Passive and Active Voices

Verbs are also said to be either active (The executive

committee approved the new policy) or passive (The new policy was
approved by the executive committee) in voice. In the active voice, the subject
and verb relationship is straightforward: the subject is a be-er or a do-er and the
verb moves the sentence along. In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence
is neither a do-er or a be-er, but is acted upon by some other agent or by
something unnamed (The new policy was approved). Computerized grammar
checkers can pick out a passive voice construction from miles away and ask you
to revise it to a more active construction. There is nothing inherently wrong with
the passive voice, but if you can say the same thing in the active mode, do so (see
exceptions below). Your text will have more pizzazz as a result, since passive
verb constructions tend to lie about in their pajamas and avoid actual work.

We find an overabundance of the passive voice in sentences created by self-

protective business interests, magniloquent educators, and bombastic military
writers (who must get weary of this accusation), who use the passive
voice to avoid responsibility for actions taken. Thus "Cigarette ads were
designed to appeal especially to children" places the burden on the ads
as opposed to "We designed the cigarette ads to appeal especially to children,"
in which "we" accepts responsibility. At a White House press briefing we might
hear that "The President was advised that certain members of Congress were
being audited" rather than "The Head of the Internal Revenue service advised the
President that her agency was auditing certain members of Congress" because the
passive construction avoids responsibility for advising and for auditing. One
further caution about the passive voice: we should not mix active and passive
constructions in the same sentence: "The executive committee approved the new
policy, and the calendar for next year's meetings was revised" should be recast as
"The executive committee approved the new policy and revised the calendar for
next year's meeting."

Take the quiz (below) as an exercise in recognizing and changing passive

verbs.

The passive voice does exist for a reason, however, and its
presence is not always to be despised. The passive is particularly
useful (even recommended) in two situations:

When it is more important to draw our attention to the person or

thing acted upon: The unidentified victim was apparently struck during the
early morning hours.
 When the actor in the situation is not important: The aurora borealis can be
observed in the early morning hours.

The passive voice is especially helpful (and even regarded as mandatory) in

scientific or technical writing or lab reports, where the actor is not really
important but the process or principle being described is of ultimate importance.
Instead of writing "I poured 20 cc of acid into the beaker," we would write
"Twenty cc of acid is/was poured into the beaker." The passive voice is also
useful when describing, say, a mechanical process in which the details of process
are much more important than anyone's taking responsibility for the action: "The
first coat of primer paint is applied immediately after the acid rinse."

We use the passive voice to good effect in a paragraph in which we wish to

shift emphasis from what was the object in a first sentence to what becomes
the subject in subsequent sentences.

The executive committee approved an entirely new policy for dealing with academic
suspension and withdrawal. The policy had been written by a subcommittee on student
behavior. If students withdraw from course work before suspension can take effect, the
policy states, a mark of "IW" . . . .

The paragraph is clearly about this new policy so it is appropriate

that policy move from being the object in the first sentence to being the subject of
the second sentence. The passive voice allows for this transition.

Passive Verb Formation

The passive forms of a verb are created by combining a form of the "to be
verb" with the past participle of the main verb. Other helping verbs are also
sometimes present: "The measure could have been killed in committee." The
passive can be used, also, in various tenses. Let's take a look at the passive forms
of "design."

Auxiliary Past
Tense Subject
Singular Plural Participle

Present The car/cars is are designed.

Present perfect The car/cars has been have been designed.
Past The car/cars was were designed.
Past perfect The car/cars had been had been designed.
Future The car/cars will be will be designed.
Future perfect The car/cars will have been will have been designed.
Present progressive The car/cars is being are being designed.
Past progressive The car/cars was being were being designed.

A sentence cast in the passive voice will not always include an agent of the
action. For instance if a gorilla crushes a tin can, we could say "The tin can was
crushed by the gorilla." But a perfectly good sentence would leave out the gorilla:
"The tin can was crushed." Also, when an active sentence with an indirect object
is recast in the passive, the indirect object can take on the role of subject in the
passive sentence:

Active Professor Villa gave Jorge an A.

Passive An A was given to Jorge by Professor Villa.
Passive Jorge was given an A.

Only transitive verbs (those that take objects) can be transformed into
passive constructions. Furthermore, active sentences containing certain verbs
cannot be transformed into passive structures. To have is the most important of
these verbs. We can say "He has a new car," but we cannot say "A new car is had
by him." We can say "Josefina lacked finesse," but we cannot say "Finesse was
lacked." Here is a brief list of such verbs*:

resemble look like equal agree with

mean contain hold comprise
lack suit fit become

Verbals in Passive Structures

Verbals or verb forms can also take on features of the passive voice.
An infinitive phrase in the passive voice, for instance, can perform various
functions within a sentence (just like the active forms of the infinitive).

