Passive Voice Review

Module 4 / English IV
Jeanette Sandre Cuautle

The passive voice occurs in both spoken and written English, and it is used very frequently in technical writing.
Most verbs that take an object can be used in the passive voice. In sentences in the active voice, the primary focus is
on the subject (the agent or doer of the action). To give primary focus to the object of the sentence, the sentence can
be changed to the passive voice. Compare:
Active: In my city, important companies produce local brands of drinks.
Time expression

subject

verb

(focus: important companies)

direct object (DO)

Passive: In my city, local brands of drinks are produced by important companies. (focus: local brands of drinks)
Time expression

subject

verb

Active: Every product faces powerful competition

Subject

verb

direct object

agent

in the market.

Passive: Powerful competition is faced by every product in the market.

Subject

verb

(focus: every product)

time expression

agent

(focus: powerful competition)

time expression

To form the passive voice, use be + the past participle of the main verb. For the simple present tense, use am, is, or
are + past participle. For the simple past tense, use was or were + past participle; for the future, use + be + past
participle. The passive voice subject determines whether the verb be is singular or plural. The agent can be included
in the passive sentence in a phrase with by.

ACTIVE
SIMPLE PRESENT
TENSE

PASSIVE

Cervantino Festival welcomes many Many people from different cultures

people from different cultures each year. are welcomed by in the Cervantino
Festival each year.

SIMPLE PAST TENSE

The Romans used the Coliseum as a The Coliseum was used by the
place for gladiator fights.
Romans as a place for gladiator
fights.
SIMPLE FUTURE
TENSE

PRESENT PERFECT
TENSE

Mexican government will promote Teotihuacan archeological site will

Teotihuacan archeological site as a be promoted by the Mexican
world wonder.
government as a world wonder
We have done
projects so far.

different

farming Different farming projects have been

done so far.

MODALS
We must take photos without flash.

Photos must be taken without flash.

I.

Change the following sentences into passive voice.

1. Most of European countries use the euro as common currency to make all their
transactions.
2. In Amsterdam, the Netherlands government allows cocaine consumption even in
the trains and cafs.
3. Dilma Rousseff will lead Brazils government until 2018.
4. Someone has proposed new sexual preferences laws at the Congress.
5. The Norwegians catch millions of sea cods in their coasts every year.
6. In the future, farmers wont need pesticides to protect their crops.
7. Milk strengthens bones and teeth.
8. The French engineer Gustav Eiffel designed the Eiffel Tower which is now a very
important landmark in Paris.
9. Eating too much salt may cause rising in blood pressure.
10. Our City President will keep the safety of her citizens by applying stronger rules
and regulations to burglars.