CONTENTS:

Introduction to Passive Voice

To form and understand passive voice is important to know the correct form of the verb “be”
and the participle of verbs.

BE PARTICIPLE OF VERBS
am / is / are – present create – created - created
was / were – past send – sent - sent
will be - future find – found - found

Passive voice Subject + be + past participle

Affirmative This score is compared against the initial cost.

Subject + be + past participle

Negative This material is not affected by changes in temperature.

Subject + be + not + past participle

Yes/no questions Are comparative tests always designed the same way?
Be + subject + past participle

Wh- questions How are LEDs used in domestic appliances?

Wh word + be + subject + past participle

The passive voice is used to give more emphasis to an action rather than to the person or thing
that performs the action, when this person or thing is not so important, or when it is
implicitly understood or is not known.
Passive sentences usually sound more formal than active ones.
The passive voice is very common in English and is commonly used in news reports, official
documents, signs, descriptions of scientific or technical processes, etc.

The following are examples of Passive voice:

- Scientific research is supported by private sector industries.

- Universities are frequently judged on the achievements of their research professors

- Professors do not only teach at Universities but they also do research. These research is
published and talked about in scientific circles which bring prestige to the institutions where
they work.

Refer to the following passage, say which sentences are expressed in Passive or Active voice.

The following is an extract taken from an interview about research and development projects…

Interviewer: How do you plan a research and development project?

R&D expert: We often use a system called the Critical Path Method or CPM.

Interviewer: How does that work?

R&D expert: Well, all projects are broken down into steps and sequences. Certain steps must
be completed before we can move on to the next one, while other steps can be done
simultaneously. So we work out a Logical sequence. Using the Critical Path Method, we
can determine the minimum time we are going to need to complete the whole project….
PRACTICE:

1. Classify the following sentences as Active or Passive. If they are active, rewrite
them as passive sentences (when it is possible).

1. _____ We can control global warming.

2. _____ The panel believes we can limit the harm (that) greenhouse gases do
to the atmosphere.

3. _____ We must consider the right strategies to protect the ozone layer.

4. _____ We can keep our Earth safe.

2. Put in the correct form of the verb in Passive voice into the blanks. Use the verb in
the parentheses. They can be in Present – Past or Future.

1) A text about Global warming ________________________ by the teacher this morning.

(explain)

2) This street _______________________________ because of the flood. ( close )

3) A new course about Astronomy ____________________________ next week. ( open )

4) He ________________________________ to the meeting yesterday. ( invite )

5) The event _________________________________ by the World Wildlife Fund. (organize)

6) They hope they can then create an international framework that ______________________
_______________ at a convention on biological diversity in October in Japan. (will) (adopt)

3. Rewrite each sentence using the passive voice.

1. They interview the candidates on three separate occasions.

__________________________________________________________________

2. The phosphors in the diode absorb the radiation.

__________________________________________________________________

3. Do they use LEDs in the alphanumeric displays on things like clocks?

__________________________________________________________________

4. The phosphors in the diode absorb the radiation.

__________________________________________________________________

5. At what stage do they carry out a comparative test?

__________________________________________________________________

6. We assemble all the components right here in this factory.

__________________________________________________________________