Passive voice

Functions of the passive voice

The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or object that
experiences an action rather than the person or object that performs the
action. In other words, the most important thing or person becomes the
subject of the sentence.

The house was built in 1654. (= we are interested in the house, not in who
built it.)
The road is being repaired. (= we are interested in the road, not in the
people who are doing the repairs.)
Sometimes we use the passive voice because we don't know or do not want
to express who performed the action.
Examples
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. Switching to the active voice
will make your writing clearer and easier to read.

Passive Active

Our planet is wrapped in a mass A mass of gases wrap around our

of gases. planet.

Waste materials are disposed of The city disposes of waste materials

(in a variety of ways.) (in a variety of ways.)
If we want to say who or what performs the action while using the passive
voice, we use the preposition by. When we know who performed the action
and are interested in him, it is always better to switch to the active voice
instead.

Passive Active

"A Hard Day's Night" was written The Beatles wrote "A Hard Day's
by the Beatles. Night".

The movie ET was directed Spielberg directed the movie ET.

by Spielberg.

This house was built by my father. My father built this house.

Forming the passive voice

The passive voice in English is composed of two elements:

the appropriate form of the verb 'to be' + past participle V3

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative

interrogative

The house was The house Was the house Wasn't the house
built in 1899. wasn't built in built in 1899? built in 1899?
 Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative
interrogative

1899. Yes/No Yes/No

These houses These houses Were these Weren't these

were built in weren't built in houses built in houses built in
1899. 1899. 1899? 1899?

Question word
Is this chair made of steel?
What was this chair made of?
Were you invited to ABC party?
What is the largest lake (in the world) called?

Subject/object + to be + past participle + rest of sentence

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 will+ ving
The house will be being cleaned tomorrow.
Present conditional If + s+ had + v3, s + would + V1
The house would be cleaned if they had visitors.
Past conditional If s had v3, s would have v3
The house would have been cleaned if it had been dirty.(adj) switch
Inifinitive to V / modal verb
The house must be cleaned before we arrive.
Passive voice with infinitives
The infinitive passive voice is used after modal verbs and other most
verbs normally followed by an infinitive. ( may,must, can, could,
need,expect, want, love, like, hate, avoid, suggest)
Examples
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.

1. BMW’s – make – in Germany (PRESENT SIMPLE)

___ BMW’s is made in G______________________________________
2. English – speak – in this shop (PRESENT SIMPLE)
________________________________________________________
3. The oldest house – build – in 1575 (PAST SIMPLE)
________________________________________________________
4. The bridge – repair – at the moment (PRESENT CONTINUOUS)
________________________________________________________
5. The trees – cut down – last winter (PAST SIMPLE)
________________________________________________________
6. The picture – paint – tomorrow (FUTURE SIMPLE)
________________________________________________________
7. When I came in – the TV – fix (PAST CONTINUOUS)
________________________________________________________
8. The cupboard – repair – recently (PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE)
________________________________________________________
9. The car – find – in the garage (PAST SIMPLE)
________________________________________________________
10.Breakfast – serve – between 7 and 9 (PRESENT SIMPLE)
________________________________________________________
11.The dog – call- Rover (PRESENT SIMPLE)
________________________________________________________
12.The meeting – hold – in my office (PAST CONTINUOUS)
________________________________________________________
13.The street – close – because of snow (PRESENT PERFECT)
________________________________________________________
14.The banks – close – in two days (FUTURE – SIMPLE)
________________________________________________________
15.Hundreds of books – write – every year (PRESENT SIMPLE)
________________________________________________________

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verbs in the
Simple Present Tense and complete the passive form.
Harvest / pick /peel/ sell/ wash/ chop/ fry/ cook/ roast/ boil/ bake / sprinkle/
pour/ crush
1 Farmers usually harvest wheat in June.
Wheat is usually harvested in June.
2 Our butcher _____________the best quality meat.
Best quality meat__________ by our butcher.
3 My aunt________ meat finely for her lamb stew.
Meat ___________ finely for her lamb stew.
4.Traditional winemakers ___crush_______grapes with their feet.
- Grapes____are crushed__ with feet in traditional winemaking.
5. Good barman must____________ the beer slowly to avoid froth.
Beer must be___________slowly to avoid froth.
6- You mustn't________too much salt on the salad.
- A little salt must be ____________on the salad.
7- Village women still_________their bread at home.
- Bread _____still ________ at home by the villagers.
8- Some people _________the water in a kettle to make quick tea.
- Water__________in a kettle to make quick tea.

9- Workers still ___________________cotton by hand in Thailand.

- Cotton ____________ by hand.
10- Many homes will ___________ a turkey for Christmas soon.
- A turkey will __________________ in many homes for Christmas.
11- We must _______ fruits and vegetables before eating.
Fruits and vegetables must be_________ before eating.
12 Jenny ___________a new recipe almost every week.
A new recipe _________ almost every week by Jenny.
13 People_____________ fish in corn oil in Netherland.
Fish_____________ in corn oil in Netherland.

Complete the questions using the verb in brackets in passive. Then

answer the questions.
1. When ______ America ______ (discover)?
2. In what year ______ the Olympic Games ______ (hold) in Barcelona?
3. Where ______ most bananas ______ (produce)?
4. Where ______ Coca-Cola ______ (invent)?
5. When ______ the Eiffel Tower ______ (build)?

