CHAPTER 6
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

Passive Voice is used when:
It is not necessary to mention the doer of an action.
E.g. Rice is grown in India.


We don’t know who did the action.
E.g. Hamlet was written in 16 th century.

We have forgotten who did the action.
E.g. Kardan was established in 2002.
Subject of active voice is people, someone or indefinite pronoun etc.
E.g. Someone killed him last night. He was killed last night.

We are more interested in the action than the person who did it.
E.g. Nokia Mobiles are made in Hungary.

To add beauty or the variety to your speech.
E.g. Taj was erected beautifully.
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Voice is the form of the verb in which the subject affects something or is affected by something.
1.
If the subject affects something, it is called active voice.
E.g. I paint the walls.
2.
If the object is affected by something, it is called passive voice.
E.g. The walls are painted.
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1.Act: I write a letter. P: A letter is subj. V(1 st ) Obj object Aux (1 st ) written by me.
V (3 rd ) subj
2.Act: I wrote a letter.
subj. V(2 nd ) Obj
P: A letter obj was
Aux (2 nd ) written by me.
V (3 rd ) subj
3.Act: I am writing a letter.
P: A letter is being written by me.
subj. H.V
V(1 st + ing ) obj.
Obj given H.V
Aux(1 st +ing) V(3 rd ) subj
1.
Exchange of Positions of Subject and Object
2.
3.
4.
Use of 3 rd form of Verb
Use of “ by”
Use of Appropriate Auxiliary Verb
3 forms of Auxiliaries in case of Active/Passive Voice
1 st
Is, Am, Are, Be
2 nd
Was/were
3rd
Been
Formula: Verb (1 st form) in Act Voice Aux. Verb (1 st form) in Passive voice
Verb (2 nd form) in Act Voice Aux. Verb (2 nd form) in Passive voice
Verb (3 rd form) in Act Voice Aux. Verb (3 rd form) in Passive voice
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1.
They have arrested him for shoplifting.
He has been arrested for shoplifting.
2.
People in Chile speak Spanish.
Spanish is spoken in Chile.
3.
They are fixing your car now.
Your car is being fixed now.
4.
Solar power drives this car.
This car is driven by solar power.
5.
The Chinese invented paper.
Paper was invented by the Chinese.

6.
They do not sell stamps in bookshops.
Stamps are not sold in bookshops.
7.
Somebody will tell you where to go.
You will be told where to go.
8.
Philip Kotler wrote the marketing management book.
The marketing management book was written by Philip Kotler.
9. The company has imported new computers from
Japan.
New computers have been imported by the company from Japan
10. The personnel manager is still considering your application.
Your application is still being considered by the personnel manager.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Use [Be + 3 rd (v)] structure for all passive sentences.
Find the object of the active sentence and bring it (along its modifiers) to the beginning as the subject of the passive.
Move the subject of active sentence to the end and put it as the complement of (By).
Only change the (To Be) according to the main verb form of the active voice.
(Page 120)
Do not change the position of adverbs.
Do not convert to passive if the verb is intransitive.
(Varied Extensive Class practice)
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7.
7.
8.
For imperative sentences use: Let + sub + be + 3 rd (V). (LOB3 formula)
Do it (active). Let it be done (passive)
(Varied Extensive Class practice)
Do not change the Perfect Progressive tenses to passive.
If a verb contains two objects
(Direct & Indirect)
.
Make one passive each.
I wrote a letter to Ali.
A letter was written to Ali.
Ali was written a letter.
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Transitive verbs need to take object whereas Intransitive don’t.
E.g. I sold my car. ( sell= Transitive verb)
I sleep late at night. ( sleep= Intransitive verb)
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
By Phrase is called the agent of the passive sentence. Most passive S’s do not have “by phrase”. It’s only used when we want to know who performs the action.
E.g. Ford Motors are made in America.
Class practice

This car is painted by my friend.
We usually don’t use by phrase when the subject is people and someone.
E.g.
People speak Uzbaki in Mazar e Shareef.
Uzbaki is spoken in Mazar-e-Shareef.
E.g. Someone stole my purse. My purse was stolen.
Class practice
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We use:
O+ Be + Being + 3 rd (v)
E.g. The police are investigating the criminals.
The criminals are being investigated.
The criminals were being investigated.
Note: We only use passive in simple progressive tenses not in the perfect progressive.
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We use:
O+ Mod. Aux. V + Be + 3 rd (V)
E.g. They should solve all the questions.
All the questions should be solved by them.
M.X.V’s = can, could, should, must, will, might, would, ought to, shall,may
Class practice using Modals
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USING PAST PARTICIPLES AS ADJECTIVES
(STATIVE PASSIVE)

USING PAST PARTICIPLES AS ADJECTIVES
(STATIVE PASSIVE)
BE + ADJECTIVE
(a) Lily
.
(b) Lily
.
(c) Lily
.
BE + PAST PARTICIPLE
(d) Lily
.
(e) Lily
.
(f) Lily
.

USING PAST PARTICIPLES AS ADJECTIVES
(STATIVE PASSIVE)
(g) Lily is divorced from Jack .
(i) Lily will be excited for the trip .
+
+

Stative Passive are used to describe a state/feeling or situation. It does not show any action.
The past participle in Stative passive functions as an adjective.
Examples:
The door is locked.
The window is broken.
I am lost.
Note: Stative Passive verbs are often followed by preposition rather than ‘by phrase’ e.g. Elizabeth is married to Alex.
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When the subject is unknown/unnecessary. e.g “ Get the notes printed.” class practice
The word ‘Get’ can be followed by a past participle to describe the subject. The past participle followed by ‘Get’ functions as an adjective. The use of ‘Get’ + Past Participle is often not appropriated in formal writing though.
Examples:
I stopped working because I got tired.
(Tired, I stopped working.)
I got worried when I saw the accident.
Note: Get may be followed by certain adjectives.
e.g. The weather is getting cold.
I had cleaned my car. Vs. I had my car cleaned.
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GET + ADJECTIVE; GET + PAST PARTICIPLE

GET + ADJECTIVE; GET + PAST PARTICIPLE
+
(a) I am getting thirsty .
(b) Fahad got angry at him.

GET + ADJECTIVE; GET + PAST PARTICIPLE
+
(c) I ’m getting worried .
(d) My friend and his wife got divorced .

The Present Participle conveys an active meaning. e.g. It is an interesting question.
Here the noun ‘question’ does something.
Class practice
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conveys a passive meaning/action.
e.g. The students are confused.
Class practice
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