1. THE PASSIVE
VOICE
English Grammar
October 29th, 2012

2. THE PASSIVE VOICE
Let’s check the passive voice:
And now let’s discuss about it:

3. WHAT’S THE PASSIVE VOICE?

4. USES
Passive sentences focus on the person
or thing receiving an action.
This camcorder was manufactured in Japan.
Active sentences focus on the person or
thing performing the action.
Japan manufactured this camcorder.

5. STRUCTURE
In order to create a sentence using the
passive, we use:
OBJECT + BE + PAST PARTICIPLE
My wallet was stolen.

6. TENSES
We can use the passive with different
verb tenses:
My wallet was stolen.
My book is going to be reviewed.
Apples are grown around here.

7. “BY PHRASE”
If we want to mention the performer of
the action, we use:
BY + THE PERFORMER
This sweater was made by my mom.

8. VERBS
Can we use the passive with all types of
verbs?
Yes, we can use
TRANSITIVE and
INTRANSITIVE VERBS.
No, we only use
TRANSITIVE verbs.

9. CORRECT!
We only use the passive with
TRANSITIVE verbs, because they have an
object.

10. INCORRECT!
The passive focuses on the object of the verbs,
and INTRANSITIVE verbs DO NOT HAVE AN
OBJECT!

11. ANALYSIS
In case you want to talk
about a famous work of art,
which grammatical
construction would you
use? The passive or the
active voice?

12. ANSWER
If you want to talk about a famous work
of art, the best choice is to use the
PASSIVE VOICE, since the important
thing is the object of the action.

13. EXAMPLES:
The “Mona Lisa” was painted by Leonardo da
Vinci.
The Statue of Liberty was build in 1886.
The Taj Mahal was designed by the Emperor
Shah Jahan.

14. THANK
YOU!