the passive dragana filipović. the world keeps informed with reader’s digest (an advert) the...

The PassiveThe Passive

Dragana FilipovićDragana Filipović

The World Keeps Informed The World Keeps Informed With Reader’s Digest (an With Reader’s Digest (an

advert)advert)Reader’s Digest Reader’s Digest was foundedwas founded in 1922. in 1922.

Today it Today it is readis read by people in every by people in every country in the world.country in the world.

Shouldn’t you be one of them? Subscribe Shouldn’t you be one of them? Subscribe today.today.

Which information can you get from the Which information can you get from the advert?advert?

The name of the founder The name of the founder The number of years the magazine has The number of years the magazine has

existed existed The price of the magazine The price of the magazine

nn

The Passive Check:True or The Passive Check:True or false?false?

1.1. The object of an active sentence The object of an active sentence becomes the subject of the passive becomes the subject of the passive sentence.sentence.

2.2. Passive statements always have a Passive statements always have a form of the verb form of the verb bebe..

3.3. Passive statements always have an Passive statements always have an object.object.

1.1. The object of an active sentence The object of an active sentence becomes the subject of the passive becomes the subject of the passive sentence. sentence. TrueTrue

2.2. Passive statements always have a Passive statements always have a form of the verb form of the verb bebe. . TrueTrue

3.3. Passive statements always have an Passive statements always have an object. object. FalseFalse

ActiveActive PassivePassive

ObjectObject

SubjectSubject

Millions of people buy Millions of people buy itit..

ItIt is bought by millions is bought by millions of people.of people.

Someone published Someone published itit in 1922.in 1922.

ItIt was published in was published in 1922.1922.

Passive StatementsPassive Statements

SubjecSubjectt

Be (not)Be (not) Past Past ParticiplParticiplee

(by + (by + ObjectObject))

ItIt is (not)is (not) boughtbought by by millions millions of of people.people.

ItIt was (not)was (not) publishedpublished in 1922.in 1922.

Yes / No QuestionsYes / No Questions

BeBe SubjectSubject Past Past

ParticipleParticiple

IsIs it it sold sold in in China?China?

WasWas

Short AnswersShort Answers

YesYes, it, it is.is. NoNo, it, it isn’t.isn’t.

was.was. wasn’t.wasn’t.

Wh- QuestionsWh- Questions

Wh- WordWh- Word BeBe SubjectSubject Past Past ParticipleParticiple

WhereWhere isis itit sold ?sold ?

WhenWhen was was itit published ?published ?

Complete this sentence with the Complete this sentence with the passive form of the verb passive form of the verb printprint..

How many copies of How many copies of Reader’s DigestReader’s Digest _____ last year?_____ last year?

were printedwere printed


1.1. Active and passive sentences usually Active and passive sentences usually have the same meaning but have the same meaning but the focus the focus is differentis different..

Active:Active: Millions of people Millions of people readread the magazine. the magazine.

Passive:Passive: The magazine The magazine is readis read by millions of by millions of

people.people.


2.2. Form the Form the passivepassive with the with the correct form (tense) of correct form (tense) of

bebe + + past participlepast participle.. It It isis writtenwritten in nineteen languages. in nineteen languages. It It waswas publishedpublished in 1922. in 1922. These copies These copies havehave just just beenbeen

printedprinted..

Use the Use the passivepassive when: when:

1.1. the agent (the person or thing doing the agent (the person or thing doing the action) is unknown or not the action) is unknown or not important.important.

– The magazine The magazine was foundedwas founded in in 1922.1922. (I don’t know who founded (I don’t know who founded it.)it.)


2.2. the identity of the agent is clear the identity of the agent is clear from the context.from the context.

– The magazine The magazine is soldis sold in in newsagents.newsagents. (We can assume that (We can assume that the people who work in the the people who work in the newsagent’s sell it. We don’t need to newsagent’s sell it. We don’t need to mention them.)mention them.)


3.3. you want to avoid mentioning the you want to avoid mentioning the agent.agent.

