The active and the passive voice
The ACTIVE AND THE PASSIVE VOICE
We usually use the active voice in writing
and speaking. E.g.
Nokia
Someone or
something
(the agent)
recycles
cell phones
does
something
(verb)
to someone or
something
else
(recipient)
1
The active and the passive voice
Here’s another example:
Nokia user’s
Someone or
something
(the agent)
can recycle
does
something
(verb)
cell phones
to someone or
something
else
(recipient)
2
The active and the passive voice
In the passive voice, we change this around,
so that the recipient has something done to
it by the agent. E.g.
Cell phones
Someone or
something
(recipient)
are recycled
has
something
done to it
(verb)
by Nokia
by someone
or something
(the agent)
3
The active and the passive voice
Let’s see that again.
Cell phones
can be recycled
by Nokia users
Someone or
something
(recipient)
has
something
done to it
(verb)
by someone
or something
(the agent)
4
The active and the passive voice
In these examples, spot the use of the
active voice and the passive voice.
Cell phones are made of metal and
plastic.
Plastic and metal can be easily recycled.
passive
People use cell phones all over the world.
active
People buy thousands of cell phones
every year.
Cell phones are recycled by Nokia
experts.
active
passive
passive
5
The active and the passive voice
Sometimes in passive sentences, the agent is left
out.
Cell phones
Someone or
something
(recipient)
are used all over the world
has
something
done to it
(verb)
The agent –
“people” - is
left out.
Why do you
think that the
agent might be
left out in this
6
example?
The active
and the passive voice
The passive
is used:
1)- when the agent (the person who does
the action) is unknown, unimportant or
obvious from the context.
Eg. “Thousand of cell phones are bought
every year” (by people – obvious agent)
2)- to make statements more polite or
formal
Eg. “My new cell phone has been damaged”
(it’s more polite than saying “You have
damaged my cell phone”)
7
The active and the passive voice
3)- when the action is more important
than the agent – as in news reports,
formal notices, instructions, processes,
headlines, etc.
Eg. “A cell phones recycling project was
presented this morning in the United
States” (news report)
4)- to put emphasis on the agent
Eg. “Cell phones in America are being
recycled by Nokia”
8
The active and the passive voice
REMEMBER
The structure of the passive voice can be
described as follows:
TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE + (BY)
MODAL + BE + PAST PARTICIPLE + (BY)
9