1. Grammar: Passive Voice ESL 201/202 Week #9

2. Two forms of verbs Active voice Passive voice

3. Active voice “normal” voice that we use most of the time The object receives the action of the verb Subject  verb  object ▫Cats eat fish.

4. Passive voice Not as common The subject receives the action of the verb Subject  verb  object ▫Fish are eaten by cats.

5. Example Active ▫Everybody drinks water. Passive ▫Water is drunk by everybody.

6. Passive Voice However, sometimes we need the passive voice. ▫When we want to make the active object more important ▫When we do not know the active subject

7. How to Construct the Passive Voice Subject + auxiliary verb (be) + main verb (past participle) ▫The main verb is ALWAYS in the past participle form

8. Examples Active object ▫President Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald. Active subject ▫My wallet has been stolen.

9. Tense of passive voice You can use the passive voice for any tense The auxiliary verb (be) changes tense the main verb is always the past participle.