Passive voice

1. Passive Voice
The passive voice is used in a formal writing to emphasize the action and not the person
who did such action.
The passive voice is also used when we don´t want to talk about the person who did the
action or when the person is unknown or obvious.
Bear in mind.
In the passive voice the subject changes to be an object while the object changes to
be a subject in the sentence.
PASSIVE VOICE IN PRESENT SIMPLE:
It isusedto talkabout the actionthat is made inthe present.
STRUCTURE:
SUBJECT VERB TO BE(is,are) MAIN VERB IN PAST
PARTICIPLE
OBJECT
The dinner is served by Richard.
Examples:
1. - The document issignedby her.
2. - A gift is givento her.
3.- A sun image is painted.

2. 4.- A chocolate ice-creamiseaten.
5.- A photograph istakeninhis cellphone.
PAST SIMPLE
It isusedwhen an eventoran action occurred inthe past.
STRUCTURE:
SUBJECT VERB TO BE
(WAS,WERE)
MAIN VERB IN PAST
PARTICIPLE
OBJECT
A mail was sent to Dayana
EXAMPLES:
1. The “Siete Tratados”book waswritten byJuanMontalvo.

3. 2. –The folderwasdecoratedwithfoamy.
3.- A landscape wasdrawn.
4.- A painting washungup on the wall.
5.- A nap wastakeninthe afternoon.

4. INFINITIVE
STRUCTURE:
SUBJECT TO BE MAIN
VERB(PAST
PARTICIPLE)
OBJECT
The prisoners are expected to be released.
EXAMPLES:
1.- The car need to be repaired.
2.-Monica couldbe given a prize forher mathwork.
3.-He is to be congratulated on passingthe semester.
4.-Andrew ishopingtobe electedcommander.
5.-All doorsshould be lockedat night.
PERFECT INFINITIVE
SUBJECT HAVE BEEN MAIN VERB IN PAST
PARTICIPLE
OBJECT
EXAMPLES:
1.- Thispoemmust have beenwrittenby PabloNeruda.
2.- I knowyou like chocolate.Itmusthave beento say “no” to thatpiece of cake.