1. Using the Passive Voice

2. Active Voice Subjects Perform an Act
We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject
Verb
Object

3. Active Voice Subjects Perform an Act
We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject
Verb
Object
Passive voice
Plastic film … was chosen … to cover the microphone.
Subject
Verb
Object

4. Active Voice Subjects Perform an Act
Third person, but active voice
The team ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.
Subject
Verb
Object
Passive voice
Plastic film … was chosen … to cover the microphone.
Subject
Verb
Object

5. Using the Passive Voice
Definitions
Changing to the passive voice
Practice examples

6. Combine “To be” + Past Participle
“To be” is very irregular:
Past participles usually add “-ed” or “-t”: presented, measured, built, burnt
Irregular past principles must be memorized
Present Tense
Past Tense
1st person
I am
We are
I was
We were
2nd person
You are
You were
3rd person
He, she, it is
They are
He, she, it was
They were

7. Omit the “Agent” of the Action
Active
Workers installed burglar alarms.
Passive, with agent
Burglar alarms were installed by the workers.
Passive, with the agent omitted
Burglar alarms were installed.

8. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

9. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

10. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

11. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
Three projects are finished in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

12. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
Three projects are finished in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

13. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
Three projects are finished in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
A project was finished in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

14. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
Three projects are finished in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
A project was finished in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.

15. Remember Tense and Number
Active Voice
Passive Voice
I finish a project in eight hours.
A project is finished in eight hours.
I finish three projects in eight hours.
Three projects are finished in eight hours.
I finished a project in eight hours.
A project was finished in eight hours.
I finished three projects in eight hours.
Three projects were finished in eight hours.