The passive voice

Apuntes

The passive voice How do we form the passive? Verb To Be + Verb Past Participle The object of the active sentence becomes the subject in the passive. The subject of the active sentence becomes the agent, and it’s introduced by BY or omitted, ACTIVE: Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet. PASSIVE: Romeo and Juliet was written by Shakespeare. 2 When the person who carries out the action is UNKNOWN, UNIMPORTANT or OBVIOUS from the context. Her ring was stolen from her house last night. (UNKNOWN) Rolls Royce cars are made in England. (it is not important to know who makes the cars). The cows are milked once a day. (it is obvious that the farmer does it) 3 wHEN SHOULD WE USE the passive? 1 When the action itself is more important than the person who carries it out, as in news headlines, newspaper articles, instruction, adverts. Two teenagers were injured in a car accident last night. 4 wHEN SHOULD WE USE the passive? 2 When we want to make statements more polite. My new blouse is ruined (more polite) You’ve ruined my new blouse. (less polite) The passive is used more often in written English than in spoken English. 5 wHEN SHOULD WE USE the passive? 3 ACTIVE - PASSIVE ...