THE PASSIVE VOICE We use the Passive Voice when the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence. Therefore, the focus is on the action and not on the person who performs the action. For example: This building was built in the 17th century. In the example above, the focus is on the fact of what has been built and when. We do not know, however, who did it. Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows: For example: A mistake was made. In this case, we focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but we do not blame anyone (for example: You have made a mistake.). PAST PARTICIPLE The Past Participle indicates past or completed action or time. It is often called the ed form as it is formed by adding -d or -ed, to the base form of regular verbs, however it is also formed in various other ways for irregular verbs. The past participle is used to form the following structures: to form Perfect tenses – I have spoken. to form the Passive Voice – The letter was written. as an adjective form – I wasn’t exhausted at all. 1 STRUCTURE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE The structure of the Passive Voice goes as follows: Affirmative sentences: subject + auxiliary to be + main verb in the Past Participle Negative sentences: subject + auxiliary to be + not + main verb in the Past Participle Interrogative sentences: auxiliary to be + subject + main verb in the Past Participle For example: Active Simple Past Passive Simple Past Cassidy wrote the letter. The letter was written by Cassidy. The fire didn’t destroy the city. The city wasn’t destroyed by the fire. Did Tony eat the cheese? Was the cheese eaten by Tony? When rewriting active sentences in the Passive Voice, note the following: the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence the verb structure is composed by an auxiliar verb be with reflects the subject and verb agreement and the tense and, also, the past participle the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or it is dropped) 2 Examples of the Passive Simple Tense Voice Subject Verb Object Simple Active: Rita writes a letter. Present Passive: A letter is written by Rita. Simple Active: Rita wrote a letter. Past Passive: A letter was written by Rita. Example of Passive Continuous Tense Voice Subject Verb Object Present Active: Rita is writing a letter. Continuous Passive: A letter is being written by Rita. Past Active: Rita was writing a letter. Continuous Passive: A letter was being written by Rita. Passive Sentences with Two Objects Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on. Tense Voice Subject Verb Object 1 Object 2 Past Active: Rita wrote a letter to me. Simple Passive: A letter was written to me by Rita. Passive: I was written a letter by Rita. 3 SOME OTHER EXAMPLE SENTENCES IN THE PASSIVE VOICE The last three cookies were eaten by James. (Past Simple) The savannah is roamed by beautiful giraffes. (Present Simple) The flat tire was changed by Sue. (Past Simple) The entire stretch of highway was paved by the crew. (Past Simple) The novel was read by Josephine in one day. (Past Simple) The staff are required by the company to watch a safety video every year. (Present Simple) The treaty is being signed by the two kings. (Present Continuous) All the reservations are being made by the party planner. (Present Continuous) The house was being remodeled by the homeowners to help it sell. (Past Continuous) The metal beams were being corroded by the saltwater. (Past Continuous) 4