The document discusses the difference between active and passive voice. It explains that active voice focuses on the subject performing the action, while passive voice focuses on the recipient of the action. It provides examples of sentences in both active and passive voice and how the structure changes when converting between the two. Key considerations for changing to passive voice include using the object of the active sentence as the subject in passive voice and changing the verb to a form of "to be" plus the past participle.

1. Theme:
Passive Voice

2. focus on the
focus on the
person or
person or
Active Passive thing that
sentences
thing that sentences receives or
performs an
is the result
action.
of an action.
The meaning of passive and
active sentences is usually
similar; but the focus
changes.

3. Active Voice Passive Voice
• Is used when the focus is on •Is used when the focus is on the
the subject. action.
•It is not important or not known,
• It is important or known, who however, who or what is
or what is performing the performing the action.
action. •Sometimes a statement in passive is
more polite than active voice.
• Mary + eats + an apple.
Active voice • Subject + verb (+object)
• An apple is eaten.
Passive voice • Subject + finite form of to be + past participle
Notice that the sentences have the same meaning, but different grammar structure.

4. When rewriting active sentences in passive
voice, take into consideration:
Object of the active The finite form of The subject of the
sentence the verb in active active sentence
sentences
• Becomes the
• Is the subject of • Change by the object of the
the passive verb to be + past passive
sentence participle sentence (or is
dropped)
Mary eats an apple ACTIVE
(subject) (verb) (object) VOICE
is
An apple by Mary PASSIVE
eaten
(subject) (object) VOICE
(verb)

5. When to name the agent or subject in the sentence?
Use the passive Use the passive
voice without an voice with an agent
agent* when: (by + noun) when:
You want to make the
The agent is receiver of the action
unknown or more important than
unimportant the one who
performs the action.
The information is
The agent is necessary to
understood from the complete the
context meaning , or when it
is new or surprising
information.
You want to avoid
mentioning the agent
*Agent: the person or thing performing the action.

6. Examples of Passive voice
TENSE SUBJECT VERB OBJECT
be + past participle by + agent
Simple Present Active voice Mary eats an apple.
Passive voice An apple is eaten by Mary.
Simple Past Active voice Mary ates an apple.
Passive voice An apple was eaten by Mary.
Present Perfect Active voice Mary has eaten an apple.
Passive voice An apple has been eaten by Mary.
Future Active voice Mary will eat an apple.
Passive voice An apple will be eaten by Mary.
Auxiliary verbs Active voice Mary can eat an apple.
Passive voice An apple can be eaten by Mary.
www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive
www.e-grammar.org/passive-voice/

7. Thanks for attending the class!
Have a nice day!