– Some mistakes Some mistakes were madewere made in that in that article. article. (I know who made the mistakes but I (I know who made the mistakes but I don’t want to blame the person who don’t want to blame the person who made them.)made them.)

Use the Use the passive passive with with byby if you if you mention the agent.mention the agent.

The article The article was writtenwas written by a by a psychologistpsychologist..

Mention the Mention the agentagent when: when:

1.1. You introduce necessary new You introduce necessary new information about the agent.information about the agent.

John Dent is a famous sports writer. John Dent is a famous sports writer. He He hashas just just been hiredbeen hired by by Sports Sports WeeklyWeekly to write a monthly column. to write a monthly column.

(The name of John’s employer is (The name of John’s employer is necessary new information.)necessary new information.)

Mention the Mention the agentagent when: when:

2.2. You want to give credit to someone You want to give credit to someone who created something.who created something.

The article The article was writtenwas written by John Dentby John Dent..

3.3. The agent is surprising or interesting.The agent is surprising or interesting. Our windows Our windows are washedare washed by a robotby a robot..

Be careful!Be careful!

In most cases, you do not need to In most cases, you do not need to mention an agent in passive mention an agent in passive sentences.sentences.

Do not include an agent unnecessarily.Do not include an agent unnecessarily.

The magazine The magazine is publishedis published once a once a week.week.

NOT: NOT: The magazine is published by the The magazine is published by the publisher once a week.publisher once a week.

Are these sentences ACTIVE or Are these sentences ACTIVE or PASSIVE?PASSIVE?

1.1. Reader’s DigestReader’s Digest was founded in was founded in 1922.1922.

2.2. Millions of people read it.Millions of people read it.

3.3. A large-type edition is also printed.A large-type edition is also printed.

4.4. They also record it.They also record it.

5.5. Reader’s DigestReader’s Digest is published once a is published once a month.month.

Are these sentences ACTIVE or Are these sentences ACTIVE or PASSIVE?PASSIVE?

6.6. It has been translated in many languages.It has been translated in many languages.

7.7. Many readers subscribe to the magazine.Many readers subscribe to the magazine.

8.8. It is sold in newsagents throughout the It is sold in newsagents throughout the country.country.

9.9. I read an interesting article in it last I read an interesting article in it last month.month.

10.10. This article was written by a famous This article was written by a famous scientist.scientist.

Use the passive form of the verbs Use the passive form of the verbs in the first set of brackets to in the first set of brackets to

complete the following report. complete the following report. Include the agent (from the Include the agent (from the

second set of brackets) only if second set of brackets) only if absolutely necessary.absolutely necessary.

Did you know…?Did you know…?1.1. Modern ReaderModern Reader was founded by A.J. was founded by A.J.

ThompsonThompson ten years ago. ten years ago. (found) (found) (A.J. Thompson)(A.J. Thompson)

2.2. At first it _______ only in English. At first it _______ only in English. (print) (the printer)(print) (the printer)

3.3. Today it _______ in three foreign-Today it _______ in three foreign-language editions. language editions. (publish) (the (publish) (the publisher)publisher)

4.4. It _____ in more than ten countries. It _____ in more than ten countries. (read) (readers)(read) (readers)

5.5. Since 2000, twenty new employees Since 2000, twenty new employees ______ . ______ . (hire) (our international (hire) (our international offices)offices)

6.6. Back at home, ten new computers Back at home, ten new computers ____ last month. ____ last month. (purchase) (the (purchase) (the company)company)

7.7. They ____ to write our award-They ____ to write our award-winning articles. winning articles. (use) (our writers)(use) (our writers)

8.8. Modern ReaderModern Reader _______ all over the _______ all over the world. world. (advertise) (advertisers)(advertise) (advertisers)

9.9. Our editorial staff ________ last Our editorial staff ________ last month. month. (interview) ((interview) (Live at Ten TVLive at Ten TV))

10.10. The interview __________. The interview __________. (see) (see) (millions of viewers)(millions of viewers)

Correct SentencesCorrect Sentences

Did you know…?Did you know…?

