Passive Voice
Lesson 3 – Level 4
Passive VoiceWhy use the Passive?
To emphasize the object or party receiving the action
Rebekah was selected for a free gift.
To emphasize the action instead of the actor
Our car was repaired by our neighbor.
When the agent (doer) is unknown
Her house was broken into last night.
When the agent (doer) is unimportant
Gas prices were raised again last week.
To be discreet or tactful by not naming the agent
The keys were misplaced again!
Passive VoiceStructure
There are two main rules to all Passive Voice forms
Add the verb “Be” in the same tense as the sentence in its active voice form
Use the Past Participle form of the main verb
There are two additional rules for the Passive Voice
In Continuous/Progressive tense sentences add the continuous form of “Be” which is “being”
Ex: More homes are being built this year.
In all Perfect tenses and Perfect Modals use the Past Participle form of “Be” which is “been”
Ex: Gifts have been given out already.
Ex: My sister should have been told about the party.
Passive VoiceSimple Present
Active
I walk the dogs everyday.
Millions of people watch the Super Bowl.
People write many letters to the President.
Passive
The dogs are walked everyday.
The Super Bowl is watched by millions of people.
Many letters are written to the President.
Passive VoicePresent Continuous
Active
I am walking the dogs.
Millions of people are watching the Super Bowl.
People are writing many letters to the President.
Passive
The dogs are being walked.
The Super Bowl is being watched by millions of people.
Many letters are being written to the President.
Passive VoiceSimple Past
Active
I walked the dogs.
Millions of people watched the Super Bowl.
People wrote many letters to the President.
Passive
The dogs were walked.
The Super Bowl was watched by millions of people.
Many letters were written to the President.
Passive VoicePresent Perfect
Active
I’ve walked the dogs already.
Millions of people have w
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