PASSIVE VOICE

Andrés Fernández Parra

USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action. Example: The Guernica was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that “The Guernica was stolen”. I do not know, however, who did it.

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows: Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (They have made a mistake.).

The passive voice is formed:

Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs). In the next table appear the passive voice in the different tenses:

FORM OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

ACTIVE TO PASSIVE TRANSFORMATION. CHANGES IN THE SENTENCE

The changes required to pass a sentence from active to passive are: The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the

passive The main verb is preceded by the corresponding form of the

verb TO BE, followed by the past participle of the verb The subject of the active sentence becomes the subject agent,

namely, to go to the end of the phrase preceded by the preposition BY. (This part can be deleted if we do not care who takes the action or if it's something obvious).

Although less common and often used only in speech, the auxiliary TO BE can be replaced by TO GET when we talk about something that happens by accident or unexpectedly. Example: And finally, They got divorced

Sometimes we can find active sentences with two objects, one direct reference to one thing and another indirect pointing to a person. If so, which of the two will be the subject in the passive? Example: The nun gave all her money to the indigents.

For though it depends on what you want to express, the most common is the indirect object becomes subject. “The indigents were given all the money by the nun”

OTHERS EXAMPLES

Sarah took a beautiful picture of the Empire State Building. A beautiful picture of the Empire State Building was taken by

Sarah.

John is setting a new carpet in the office. A new carpet in the office is being set by John.

My grandfather was milking the cows at the farm. The cows were milked at the farm by my grandfather.

We are going to see the movie. The movie is going to be seen by us.

Anne's daughter will have a baby. A baby will be had by Anne's daughter.