What happened?
DOER
Miss Leung took Brian ’ s book.
( Subject )
DOER
Brian ’ s book was taken by Miss Leung.
(Object)

What happened?
DOER
Miss Leung took Brian ’ s book.
( Subject )
RECEIVER
Emphasis – more
DOER
IMPORTANT
Brian ’ s book was taken by Miss Leung.
( Subject ) (Object)

What happened?
DOER
Miss Leung took Brian ’ s book.
( Subject )
RECEIVER
DOER
Brian ’ s book was taken by Miss Leung.
( Subject ) (Object)

What happened?
DOER
Miss Leung took Brian ’ s book.
( Subject )
RECEIVER
DOER
Brian ’ s book was taken by Miss Leung.
( Subject )

What are you going to learn?
1. When to Use Passive Voice
2. Structure of Passive Verbs
3. Passive Verbs in Tenses

1. When Do We Use Passive Voice?
A.
B.
When the RECEIVER of an action is the EMPHASIS
When it is NOT NECESSARY to mention the DOER of an action
C. When the DOER of an action is NOT
KNOWN

1.A. When the RECEIVER of the action is the EMPHASIS
Example:
Look! A mermaid is found by the fishermen!


As the emphasis is on the mermaid , we start the sentence with ‘ A mermaid ’ to attract readers’ attention to the receiver of the action.

Now let ’ s watch a video.
Example:
This table is reserved for Hong Kong people.
As the emphasis is on the table , we start the sentence with ‘ This table ’ to attract readers’ attention to the receiver of the action.

1.B. When it is NOT NECESSARY to mention the DOER of the action
Example:
I was born in August.

 Who else would it be if not your mom??!!)

As the doer of the action is understood , we can omit it and start the sentence with the receiver of the action, i.e.
‘ I ’ .

1.C. When the DOER is NOT
KNOWN
Example:
Miss Leung’s diamond ring was stolen !!


We do not know who stole the diamond ring.
So, the doer is not known . Instead of starting the sentence with ‘somebody’, i.e.,
‘Somebody stole Miss Leung’s diamond ring’, we can omit the doer of the action and start the sentence with the receiver of the action, i.e., ‘ Miss Leung’s diamond ring ’.

2. Structure of Passive Verbs
Syntactic Structure
ACTIVE ----------------------- PASSIVE e.g. eats ----------------------- is eaten i.e. verb ----------------------be + p.p.
Note: “be” is changed according to
 the tense of the sentence
 the number (singular/plural) of the subject of the sentence.

3. Passive Verbs in Tenses
3.1 Present Tenses
Tenses
Present - Simple
- Continuous
- Perfect
Active
-eats
Passive
-is eaten
-is eating -is being eaten
-has eaten -has been eaten

3.2 Past Tenses
Now, try to complete the following table:
Tenses
Past - Simple
- Continuous
- Perfect
Active
-ate
-was eating
-had eaten
Passive

ANSWERS
Tenses
Past - Simple
Active
-ate
- Continuous -was eating
- Perfect -had eaten
Passive
-was eaten
-was being eaten
-had been eaten

3.3 Future Tenses
Please complete the following table:
Tense
Future - Simple
Active
-will eat
Passive

ANSWERS
Tense
Future - Simple
Active
-will eat
Passive
-will be eaten

Practice

Now, rewrite the sentences below by using
passive voice.
1. The janitor cleans our classroom every day.
2. Japan exported millions of cars last year.
3. Mr. Chan will feed his dog on canned food.

ANSWERS
1. Our classroom is cleaned (by the janitor) every day.
2. Millions of cars were exported from
Japan last year.
3. Mr. Chan ’ s dog will be fed on canned food.

Activity

Players
Each group chooses 1 member as the player.
All players come to the front of the room and look carefully around the room.
Now, would the players leave the room and stay outside for a moment?

Action!
Each group takes turn to make a change to objects in the room.
e.g. clean the blackboard, close the window … .

Welcome Back!
Now, let ’ s invite the players to come back and try to find out what have been changed.

What is different?
Dear players,
8 changes have been made to objects in the room.
Check what have been changed.
Report to the class in complete passive voice sentences. e.g. The door has been closed .
1 mark for each correct observation.

Time Limit: 8 mins

Relevant Web-Sites http://www.english4us.com
http://www.telenex.hku.hk

You HAVE BEEN TAUGHT :
when
to use passive voice

Congratulations!!
You HAVE BEEN TAUGHT :
when
to use passive voice
how
to form passive verbs
Give yourselves a BIG BIG
HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Passive or ACTIVE??????)