The Passive

Sample sentencesThe window was broken last night.Our IT system is being renewed at the moment.A loan can be arranged within six days.Interest rates were raised by 1%.I have been offered a new job.A new job has been offered to me.

We use the passive:1. When who does the action is not important.The new design hasnt been chosen.

2. When who does the action is clear from the situation:I was being asked some difficult questions at the interview.

3. When who does the action is unknown:The window was broken last night.

Passive can be formed ONLY with transitive verbs those that have an OBJECT

Someone is walking in the street.-NO OBJECT

Somebody damaged in transit.

the goodsOBJECT

ACTIVE PASSIVEACTIVE:SubjectObjectspeak .

PASSIVE:

MexicansSpanishis spokenin Mexico.

ACTIVE PASSIVESubject Object founded .

by .

Richard BransonVirgin Recordswas founded

Form:

TO BE + past participle

Steps in making an active sentences passive:Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations. (active)

Find the object of the active sentence.Put the object at the beginning of the passive sentence.Put the verb TO BE in the tense of the main verb of the active sentence.Add past participle of the main verb of the active sentenceAdd BY + subject of the active sentence (if necessary)

1. The Wealth of Nations2. The Wealth of Nations3. was (because of WROTE)4. written 5. by Adam Smith.

The Wealth of Nations was written by Adam Smith. (passive)

ACTIVE PASSIVESubject Object wrote .

by

Romeo and Juliet was written by Shakespeare. ShakespeareRomeo and Julietwas written

ACTIVE PASSIVESubject Object is shipping next week. next week by

The goods are being shipped next week by our supplier.Our supplierthe goodsare being shipped

ACTIVE PASSIVESubject Objectwill not finish by next month.by next month.

The project wont be finished by next month.Theythe projectwont be finished

ACTIVE PASSIVESubject Objectcan arrange within six days.within six days.

A loan can be arranged within six days. Wea loancan be arranged

Verbs with two objects

They promised

give, lend, offer, promise, sell, send, take smth. to smbd.book, buy, keep, make, prepare, save smth. for smbd.mea better salary.indirect objectdirect object

ACTIVE PASSIVESubjectIndirect objectDirect object offered

1.

I was offered a new job. 2.

A new job was offered to me.Theymea new jobwas offeredIwas offeredmeto

ACTIVE PASSIVESubjectIndirect objectDirect object gave

1.

We were given a large order. 2.

A large order was given to us.Theyusa large orderwas givenWewere givenusto

THE PASSIVE: USESIf we want to mention who performs the action we can use a phrase beginning with by:

The decision was taken by the committee.The missing file has been found by one of the cleaners.The goods are being shipped next week by our supplier in China.

THE PASSIVE: USESActive or passive: If it is important to say who performs an action, we can use the active or we can use the passive and the word by:

ACTIVE: Peter Franks runs the Marketing Department.PASSIVE: The Marketing Department is run by Peter Franks. Both of these sentences are correct.

THE PASSIVE: USESIf we were already talking about Peter Franks, we would probably use the active: Peter Franks is an old colleague of mine. He works for Butterfield International, and he runs the Marketing Department.

If we were talking about the Marketing Department, we would probably use the passive:The Marketing Department is a large and very successful division that employs over 100 people. It is run by Peter Franks.

THE PASSIVE: USESSystems and processes

The passive is often used to talk about systems and processes, because we are more concerned with the process itself than who carries it out. For example, here is a description of the wine-making process:

Wine is made from the fermented juice of grapes. Grapes are picked at optimum sugar/acidity levels. After picking, the grapes are taken to the winery, de-stemmed and crushed in a variety of presses. The juice is then clarified by settling or by centrifuge, yeast and sugar are added and the wine is left to ferment in tanks. When fermentation is finished the wine is poured into a clean tank to stabilise. It can then be filtered and bottled and left to mature.

Active PassiveThank you for your order for Pcplus software which we received this morning. Our team is dealing with your order, and we expect that we will deliver the package to you within 10 working days. I have included our current price list as an attachment. Please note we only guarantee these prices until 31 December. Thank you for choosing soft.com.Thank you for your order for Pcplus software which was received this morning. Your order is being dealt with by our team and we expect that the package will be delivered to you within 10 working days.Our current price list has been included as an attachment.Please note that these prices are guaranteed until 31 December.

Complete each sentence with a passive verb. You may need a negative form.The goods _________ (damage) in transit last night.This advert _________ (see) by thousands of people every day.The project _________ (finish) by the end of the month.Fifty retail outlets _________ (close) over the last year.5. All of our IT systems currently _________ (review).6. Your order _________ (can/ship) until we receive payment. were damagedwill not be finishedhave been closedare currently being reviewedcannot be shippedis seen

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