Tomislav Skračić, MA
Undergraduate English
Course for
MARINE ENGINEERS
2nd Semester
Essential reading:
SPINČIĆ, A., An English Textbook For Marine
Engineers I., Pomorski fakultet, Rijeka 2008.
LUZER, J., SPINČIĆ, A., Gramatička vježbenica
engleskog jezika za pomorce, Pomorski
fakultet, Rijeka 2003.
THE PASSIVE VOICE – USE
Study these sentences:
1. Croatian seamen speak English well.
2. English is spoken all over the world.
The Active Voice
The first sentence is in the Active Voice. There is a clear
subject = Croatian seamen.
The Active Voice expresses what somebody does, did, has
done, had done, or will do...
The Passive Voice
The second sentence is in the Passive Voice. There is no
clear subject in the sentence telling us who performs the
action.
THE PASSIVE VOICE – USE
The Passive Voice expresses, for example, what is done,
was done, has been done, or will be done in general,
without naming the agent.( = the subject)
E.g.
The room must be ventilated.
The engine has been repaired at low cost.
No one knew that Antonio was arrested.
Good food can hardly be found nowadays.
It will be done.
I am quite well informed about the ship.
THE PASSIVE VOICE – USE
The agent is not named because
•
The agent is not known:
I am quite well informed about the ship.
Good food can hardly be found nowadays.
•
The agent is known but it is not so important to
mention it:
No one knew that Antonio was arrested. (by the police)
The engine has been repaired at low cost. (by the engineers)
THE PASSIVE VOICE – USE
When the agent is named, it is introduced by “by”:
No one knew that Antonio was arrested by the police.
The engine has been repaired by the engineers.
It will be paid by the taxpayers’ money.
The software was designed by Apple.
At any rate, the focus in the passive sentence is always on
the object, not on the agent (the subject).
THE PASSIVE VOICE – USE
The Passive Voice always “sounds good” in English
but this is not always the case in Croatian language.
Try to translate the following sentences into Croatian:
a) No one knew that Antonio was arrested by the police.
b) The engine has been repaired by the engineers.
c) It will be paid by the taxpayers’ money.
d) The software was designed by Apple.
e) English is spoken all over the world.
f) These engines are produced in Finland.
g) This house was built last year.
h) Pilotage has been suspended.
i) The survivors have been picked up by helicopter.
THE PASSIVE VOICE – USE
When translating the Passive Voice sentences into
Croatian, it is sometimes better to turn them into
Active sentences.
Translate the following sentences into Croatian:
1. The passengers were not told to wait outside.
2. What languages are spoken in this country?
3. All machinery must be maintained regularly.
4. Letters are often written by sailors.
5. Has the ship been located?
6. Good food can hardly be found nowadays.
7. Were any distress messages sent from the ship?
8. This car was not manufactured in Japan.
THE PASSIVE VOICE – FORMATION
The Passive Voice includes the different tense forms.
the verb BE + Past Participle of the main verb
The Passive Voice is formed with the auxiliary verb “to be”
and the Past Participle of the main verb.
Past Participle =the third form of the irregular verbs /
ending –ed of regular verbs.
Example: write wrote written
call called called.
THE PASSIVE VOICE – FORMATION
The Passive Voice includes the different tense forms.
The verb Be expresses the tense form of the Passive Voice:
For example:
Present Simple: The ship is called MV Polo.
Present Perfect: The ship has been called MV Polo.
Past Simple:
The ship was called MV Polo.
Past Perfect:
The ship had been called MV Polo.
Simple Future: The ship will be called MV Polo.
‘Going to’ Future: The ship is going to be called MV Polo.
Modal verbs:
The ship can be called MV Polo.
The ship should be called MV Polo.
The ship must be called MV Polo.
Etc.
THE PASSIVE VOICE – Questions
Questions are formed by reversing the order of the
auxiliary verb “be” and the object.
Examples:
Andreja is informed about the ship.
> Is Andreja informed about the ship?
These engines were produced in Finland.
> Were these engines produced in Finland?
> Where were these engines produced?
The ship has been located.
> Has the ship been located?
This problem can be solved.
> Can this problem be solved?
These papers should be given to the authorities.
> Whom should the papers be given to?
THE PASSIVE VOICE – Negations
Auxiliary verb be + not + main verb
This problem can be solved.
> This problem can not be solved.
> This problem can’t be solved.
The software was designed by Apple.
> The software was not designed by Apple.
> The software wasn’t designed by Apple.
The ship will be called MV Polo.
> The ship will not be called MV Polo.
> The ship won’t be called MV Polo.
The survivors have been picked up by helicopter.
> They have not been picked up by helicopter.
> They haven’t been picked up by helicopter.
EXERCISE 1
Complete the sentences using the Passive Voice:
•
•
•
•
•
•
The ship _________________________ (damage) in a
storm last night.
All her derricks _________________________ (remove)
recently.
It's a big vessel. Many people
_________________________ (employ) there.
The new carrier _________________________ (build)
next year.
Many accidents _________________________ (cause)
by dangerous driving.
We tried to enter his office but we
_________________________ (tell) to wait outside.
EXERCISE 1 – KEY
•
•
•
•
•
•
The ship was damaged in a storm last night.
All her derricks have been removed recently.
It's a big vessel. Many people are employed there.
The new carrier will be built next year.
Many accidents are / were / have been caused by
dangerous driving.
We tried to enter his office but we were told to wait
outside.
Turning the Active Voice into the Passive
NOTE: When turning the Active sentence into the Passive
sentence, the Tense must remain the same.
= the verb BE must be in the Tense which is used in the
Active sentence.
Examples:
ACTIVE:
PASSIVE:
ACTIVE:
PASSIVE:
Sailors often write letters.
(the verb “write” is in the Present Simple)
Letters are often written by sailors.
(the verb “be” is in the Present Simple)
Uljanik has launched a new carrier.
(the verb “launch” is in the Present Perfect)
A new carrier has been launched by Uljanik.
(the verb “be” is in the Present Perfect)
EXERCISE 2
Turn the Active Voice into the Passive Voice.
Omit the agent (subject) if it is not important.
Example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Nobody can repair this engine.
> This engine can not be repaired.
Someone told the passengers to wait outside.
The economiser heats the feed water.
The main boiler will provide steam for the cargo pumps.
They removed all her derricks.
We must maintain all machinery regularly.
Nobody has informed the Chief Engineer about the
meeting.
7. An electrically driven pump is taking the fuel oil from the
tank.
EXERCISE 2 – KEY
1. The passengers were told to wait outside.
2. The feed water is heated by the economiser.
3. Steam for the cargo pumps will be provided by the main
boiler.
4. All her derricks were removed.
5. All machinery must be maintained regularly.
6. The Chief Engineer has not been informed about the
meeting.
7. The fuel oil is being taken from the tank by an electrically
driven pump.
THE PASSIVE VOICE
Find more information and exercise at:
http://www.e-grammar.org
www.perfect-english-grammar.com