THE PASSIVE Revision

Example The butler murdered the detective. Subject verb object The detective was murdered by the butler

Passivization A: The butler murdered the detective P: The detective was murdered by the butler The active subject becomes the passive agent The active object becomes the passive subject The preposition by is introduced before the agent

PASSIVE FORMATION BE + PAST PARTICIPLE OF THE MAIN VERB

Passive tenses Present: The bill is passed Past: The bill was passed Perfective: The bill has been passed Progressive: The bill is being passed

Modal auxiliaries Modal + be + Past Participle The bill may be passed Modal + perfective The bill may have been passed

Exercise 1. The constable arrested the driver of the stolen car Passive: The driver of the stolen car was arrested by the constable 2. The judge asked the witness to write the name on a piece of paper. Passive: The witness was asked by the judge to write the name on a piece of paper.

Exercise 3. The company is going to issue a writ to prevent the trade union from going on strike. Passive: A writ is going to be issued by the company to prevent the trade union from going on strike. 4. He wrote his will in Passive: His will was written in 1990.

Exercise 5. My grandmother left $5.000 to me in her will. Passive: I was left $5.000 by my grandmother in her will. 6. The court granted the company a two- week stay of execution. Passive: The company was granted a two- week stay of exection by the court.

Exercise 7. They should call in detectives to help in the murder hunt. Passive: Detectives should be called in to help in the murder hunt. 8. They left the wounded man lying on the road. Passive: The wounded man was left lying on the road.