2.2. At first it At first it was printedwas printed only in only in English. English. (print) (print) (the printer)(the printer)

3.3. Today it Today it is publishedis published in three in three foreign-language editions. foreign-language editions. (publish) (publish) (the publisher)(the publisher)

4.4. It It is readis read in more than ten in more than ten countries. countries. (read) (read) (readers)(readers)

5.5. Since 2000, twenty new employees Since 2000, twenty new employees have been hired by our international have been hired by our international officesoffices . . (hire) (our international (hire) (our international offices)offices)

6.6. Back at home, ten new computers Back at home, ten new computers were purchasedwere purchased last month. last month. (purchase) (purchase) (the company)(the company)

7.7. They They are usedare used to write our award- to write our award-winning articles. winning articles. (use) (use) (our writers)(our writers)

8.8. Modern ReaderModern Reader is advertisedis advertised all over all over the world. the world. (advertise) (advertise) (advertisers)(advertisers)

9.9. Our editorial staff Our editorial staff were interviewed were interviewed by by Live at Ten TVLive at Ten TV last month. last month. (interview) ((interview) (Live at Ten TVLive at Ten TV))

10.10. The interview The interview was seen by millions was seen by millions of viewersof viewers. . (see) (millions of (see) (millions of viewers)viewers)

ACTIVE ACTIVE PASSIVEPASSIVE

Object (Active) Object (Active) Subject (Passive) Subject (Passive)

bebe + + past participlepast participle

Turn the sentence into the Turn the sentence into the PASSIVEPASSIVE

Present Simple:Present Simple:

am / are / is + past participleam / are / is + past participle ACTIVE: They ACTIVE: They discussdiscuss important important

subjects every lunch time.subjects every lunch time. PASSIVE:PASSIVE:

Important subjects Important subjects are discussedare discussed every lunch time.every lunch time.


Present ContinuousPresent Continuous

am / are / is being + past participleam / are / is being + past participle ACTIVE: They ACTIVE: They areare still still consideringconsidering

this matter.this matter. PASSIVE:PASSIVE:

This matter This matter isis still still being consideredbeing considered..


Past SimplePast Simple

was / werewas / were + past participle+ past participle ACTIVE: They ACTIVE: They announcedannounced the date for the date for

the talks.the talks. PASSIVE:PASSIVE:

The date for the talks The date for the talks was was announcedannounced..


Past ContinuousPast Continuous

was / were being + past participle was / were being + past participle ACTIVE: They ACTIVE: They were makingwere making every every

effort to end the strike.effort to end the strike. PASSIVE:PASSIVE:

Every effort Every effort was being madewas being made to end to end the strike.the strike.


Present PerfectPresent Perfect

has / have been + past participlehas / have been + past participle ACTIVE: They ACTIVE: They have builthave built a new a new

stadium in London.stadium in London. PASSIVE:PASSIVE:

A new stadium A new stadium has been builthas been built in in London.London.


Past PerfectPast Perfect

had been + past participle had been + past participle ACTIVE: They ACTIVE: They had finishedhad finished the work the work

by the end of 1998.by the end of 1998. PASSIVE:PASSIVE:

The work The work had been finishedhad been finished by the by the end of 1998.end of 1998.


Future SimpleFuture Simple

will be + past participle will be + past participle ACTIVE: A top consultant ACTIVE: A top consultant will will

examineexamine you. you. PASSIVE:PASSIVE:

You You will be examinedwill be examined by a top by a top consultant.consultant.


Future PerfectFuture Perfect

will have been + past participlewill have been + past participle ACTIVE: In the next ten years, women ACTIVE: In the next ten years, women

will have achievedwill have achieved full equality. full equality. PASSIVE:PASSIVE:

In the next ten years, full equality In the next ten years, full equality will will have been achievedhave been achieved..


be going to (future)be going to (future)

am / are / is going to be + past am / are / is going to be + past participleparticiple

ACTIVE: They ACTIVE: They are going to closeare going to close the the factory.factory.

PASSIVE:PASSIVE:

The factory The factory is going to be closedis going to be closed..


… … to be continuedto be continued

the passive dragana filipović. the world keeps informed with reader’s digest (an advert) the...

Documents