PASSIVE VOICE 4th ESO col.legi Sant Pere

When do we use it? When the agent is unknown: When the agent is unknown: - Spanish ‘se’: se venden pisos / flats are sold - Spanish subject omitted: Le dieron un beso a Maria / Maria was given a kiss. To make the object of the active verb more important To make the object of the active verb more important - America was discovered in 1492 by Cristopher Columbus

Structure: Subject: Person or object that suffered/enjoyed the results of an action + Subject: Person or object that suffered/enjoyed the results of an action + The verb ‘to be’ in the tense the action occurred + The verb ‘to be’ in the tense the action occurred + The past participle of the verb that represents the action itself + The past participle of the verb that represents the action itself + Complements + Complements + By + Agent. By + Agent.

Let’s practice Active:He buys an ice-cream (Present) Active:He buys an ice-cream (Present) - Passive: ‘An ice-cream is bought’ Active: He sent a letter (Past) Active: He sent a letter (Past) - Passive: ‘A letter was sent’ Active: I am writing some letters (Pr. continuous) Active: I am writing some letters (Pr. continuous) -Passive: ‘Some letters are being written’ They have cut the grass (Present perfect) They have cut the grass (Present perfect) -Passive: ‘The grass has been cut’ We will buy a car next week (Future) We will buy a car next week (Future) -Passive: ‘A car will be bought next week’

Passive sentences with two objects I gave a coin to Tom I gave a coin to Tom → Tom was given a coin → A coin was given to Tom

Exercises: This book will change your life This book will change your life - ‘Your life will be changed by this book’ Susan wrote him an Susan wrote him an - He was written an / An e- mail was written to him They can’t answer your question They can’t answer your question - Your question can’t be answered

They shouldn’t allow the children to do these things They shouldn’t allow the children to do these things - The children shouldn’t be allowed to do these things My mother is cooking biscuits My mother is cooking biscuits - Biscuits are being cooked They didn’t sell the house They didn’t sell the house - The house wasn’t sold

Have/Get – Something – Done Have/Get – Object – Past participle Have/get something done: arranging for or paying for somebody to do something for you: Have/get something done: arranging for or paying for somebody to do something for you: - ‘He has his hair cut’ - ‘She got her carpet cleaned’ - ‘We have had our car repaired’ - ‘They will get their book translated’

More Passive: Verbs like: Believe, Think, consider, say, report, know, expect, feel, understand, find… * Introductory IT is used. Structure :It + passive verb + complete subordinate sentence without changes Eg: People say that he started the fire - - ‘It is said that he started the fire’ - - Other examples: - ‘It is thought that she doesn’t live in London’ - ‘It is known that King Henry VIII was married 6 times’

END… Doubts???