Passive Voice
Grammar Guide
mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas
PWSZ Konin

Introduction
ØPassive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known who or
what is performing the action.
Ø
Ø My bike was stolen.
Ø (= the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.)

Use: Agent not important
ØWe often use the passive:
Øwhen the agent (the person or thing which causes an action) is not known:
Ø
Ø She was murdered.
Ø (= We don’t know who did it.)
Ø
Ø

Use: Agent not important
ØWe often use the passive:
Øwhen the agent is obvious from the context or from general knowledge:
Ø
Ø She has been sacked.
Ø (= obviously by her employer)
Ø

Use: Agent not important
ØWe often use the passive:
Øwhen the agent is not important or relevant:
Ø
Ø Wars have been fought throughout history.
Ø (= Who fought them is not important here.)
Ø

Use: Agent not mentioned
ØWe often use the passive:
Øwhen we wish to avoid mentioning the agent
Ø (for example, when we don’t want to directly blame any specific person, or we want to avoid
personal responsibility):
Ø I see the washing-up hasn’t been done.
Ø Oh dear, look, the vase has been broken.
Ø Don’t blame me. Nothing can be done about it.

Use: Agent not mentioned
ØBy omitting the agent we can describe general feelings, opinions or beliefs rather than those of a
particular person or group:
Ø São Paulo is said to be the fastest-growing city in South America.
Ø Rio de Janeiro has been described as the most beautiful city in the Americas.
Ø

Use: Focus on issues
ØThe passive is often used in formal English to:
Øfocus on the issues rather than on the people involved (this is very common in academic and
scientific English):
Ø The research was carried out over a period of six months.
Ø

Use: Focus on issues
ØThe passive is often used in formal English to:
Ødescribe rules and procedures:
Ø
Ø Answers must be written in ink.
Ø Candidates will be interviewed in alphabetical order.
Ø
Ø

Use: Focus on issues
ØThe passive is often used in formal English to:
Ødescribe commercial, industrial and scientific processes:
Ø Most phones are made in China.
Ø Components are electronically tagged and transported to the production line.
ØCoffee is produced in Brazil.

Use: Focus on issues
ØThe passive is often used in formal English to:
Ødescribe historical, economic and social processes:
Ø Tribal lands were sold over a period of fifty years.
Ø The currency has been devalued twice since the war.

Verb Form
ØPassive is formed with:
Ø TO BE + Past Participle (v-ed / 3rd form)
l
lthe object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
lthe form of the verb is changed (to be + Past Participle)
lthe subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

Present Simple Passive
Ø Subject Verb Object
Ø
ØActive: Rita writes a letter.
Ø
ØPassive: A letter is written by Rita.
l to be + 3f

Present Simple Passive Practice
ØChange active into passive:
ØA: He opens the door.
Ø P:
ØA: They don't help you.
Ø P:
ØA: Does the police officer catch the thief?
Ø P:

Present Simple Passive Practice
ØChange active into passive:
ØA: He opens the door.
Ø P: The door is opened (by him).
ØA: They don't help you.
Ø P: You aren’t helped (by them).
ØA: Does the police officer catch the thief?
Ø P: Is the thief caught (by the police officer)?