________________________

have made the announcement.

___________________________________
10. I didnt write the note. Jim wrote it.

___________________________________

11. Alice didnt make that pie.

___________________________________

Did Mrs. French make it?

___________________________________

12. Does Professor Jackson teach that course?

___________________________________

I know that Professor Adams doesnt teach it.

___________________________________

13. Mrs. Andrews hasnt signed those papers yet.

___________________________________

Has Mr. Andrews signed them yet?

___________________________________

14. Is Mr. Brown painting your house?

___________________________________

15. His tricks wont fool me.

___________________________________

THINK ABOUT GRAMMAR

A. Are the sentences below better in the active or the passive ?
Also, are they transitive or intransitive (no object so cannot be changed to the passive) .
Example:

They have caught the bank robber.

better in the A/P. (why?)

Jim has made a cake.

better in the A/P. (why?)

Better in the

1. Were going to buy beer for the party.

A/P

Intrans/trans

2. They should ban car drivers from beeping

their horns unnecessarily.

A/P

Intrans/trans

3. Traffic police should fine these drivers for beeping.

A/P

Intrans/trans

4. El Cultural will publish the results on Saturday.

A/P

Intrans/trans

5.

My friend has given me a dog.

A/P

Intrans/trans

6.

Someone is cleaning the classroom.

A/P

Intrans/trans

7.

He left the office.

A/P

Intrans/trans

8.

People grow potatoes in the highlands.

A/P

Intrans/trans

9.

People need jobs.

A/P

Intrans/trans

10. I dont like them making fun of me. (people in general)

A/P

Intrans/trans

11. They will send you a letter on Sunday.

A/P

Intrans/trans

12. They have seen a dangerous criminal in the neighborhood.

A/P

Intrans/trans

13. She felt very happy.

A/P

Intrans/trans

14. I like people to give me responsibility.

A/P

Intrans/trans

PASSIVE TENSES AND ACTIVE EQUIVALENTS

Notice that the tense of the verb to be in the passive voice is the same as the tense of the main
verb in the active voice.
Example: to keep
TENSE / VERB FORM

ACTIVE VOICE

PASSIVE VOICE

Simple present

keeps

is kept

Present continuous

is keeping

is being kept

Simple past

kept

was kept

Past continuous

was keeping

was being kept

Present perfect

have kept

have been kept

Past perfect

had kept

had been kept

Future

will keep

will be kept

Conditional present

would keep

would be kept

Conditional past

would have kept

would have been kept

present infinitive

to keep

to be kept

perfect infinitive

to have kept

to have been kept

present participle/gerund

keeping

being kept

perfect participle

having kept

having been kept

Example sentences:
Active: I keep the butter in the fridge.
Passive: The butter is kept in the fridge.
Active: They stole the painting.
Passive: The painting was stolen.
Active: They are repairing the road.
Passive: The road is being repaired.
Active: Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.
Passive: Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
Active: A dog bit him.
Passive: He was bitten by a dog