If the subject is the actual actor, the active voice is used.
Mr Smith locks the gate at 8 o'clock every day
The storm destroyed dozens of trees
When the subject is acted upon, the passive voice is used.
The gate is locked at 8 o'clock every day
Dozens of trees were destroyed
Education
Passive voice in English is formed with the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb to be followed by the main verb in the past participle form.
Two new stores were opened this year
The room had been cleaned.
Supplement
When passive voice is used, there is often no mention at all of the character or item that brings the action to life. This happens, as a rule, for two reasons: either we do notwe know by whom the action is performed (or we do not want to say), or because it does not matter.
Her boyfriend was shot in the chest
Your application was rejected
Such items should be carefully packed in tea chests
If, nevertheless, when using passive voice, there is a desire to mention a character or object that is the performer of the action, then after the verb an addition is placed, which is connected through the preposition by. Such an object is a logical subject and is called an agent in English.
He had been poisoned by his girlfriend.
He was brought up by an aunt
If it is necessary to mention an object, for example, an instrument through which an action is performed, then the noun expressing this object is attached to the verb as an object through the preposition with.
A circle was drawn in the dirt with a stick.
He was killed with a knife / He was killed with a knife.
There are restrictions on the use of verbs in passive voice in English, namely: only transitive verbs can take a passive form. Transitive verbs are able to transfer their action to a direct (non-prepositional) object. For example, you can say:"People spend money" or "money is spent" or "my brother live in the city".
An enormous amount of money is spent on beer.
The food is sold at local markets
With those verbs that can attach two objects, you can construct two different passive voice sentences. For example, you could say "The secretary was given the key", or "the key was given to the secretary".
They were offered a new flat
The books will be sent to you.
Passive voice exercises
To get comfortable with the construction of the passive voice, you first need to fix the logical difference from the active voice, and then work out the grammatical moment. Below are passive voice exercises that will help consolidate the material.
Underline passive voice
These sentences are taken from a newspaper article about the stolen paintings. They contain thirteen passive voice constructs. In the first sentence, the passive voice is already underlined, underline the rest.
1. Two characters tried to sell a painting that had been stolen.
(Two people tried to sell paintings that were stolen).
2. Thepainting was owned by Maimi Gillies, aged 84.
(The paintings mentioned earlier were the private property of 84-year-old Miami Gills).
3. She said it had been presented to one of her ancestors by the artist.
(She made a statement that the artwork in question was a gift from the artist himself to one of her ancestors.)
4. She had owned it since 1926, when it was given to her as wedding present.
(She has owned the paintings since 1926 when they were given to her as a wedding present).
5. One of the men, Mr X, who cannot be named for legal reason, pleaded guilty.
(One man, whom we will indirectly refer to as Mr. X, whose name cannot be released so as not to obstruct the investigation, pleaded guilty to embezzlement.
6. He told police he was willing to sell it cheap because it was stolen.
(He made a statement to the police that he wanted to get rid of the paintings at a low price because they were stolen).
7. Their meeting was arranged at an airport, where the money for the art was to be flown in and exchanged, but the airport had been already staffed by police.
(Their meeting was scheduled at the airfield, where the money for the paintings was to be transferred in exchange for art objects, but the airfield was under the control of the police).
8. Mr x took the art to the airport and was shown the money in a case.
(Mr. X delivered the paintings to the airfield and was assured of the client's ability to pay when he was allowed to lookmoney in a suitcase).
9. The buyer was then taken to see the art in a barn.
(The buyer was then escorted to the hangar to inspect the paintings).
10. Though mr X was arrested, Mr Henry escaped the place.
(As a result of the operation, Mr. X was detained, but Mr. Henry managed to escape from the place of the transaction).
Restore offer
Connect the parts of the sentence to form the desired form passive voice.
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1 Petrol prices… (Gasoline prices) |
a … to be won. (can be won) |
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2 This jacket… (This jacket) |
b … have been increased. (were promoted) |
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3 Competition! 5000prizes… (Competition! 5 thousand prizes…) |
c … has been disconnected. (was disconnected) |
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4 Five people… (Five people) |
d … will be sent to candidates. (to be sent to candidates) |
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5 The telephone… (Telephone line) |
e … was made in Hong Kong. (made in Hong Kong) |
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6 It appears the phone bill… (Feels like a phone bill) |
f … were killed in the rally. (were killed while racing) |
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7 Further information… (More information) |
g … is not permitted anywhere on this station. (not allowed anywhere on this station) |
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8 Before the storm everyone… (Before the storm everyone) |
h … had not been paid. (not paid) |
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9 Smoking… (Smoking) |
I … is currently being rebuilt. (currently being restored) |
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10 The old town theater… (The building of the old city theater) |
j … was told to stay inside their homes. (was informed to stay at home) |
Now look at these sentences again. Emphasize the passive voice, note the past participle and the verb form to be. Which of them are from the past? By the future tense?
Open brackets
These suggestions are taken from the operating instructions. Put the verbs in brackets after the modal verb in the sentence. When opening brackets, use the correct passive voice form of the verb.
1. Application forms should ……………………………………………………………by 12 December. (return)
(Application forms must)………………………………………………….(until December 12). (return)
2. Further particular may …………………………………………………………from the Senior Tutor. (obtain)
(Further particulars)………………………………………………….(from the main guardian). (receive)
3. Only candidates withrelevant experience can…………………………………….…………………(consider)
(Only candidates with relevant experience may)………………………….(consider)
4. You would ………………………………………………………………… to take part in some sports. (expect)
(From you)…………………………(take part in some sport). (expect)
5. This post will ……………………………………………………………………… initially for three years. (fund)
(This post will be)……………………(Initially for three years). (finance)
6. Names of two referees should …………………………………………………………………………………..(give)
(Names of two referees must)…………………………………………………………………………………….(give)
7. Interviews will ……………………………………………………………..……………….in early January. (hold)
(Interviews will be)………………………………………………………………..(early January). (conduct)
8. Applications should ……………………………………….………..………………..on this form only. (make)
(Applications must)………………………………………(exclusively on this form). (fill in)
9. Teachers might ………………………………………………………………..accommodation in college. (offer)
(Teachers can)………………………………………(college accommodation). (provide)
Conclusion
Thus, the English passive voice is similar to the Russian passive voice, which is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb to be and participle II (past adverb). In the passive voice, only those verbs that add objects in the active voice can be used.