Subject: To be elected by my peers is a great honor.

Object: That child really likes to be read to by her mother.
 Modifier: Grasso was the first woman to be elected governor in her own right.

The same is true of passive gerunds.

Subject: Being elected by my peers was a great thrill.

Object: I really don't like being lectured to by my boss.
Object of preposition: I am so tired of being lectured to by my boss.

With passive participles, part of the passive construction is often omitted, the
result being a simple modifying participial phrase.

[Having been] designed for off-road performance, the Pathseeker does not
always behave well on paved highways.

Use of Passive
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 (e.g. You have
made a mistake.).

Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting 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)

Examples of Passive
 Tense Subject Verb Object

writes a letter.
Simple Present Active: Rita

Passive: A letter is written by Rita.

Simple Past Active: Rita wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by Rita.

Present Perfect Active: Rita has written a letter.

Passive: A letter has been written by Rita.

Future I Active: Rita will write a letter.

Passive: A letter will be written by Rita.

Hilfsverben Active: Rita can write a letter.

Passive: A letter can be written by Rita.

Examples of Passive

Tense Subject Verb Object

is writing a letter.
Present Progressive Active: Rita

Passive: A letter is being written by Rita.

Past Progressive Active: Rita was writing a letter.

Passive: A letter was being written by Rita.

Past Perfect Active: Rita had written a letter.

Passive: A letter had been written by Rita.

Future II Active: Rita will have written a letter.

Passive: A letter will have been written by Rita.

Conditional I Active: Rita would write a letter.

Passive: A letter would be written by Rita.

Conditional II Active: Rita would have written a letter.

Passive: A letter would have been written by Rita.

Passive Sentences with Two Objects

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects
becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject
depends on what you want to put the focus on.

Subject Verb Object 1 Object 2

wrote a letter to me.

Active: Rita

Passive: A letter was written to me by Rita.

Passive: I was written a letter by Rita.

As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. Thats why it is
usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the
passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal
passive.

Example: They build houses. Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as
there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an
intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction therefore this passive is
called Impersonal Passive.

Example: he says it is said

Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin).
In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).

Example: They say that women live longer than men. It is said that women live
longer than men.
Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

Example: They say that women live longer than men. Women are said to live
longer than men.

The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of
perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive
construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).

Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active
sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.

1. Tommy will know Machu Picchu ruins in Peru.

1. My boss sent me detailed instructions.

1. Sams friend solved the problem.

1. The workers will complete the new road in the next year.

1. Paul is going to repair the car.

1. My brother forgot his wallet at the bank.

1. My sister will send a letter to my mother.

1. The little girl is drawing her pet.

1. She dropped her bag in the train.

1. My brother takes his medicine every day.

1. John and Fred will climb the Aconcagua Mountain.

1. My wife crashed the new car.

1. I opened the windows.

1. I drink a glass of water.

1. You did not send the parcel.

1. They did not catch the thieves.

1. Jane has taken some photographs.

1. The passengers are going to visit the museum.

1. The teacher made a big mistake.

1. Mary was preparing a lot of food.

1.
Machu Picchu ruins in Peru will be known by Tommy.

1. Detailed instructions were sent to me by my boss.

1. The problem was solved by Sams friend.

1. The new road will be completed in the next year by the workers.

1. The car is going to be repaired by Paul.

1. The wallet was forgotten at the bank by my brother.

1. A letter will be sent to my mother by my sister.

1. The pet is being drawn by the little girl.

1. The bag was dropped in the train by her.

1. The medicine is taken every day by my brother.

1. The Aconcagua Mountain will be climbed by John and Fred.

1. The new car was crashed by my wife.

1. The windows were opened by me.

1. A glass of water is drunk by me.

1. The parcel was not sent by you.

 1. The thieves were not caught by them.

1. Some photographs have been taken by Jane.

1. The museum is going to be visited by the passengers.

1. A big mistake was made by the teacher.

1. A lot of food was being prepared by Mary.

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.

