UNIT 3

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: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike 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.
Examples of Active and Passive Voice

Active voice describes a sentence where the subject performs the action stated by the verb. In passive voice
sentences, the subject is acted upon by the verb. Here are examples of sentences written in both the active
voice and the passive voice, with the active voice sentence appearing first.
 Tense Subject Verb Object

Active: Rita writes a letter.

Simple Present
Passive: A letter is written by Rita.

Active: Rita wrote a letter.

Simple Past
Passive: A letter was written by Rita.

HOW TO CHANGE SIMPLE PRESENT AND SIMPLE PAST SENTENCES INTO PASSIVE VOICE

SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE PAST

 Affirmative
 Affirmative
Rita wrote a letter
Rita writes a letter
A letter was written by Rita
A letter is written by Rita
 Negative
 Negative
Rita didn’t write a letter
Rita doesn’t write a letter
A letter was not written by Rita
A letter is not written by Rita
 Interrogative
 Interrogative
Did Rita write a letter?
Does Rita write a letter?
Was a letter written by Rita?
Is a letter written by Rita?

Form of Passive

Subject + finite form of to be + Past participle

Example: A letter was written = A LETTER WAS WRITTEN

When rewritting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

 The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
 The finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
 The subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence or is dropped.
 EXERCISES

I. Decide whether the sentences are written in Active or Passive.

1. Boys play soccer. → __________________________________

2. This room was painted yesterday. → _________________________________

3. Cricket is played in Australia. → __________________________

4. I am given a book. → __________________________

5. We have lost our keys. → _______________________________

6. Dolphins are seen here everyday. → _____________________________

7. The report was completed by Frida. → ________________________

8. They were singing a song in the lesson yesterday. → ___________________

9. A letter was written to her some days ago. → _______________________

10. The black bike is repaired by Jose. → _______________________

11. The grapes are grown in California. → _________________________

12. The hamster are kept in a cage by Jordan. → _________________________

13. The party has already started. → __________________________

14. The car is standing at the garage. → _______________________

15. The ship sail on the ocean. → ____________________________

16. The police didn't find the robber last week. → ________________________

17. The first fast food restaurants were opened in the USA in 1916. → ____________________

18. The train is going to arrive late. → ________________________________

19. The notebook was bought by the teacher. → _____________________

20. The boys were chased by the dog. → ____________________

I. UNDERLINE THE RIGHT OPTION USING PASSIVE VOICE

1. The artist paints a mural

a) A mural was painted by the artist
 b) A mural is painted by the artist
c) A mural is paint by the artist

2. A dog bit him

a) Him was bitten by a dog
b) He was bitten by a dog
c) He is bitten by a dog

3. Victor organized the party.

a) The party is organized by Victor
b) The party was organized by victor
c) The party is organize by Victor

4. This airplane _____ a robot.

a) is drove by
b) is driven by
c) is drive by

5. This play _____ by Shakespeare.

a) were written
b) was written
c) is written

6. Superman, the comic, __________ by two Americans.

a) is created
b) were created
c) was created

7. Caroline paid for the meal.

a) The meal is paid for by Caroline.
b) The meal was paid for by Caroline
c) The meal are paid for by Caroline

8. Tom respects Lindsay's opinion.

a) Lindsay's opinion is respected by Tom
b) Lindsay's opinion was respected by Tom
c) Lindsay's opinion were respected by Tom

9. Frank Sinatra sang My Way..

a) My Way was sung by Frank Sinatra
b) My Way were sung by Frank Sinatra
c) My Way is sung by Frank Sinatra

10. The police arrested 12 people.

a) 12 people are arrested by the police
b) 12 people was arrested by the police
c) 12 people were arrested by the police.

III. Rewrite the following sentences using passive voice:

1. The boy writes poems. _______________________________________________________
2. The girl drove the blue car _____________________________________________________
3. My father built this house ___________________________________________________________
4. Mark Twain wrote the book. __________________________________________________________
 5. Tom cleans the house. ______________________________________________________________
6. My mom read the novel in one day. ____________________________________________________
7. Sue changed the flat tire. ____________________________________________________________
8. He doesn't open the book. ___________________________________________________________
9. They don't help you. ________________________________________________________________
10. She pays a lot of money _____________________________________________________________
11. He opens the door __________________________________________________________________
12. You do not write the letter ____________________________________________________________
13. The dog bit the old lady. ______________________________________________________________
14. My grandmother told good stories _____________________________________________________
15. Tom and Max ate five hamburgers. _____________________________________________________

IV. Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1. She sing a song. -

2. A thief stole my car.

3. They don't let him go.

4. She didn't win the prize.

5. Did he send the letter? -

V. Unscramble the following phrases to form sentences in passive voice.

1. the novel / in one day / by my mom / is read ____________________________________________

2. written / was / a scathing review / by the critic _________________________________________

3. cleaned / the house / daily / is not _____________________ _______________________

4. the application / by Rosy / for a new job / was faxed ________________________________

5. was / the entire house / painted / by Tom.___________________________________________

 MATERIALS
I. - WRITE THE MEANING OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS. THEN WRITE THE NAME OF AN OBJECT THAT
IS MADE OF THAT MATERIAL. LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE
TRANSLATION IN IS MADE OF
ENGLISH
PIEL LEATHER SHOES
1. ACERO
2. MADERA
3. PLASTICO
4. ALUMINIO
5. PIEL
6. ORO
7. PLATA
8. ALGODÓN
9. NYLON
10. VIDRIO

II. - WRITE ONE MATERIAL USE TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE.
EXAMPLE: COIN= GOLD

1. BICYCLE= _______________________________________________________
2. T.SHIRT= _______________________________________________________
3. CHAIR= _______________________________________________________
4. WATCH= _______________________________________________________
5. CAR= _______________________________________________________

III. - WRITE A PASSIVE SENTENCE WITH THE INFORMATION ABOVE. LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE: COIN= GOLD
Example: A COIN IS MADE OF GOLD
6. BICYCLE= _______________________________________________________
7. T.SHIRT= _______________________________________________________
8. CHAIR= _______________________________________________________
9. WATCH= _______________________________________________________
10. CAR= _______________________________________________________
Convert the structures
1) The book is read by the students.
Negative

interrogative

2) The dog was not fed by Thomas.

Affirmative

interrogative

3) Celestún beach is visited by tourist.

Negative

interrogative

4) Is the email written by Marshall?

Negative

Affirmative

5) My belt is made of plastic

Negative

Interrogative

6) The problem is not solved.

Affirmative

Interrogative

7) Was the boy rescued by the police?

Negative

Affirmative

8) The fire was extinguished.

Negative

Interrogative

9) The car is not cleaned by the owner.

Affirmative

Interrogative
10) Snow was eaten by the children.
Negative

interrogative

ACTIVITY

READ THE TITANIC PHARAGRAPH AND WRITE THE TRANSLATION IN THESE LINES

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ .

WRITE IN THE FOLLOWING LINES ALL THE PASSIVE VOICES SENTENCES FROM THE TITANIC READING

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
 EXAMPLES OF INFORMATIVE/ INFORMATIONAL TEXT

Activity: Informative Text Structure

With your partner read the informative text, Owls. The text can be found below.
As you are reading, work together to identify the informative structure of the text, including:
• the title
• the introduction
• the description
• the conclusion.