PASSIVE SENTENCE

WHAT IS A PASSIVE SENTENCE?

In active sentences the subject is the person / thing that does the action. The subject comes at the start of the sentence. In passive sentences the focus of the sentence is the 'recieving' object of an action and it comes at the start of the sentence; therefore, the object and the subject change positions in the sentence

FUNCTIONS OF THE PASSIVE VOICE

The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or object that experiences an action rather than the person or object that performs the action. In other words, the most important thing or person becomes the subject of the sentence.

HOW TO MAKE A PASSIVE

To make a passive sentence you need to start with object first and then use the be form of the verb (depending on the tense) and then add a past participle:

The passive voice is often used in formal texts. Switching to the active voice will make your writing clearer and easier to read. If we want to say who or what performs the action while using the passive voice, we use the preposition by. When we know who performed the action and are interested in him, it is always better to switch to the active voice instead.

object + be + past participle

Examples :

·         Active: 'The gardener grows flowers.'

·         Passive: 'Flowers are grown by the gardener.'

·         Active: 'My grandfather planted that tree.'

·         Passive: 'That tree was planted by my grandfather.'

·         Active: 'The dog is chasing the sheep.'

·         Passive: 'The sheep are being chased by the dog.'

PASSIVE VOICE WITH INFINITIVES

The infinitive passive voice is used after modal verbs and other most verbs normally followed by an infinitive.

EXAMPLES :

·         You have to be tested on your English grammar.

·         John might be promoted next year.

·         She wants to be invited to the party.

·         I expect to be surprised on my birthday.

·         You may be disappointed.

PASSIVE VOICE WITH GERUNDS

Gerunds are used after prepositions and verbs normally followed by a gerund.

EXAMPLES :

·         I remember being taught to drive.

·         The children are excited about being taken to the zoo.

·         The children are excited to be taken to the zoo.

·         Most film stars hate being interviewed.

·         Most film stars hate to be interviewed.

·         Poodles like to be pampered.

·         Poodles like being pampered.