Sentences in Active and Passive Voice

Here are examples of sentences written in both the active voice and the passive voice, with
the active voice sentence appearing first:

Harry ate six shrimp at dinner. (active)

At dinner, six shrimp were eaten by Harry. (passive)

Beautiful giraffes roam the savannah. (active)

The savannah is roamed by beautiful giraffes. (passive)

Sue changed the flat tire. (active)

The flat tire was changed by Sue. (passive)

We are going to watch a movie tonight. (active)

A movie is going to be watched by us tonight. (passive)

I ran the obstacle course in record time. (active)

The obstacle course was run by me in record time. (passive)

The crew paved the entire stretch of highway. (active)

The entire stretch of highway was paved by the crew. (passive)

Mom read the novel in one day. (active)

The novel was read by Mom in one day. (passive)

The critic wrote a scathing review. (active)

A scathing review was written by the critic. (passive)

I will clean the house every Saturday. (active)

The house will be cleaned by me every Saturday. (passive)
The staff is required to watch a safety video every year. (active)
A safety video will be watched by the staff every year. (passive)

She faxed her application for a new job. (active)

The application for a new job was faxed by her. (passive)

Tom painted the entire house. (active)

The entire house was painted by Tom. (passive)

The teacher always answers the students questions. (active)

The students questions are always answered by the teacher. (passive)

The choir really enjoys that piece. (active)

That piece is really enjoyed by the choir. (passive)

Who taught you to ski? (active)

By whom were you taught to ski? (passive)

The forest fire destroyed the whole suburb. (active)

The whole suburb was destroyed by the forest fire. (passive)

The two kings are signing the treaty. (active)

The treaty is being signed by the two kings. (passive)

The cleaning crew vacuums and dusts the office every night. (active)
Every night the office is vacuumed and dusted by the cleaning crew. (passive)

Larry generously donated money to the homeless shelter. (active)

Money was generously donated to the homeless shelter by Larry. (passive)

No one responded to my sales ad. (active)

My sales ad was not responded to by anyone. (passive)

The wedding planner is making all the reservations. (active)

All the reservations will be made by the wedding planner. (passive)

Susan will bake two dozen cupcakes for the bake sale. (active)
For the bake sale, two dozen cookies will be baked by Susan. (passive)

The science class viewed the comet. (active)

The comet was viewed by the science class. (passive)

Who ate the last cookie? (active)

The last cookie was eaten by whom? (passive)

Alex posted the video on Facebook. (active)

The video was posted on Facebook by Alex. (passive)
The director will give you instructions. (active)
Instructions will be given to you by the director. (passive)

Thousands of tourists view the Grand Canyon every year. (active)

The Grand Canyon is viewed by thousands of tourists every year. (passive)

The homeowners remodeled the house to help it sell. (active)

The house was remodeled by the homeowners to help it sell. (passive)

The team will celebrate their victory tomorrow. (active)

The victory will be celebrated by the team tomorrow. (passive)

The saltwater eventually corroded the metal beams. (active)

The metal beams were eventually corroded by the saltwater. (passive)

The kangaroo carried her baby in her pouch. (active)

The baby was carried by the kangaroo in her pouch. (passive)

Some people raise sugar cane in Hawaii. (active)

Sugar cane is raised by some people in Hawaii. (passive)

These different sentences written in both active voice and passive voice illustrate the
differences.

Utilizamos la voz pasiva cuando no sabemos que o quien realiza una accin , o cuando
ste no es relevante.

After the car accident, Peter was arrested.

The space shuttle will be launched on 4th July.

Utilizamos la voz active cuando sabemos quien o que realiza una accin, dado que
ste es relevante.

After the car accident, the police arrested Peter.

NASA will launch the space shuttle on 4th July.

FORMACIN

Utilizamos el verbo to be en su correspondiente forma verbal + un participio:

These computers are made in Japan.

The telephone was invented by Alexander Bell.
The crime will be investigated by the police.
 PASOS PARA HACER UNA ORACIN PASIVA

Vamos a explicar como pasar una oracin a pasiva a partir del siguiente ejemplo:

- The boy bouht the house - The house was bought (by the boy)

Primer paso: El objeto de la oracin activa (que normalmente es la primera palabra o

sintagma nominal que aparece despus del verbo principal de la oracin activa - the
house se convierte en sujeto en la voz pasiva.

Segundo paso: Tenemos que escribir el verbo TO BE en la oracin pasiva, en el mismo

tiempo verbal que el verbo de la oracin activa. Es decir, si el verbo de la oracin activa
est en presente, tenemos que poner am, is o are en la oracin pasiva. Si el verbo principal
de la activa est en pasado, pondramos was o were, y si estuviese en futuro
pondramos will be.