Rewrite each sentence using passive voice for simple present tense.
1. People produce cars (in this factory.) Active= passive
____Cars are produced in this factory.____________________
2. The farmer grows carrots (in his field.) by
____________________________________
3. Mrs.Lawrance milks her cow twice a day.
____________________________________
4. Maisie takes a lot of nature photos at weekends.
____________________________________
5. Everyone in this class loves and respects Diana
____________________________________
6. Mr.Oven cleans our street every morning.
____________________________________
7. Policemen catch and arrest thieves and robbers.
____________________________________
Passive voice
Present simple
Present continuous
Present perfect
Past simple
Past continuous
Past perfect
In our school, colorful pictures and drawings are hung on the walls. Right
now, lessons are being taught by our teachers in the classrooms. The
playground equipment is being used by the children during recess. In the
library, books are being read by students who love stories. In the cafeteria,
delicious meals are being prepared by the cooks. Our homework is given by
the teachers and has been completed by us with care. Throughout the year,
many projects have been done by students, and they are proudly displayed
in the hallway. Our school is a place where learning is always happening!
โรงเรียนของเราเป็นสถานที่ที่การเรียนรู้เกิดขึ้นอยู่เสมอ!โรงเรียน
ของเราเป็นสถานที่ที่การเรียนรู้เกิดขึ้นอยู่เสมอ!
Example 2
In our computer lab, new programs are installed on the computers every
month. Right now, a video game is being played by some students in the
corner. In the coding class, a complex algorithm is being written by a group
of students. The 3D printer in the technology room is being used to create
amazing models. The internet is being explored by students who are
researching different topics for their projects. Throughout the year, many
presentations have been created by the students using various software, and
they have been shared with the class. Our school is a place where
technology is always being embraced and used for learning exciting new
things!

Past
Last month, a science experiment was conducted in our classroom. The
materials were being prepared by the students while the teacher explained
the steps. Throughout the week, data was being collected and recorded
carefully. By the end of the project, a detailed report had been written by the
students, and it had been reviewed by the teacher. The results had been
discussed, and questions had been answered by the students in the
presentation. The whole process had been an exciting journey of discovery.
Our class had learned a lot, and the project had been a great success!
Example 2
Last summer, a camping trip was organized by our school. Tents were being
set up by the students while the instructors explained outdoor safety. The
campfire was being prepared by the experienced campers as others
gathered wood. Throughout the weekend, stories were being shared, and
marshmallows were being roasted over the fire. By the end of the trip,
memories had been created, and songs had been sung around the campfire.
The campsite had been cleaned up, and everyone's belongings had been
packed. The camping adventure had been an unforgettable experience for all
the students!
Future
In the near future, a school will be introducing a robot assistant to help
students with their studies. The robot will be being programmed by the
teachers while the students eagerly anticipate its arrival. Throughout the
semester, lessons will be being taught by the teachers, and the robot will be
being used to provide additional support and guidance to students. By the
end of the term, improvements in understanding and performance will have
been observed, and positive feedback will have been received from both
students and teachers. The robot will have been a valuable addition to the
classroom, helping kids learn and succeed in a technologically advanced
educational environment.

Future four forms

Simple Future:
Next year, a new space exploration mission will launch. The spacecraft will
explore distant planets in our solar system.

Future Continuous:
During the mission, data will be continuously being collected by the
advanced sensors on board. Scientists will be closely monitoring the
information being transmitted back to Earth.

Future Perfect:
By the time the mission concludes, many mysteries of the outer planets will
have been unraveled. The knowledge gained will have greatly expanded our
understanding of the cosmos.

Future Perfect Continuous:

Over the years, new technologies will have been continually being
developed, paving the way for even more ambitious space exploration
endeavors. The dream of exploring the far reaches of our universe will have
been an ongoing and inspiring journey for humankind.

User
can you write it in the same story
ChatGPT
Certainly! Let's integrate all four forms into a cohesive story:
Next year, a new space exploration mission will launch. The spacecraft,
equipped with cutting-edge technology, will be continuously collecting data
as it travels towards distant planets in our solar system. While the mission
progresses, scientists will be closely monitoring the information being
transmitted back to Earth.

By the time the mission concludes, many mysteries of the outer planets will
have been unraveled. The knowledge gained will have greatly expanded our
understanding of the cosmos, providing valuable insights into the mysteries
that have intrigued astronomers for generations.

Over the years, new technologies will have been continually being
developed, paving the way for even more ambitious space exploration
endeavors. The dream of exploring the far reaches of our universe will have
been an ongoing and inspiring journey for humankind, with each mission
contributing to the collective knowledge of our vast and wondrous cosmos.

User
give me more
ChatGPT
Absolutely! Let's continue the story:

In the future, not only will space exploration missions continue, but also the
very nature of space travel will evolve. Spaceships will be designed with
state-of-the-art propulsion systems, allowing them to travel faster and reach
more distant corners of our galaxy. Resources will be continuously being
invested in developing sustainable technologies for long-duration
spaceflights.

As these advancements unfold, discoveries will be made that will reshape

our perception of the universe. New planets and celestial bodies will have
been continually being explored, unlocking the secrets of the cosmos. The
knowledge accumulated from these endeavors will have been shared
globally, fostering international collaboration in the pursuit of expanding our
cosmic horizons.

By the time future generations look back, the achievements of these space
missions will have become a cornerstone of human history, symbolizing our
relentless curiosity and determination to explore the vastness of space. The
legacy of these endeavors will have been an enduring testament to the
boundless potential of human exploration and the indomitable spirit of
scientific discovery.

In the warmly lit bakery, customers find themselves drawn to an

abundance of freshly baked goods. Shelves are carefully stocked with
various types of bread, such as rustic loaves boasting crusty exteriors and
smooth, golden-brown baguettes. Below, a variety of pastries, like flaky
croissants, sweet pastel-colored meringues, and pretzels with a beautiful
amber hue, are artfully displayed, catching the light under the display.
Behind the counter, an attentive staff member in a white outfit diligently
tends to tasks, making sure each item is presented perfectly. The
atmosphere throughout the bakery reflects the meticulous craftsmanship
and dedication to the art of baking.