PASSIVE VOICE

 

The function of the passive voice

Passive voice is used to show interest in a person or object that is subjected to an action and not a person or object performing the action. So, the most important thing or person will be the subject of the sentence.

Example

• The passive voice is used frequently.
• The house was built in 1654.
• The road is being repaired.

Sometimes, we use passive voice because we don't know or don't want to say who did the action.

Example

• I noticed that a window had been left open.
• Every year thousands of people are killed on our roads.
• All the cookies have been eaten.
• My car has been stolen!

The passive voice is often used in formal texts. Converting it to the active voice will make your writing clearer and easier to read.

Pasif	Aktif
A great deal of meaning is conveyed by a few well-chosen words.	A few well-chosen words convey a great deal of meaning.
Our planet is wrapped in a mass of gases.	A mass of gases wrap around our planet.
Waste materials are disposed of in a variety of ways.	The city disposes of waste materials in a variety of ways.

When we want to say who or what did an action in passive voice, we use the preposition by. When we know who performed the action and are interested in the subject, we better change it to active voice.

Pasif	Aktif
"A Hard Day's Night" was written by the Beatles.	The Beatles wrote "A Hard Day's Night".
The movie ET was directed by Spielberg.	Spielberg directed the movie ET.
This house was built by my father.	My father built this house.

Forms a passive voice

The passive voice in English consists of two elements:

appropriate form of the verb to be + past participle

Positif	Negatif	Question	Negative Question
The house was built in 1899.	The house wasn't built in 1899.	Was the house built in 1899?	Wasn't the house built in 1899?
These houses were built in 1899.	These houses weren't built in 1899.	Were these houses built in 1899?	Weren't these houses built in 1899?

To clean, passive voice

Subjek	+ to be	+ past participle	+ sisa kalimat
Simple present
The house	is	cleaned	every day.
Present continuous
The house	is being	cleaned	at the moment.
Simple past
The house	was	cleaned	yesterday.
Past continuous
The house	was being	cleaned	last week.
Present perfect
The house	has been	cleaned	since you left.
Past perfect
The house	had been	cleaned	before they arrived.
Future
The house	will be	cleaned	next week.
Future continuous
The house	will be being	cleaned	tomorrow.
Present conditional
The house	would be	cleaned	if they had visitors.
Past conditional
The house	would have been	cleaned	if it had been dirty.
Inifinitive
The house	must be	cleaned	before we arrive.

Passive voice with infinitives

The passive infinitive is used after a modal verb, and other verbs are usually followed by an infinitive.

Example

·         You have to be tested on your English grammar.

·         John might be promoted next year.

·         She wants to be invited to the party.

·         I expect to be surprised on my birthday.

·         You may be disappointed.

 

Passive voice with gerunds

The gerund is used after a preposition, and verbs are usually followed by a gerund.

Example

·         I remember being taught to drive.

·         The children are excited about being taken to the zoo.

·         The children are excited to be taken to the zoo.

·         Most film stars hate being interviewed.

·         Most film stars hate to be interviewed.

·         Poodles like to be pampered.

·         Poodles like being pampered.

Using 'to be born'

To be born is the passive form and is usually used in the past tense. However, in some cases, the present or future tense can be used. 

Example

·         I was born in 1976.

·         Where were you born?

·         Around 100 babies are born in this hospital every week.

·         We don't know on exactly which day the baby will be born.