Tercer paso: El verbo principal de la oracin activa, se transforma en participio en la

pasiva.

Cuarto paso: El sujeto de la oracin activa (the boy) se convierte en complemento agente
en la voz pasiva introducido por la preposicin - by (by the boy)

Ver explicacin Pasiva

TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO PASSIVE VOICE

1. They had won the race.

The race .
2. He has seen two bulls this morning.

Two bulls this morning.

3. I was buying the newspaper when I saw Mary this morning.

The newspaper when mary this morning.

4. They are buying a new house this afternoon.

A new house this afternoon.

5. Paul has sold his two cars.

His two cars .

6. I put the glasses on the table.
The glasses on the table. (presente)
7. I was feeding the animal yesterday at 10 o'clock.

The animal yesterday at 10 o'clock.

8. They had been painting the house on Monday.

The house on monday. (No se puede poner "being been" en ingls)

9. She has given Paul a kiss this morning.

Paul a kiss this morning. / A kiss to paul this morning.

10. They hid the treasure a long time ago.

The treasure a long time ago.

11. We listened to a strong noise coming from the street.

A strong noise to coming from the street.

12. They are studying English right now.

English right now.

13. They drank two pints at Paul's house.

Two pints at paul's house.

14. They found two fossils of Mammoth.

Two fossils of mammouth .

15. I didin't recognize Mary at first sight.

Mary at first sight.

16. I don't know her.

She .
17. He was driving his car when I phoned her.

His car when she .

18. They have stolen all the food.

All the food .

20. You can't park cars in here.

Cars in here.
21. You can't take photographs in this place.

Photographs in this place.

22. The school must change these rules.

The rules by school. (En esta oracin el -by no se omite porque se

relevante para el significado final de la oracin)
23. You should repair the stairs.

The stairs .
24. I have to mend this watch.

This watch .
25. The nurse examined the patient.

The patient by the nurse. (El -by no se omite, es relevante para el

significado)
26. My song cleaned the windows.

The windows .
27. The fire destroyed the building.

The buiding by the fire. (El -by no se omite, es relevante para el

significado)
28. That dog bit the boy.

The boy by that dog. (El -by no se omite, es relevante para el significado)
29. Paul has written her a letter this week.

She a letter this week. / A letter to paul this week.

30. Many people speak French in Canada.

French in Canada.
31. The police found the thief in that house.

The thief in that house by the police (El -by no se omite, es relevante para el
significado).
32. The owner of the shop had left his dog outside.

His dog outside.

33. The manager is going to offer Sue a job.

Sue a job / A job to sue.

34. A local radio station is reporting the event.

The event by a local radio (el -by no se omite, es relevante para el

significado).

1. That door (paint) yesterday.

2. Michelangelo (paint) the Sistine Chapel.
3. Michael Schumacher (drive) for Ferrari in 2003.
4. In the UK, everyone (drive) on the left.
5. Inter-city trains (usually/drive) by men.
6. The 'La Stampa' newspaper (read) by two million
people in Italy.
7. My car (steal)! Call the police!!!!
8. The thieves (steal) the gold last week.
 9. The Queen (open) the bridge tomorrow.
10. The bridge (destroy) by the storm last night.
11. I (learn) Japanese when I was in Tokyo.
12. I (teach) by an old Japanese man.
13. This letter (should/type), not handwritten!
14. The new secretary (type) at 100 wpm.

ANSWERS (RESPUESTAS)

1. Was painted
2. Painted
3. Drove
4. Drives
5. Are usually driven
6. Is read
7. Has been stolen
8. Stole
9. Will open
10. Was destroyed
11. Learned / Learnt
12. Was taught
13. Should be typed
14. Types

COMPLETA CON VOZ PASIVA

1. The car ________ (sell) yesterday.

2. The books _______ (write) last year.

3. The window _______ (break) by the stone.

4. The thiefs ________ (arrest) by the police last month.

5. My house _______ (paint) tomorrow.

6. The exercises _________ (do) right now.

7. She ______ (say) to be a good man.

8. The table _______ (make) by the carpenter.

9. The goal _______ (score) by Cristiano Ronaldo last Monday.

10. English people ______ (say) to be very cold.

ANSWERS (RESPUESTAS)

1. Was sold
2. Were written
3. Is broken / was broken / has been broken
4. Are arrested
5. Is painted
6. Are being done
7. Is said
8. Is made / was made / has been made
9. Was scored
10. Are said