Passive Voice

understandingthe verb be

and

Something very important before we begin looking at the passive

voice

the verb be

Knowing how the verb be is used will help you avoid mistakes in

your writing.

First let’s look at the different forms of be.

•Present simple

I am

you/we/they are

he/she/it is

•Present continuous

I am being

you/we/they are being

he/she/it is being

•Past simple

I/he/she/it was

you/we/they were

•Past continuous

I/he/she/it was being

you/we/they were being

•Present perfect

I/you/we/they have been

He/she/it has been

•Past perfect

Everyone had been

Ok – so we know that the verb be has many forms.

Now the important part!

A sentence with the verb be as the main verb has three basic patterns (designs).

be + a noun She is a student.

be + an adjective She is intelligent.

be + *a prepositional phrase She was in the classroom. * A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and

its object. For example: in the classroom, at the cinema, at your house, in the afternoon etc.

Be is also used (as an auxiliary verb) in progressive verb tenses and in the passive.

Progressive, sometimes called: continuous (verb +ing,): the student is writing a story, they are writing a story, the

man was riding a bike etc.

Passive (the verb be + past participle)The story is written by the student -The story was written by

them -The bike was ridden by the man.

Think about your use of be in each sentence. Use this mental checklist:

Is it followed by a noun? Is it followed by an adjective?Is it followed by a prepositional phrase? Is it followed by verb + ing? Is it followed by a past participle (v3)?

These are the only possibilities*. If your sentencedoes not fit one of these types in the checklist, then it

is wrong.

So – anytime a verb follows be:

it must be either verb + ing

Or :

it must be a past participle (verb 3)

Let’s look at the formula for the passive voice.

Subject + be + past participle (v3)

Something really important about passive.

Unlike active, in passive the subject receives the action.

Consider the following sentences:

A robber robbed a tourist.

A policeman shot the robber.

The newspapers reported the robbery.

In a sentence, the verb shows action.

Ask who or what the verb.

If the subject does the verb, the sentence is active voice.

If the subject receives the action the sentence is passive voice.

Consider the following sentences:

A robber robbed a tourist.

A policeman shot the robber.

The newspapers reported the robbery.

Who/what robbed? A robber robbed

Who/what shot? A policeman shot

Who/what reported? Newspapers reported

A robber robbed a tourist.

A policeman shot the robber.

The newspapers reported the robbery.

The subject does the verb – active voice

Now consider these sentences:

A tourist was robbed (by a robber).

The robber was shot by a policeman.

The robbery was reported by the newspapers.

The subjects received the action – passive voice

A tourist was robbed (by a robber).

The robber was shot by a policeman.

The robbery was reported by the newspapers.

We call this the passive voice because it is not a tense. Passive simply means that the subject receives the action and this can be in any tense.

He is robbed each time he goes to that part of town.

He was robbed.He has been robbed.He is being robbed.He was being robbed when……….. Etc.

Challenge:

Write at least one passive sentence for each of the following pictures.

Something else you need to know about passive voice

Some verbs don’t take objects. These verbs are called intransitive verbs

and are shown in dictionaries as (IV).

Intransitive verbs can’t be used in the passive voice.

Look at the animations that follow and try writing active and passive

sentences for each.

That’s right! The verb cry is intransitive so it can’t be used in passive voice.

Let’s continue.

Slideshow created by Teacher Graeme