Abdelmalek Essaadi University

ENSA College – Al Hoceima

English
Stream: CSE1 / S1 2024/2025
Prof. E. BOUAZZA
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The Passive Voice
The form:
when we communication, we either produce "active" sentences or "passive" sentences.
“Passive” sentences are made by reversing the subject and object, and inserting "by" in front
of the original subject.
The tense of the passive verb is formed by putting the verb “to be” into the same tense as
the active verb and adding the past participle of the active verb.
Example:
Active sentence: John writes a report.
=> Passive sentence: A report is written by John.

“Agent deletion rule”:

The doer of the action (=agent) can be deleted in the passive sentence:
The report is written by John => The report is written.
The passive sentences focus on the thing acted upon rather than on the doer of the action.
The passive can be used in the following situations:
❖ The passive voice is used when the attention is directed to the action or event and not to
the agent (=doer of the action) responsible for it.
Example:
No comment is given and no decision is made about the proposal.

❖ The passive voice is used to replace an indefinite pronoun: you, one, it, they
Example:
In Saidia, one can find several camping places. (Active voice)
Several camping places can be found in Saidia. (Passive voice)
❖ The passive voice is used when the person who does the action is so obvious that there is
no need to mention him or her.
Example:
My friend’s letter was delivered yesterday.
The two criminals are arrested.
❖ The passive voice is used when the person who does the action is unknown.
Example:
This monumental mosque was built in the 17th century.

❖ The passive voice is used to disclaim responsibility for an unwelcome announcement.

Example: A headmaster: “It has been decided to cancel the usual half-term holiday as it
is a short term”.

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The passive: Rules for all tenses
As it is shown in the table below, when you change a sentence from the active voice to the
passive voice, the tense of the passive verb is formed by putting the verb “to be” into the same
tense as the active verb and adding the past participle of the active verb.

Verbs with two objects

Some verbs with two objects can make two passive sentences: (offer, give, ask, show, teach...)
Example:
Active Passive

❑ They have offered me the job => I have been offered the job.
=> The job has been offered to me.
❑ He gave me the book => I was given the book.
=> The book was given to me.
❑ They showed me the document => I was shown the document
=> The document was shown to me.
The passive in subordinate clauses
Example:
Active Passive

❑ I understand that someone hit Greg => I understand that Greg was hit.
❑ They claim that someone stole the money => They claim that the money was stolen.
❑ I believe that someone is preparing food => I believe that food is being prepared
The passive with other prepositions:
Example:
Active Passive
❑ Jane gave me this present => This present was given to me by Jane.
❑ Who wrote this letter? => Who was this letter written by?

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❑ Smoke filled the room => The room was filled with smoke.
❑ You mustn’t speak to her => She mustn’t be spoken to.
❑ I can’t walk with these sticks => These sticks can’t be walked with.
❑ He looked after the children well => The children were well looked after.
Use the preposition ‘at’ instead of ‘by’ for sentences with: surprised, annoyed, shocked,
disappointed, astonish…
His behaviour annoyed me => I was annoyed at his behaviour
Use the preposition ‘to’ instead of ‘by’ for sentences with: married, known, obliged…:
Brian married Jane => Jane was married to Brian
Brian knows Jane => Jane is known to Brian

Use the preposition ‘with’ instead of ‘by’ for the sentences with ‘pleased, disgusted,
impressed, charmed...
Her performance impressed us => We were impressed with her performance

Use the preposition ‘in’ instead of ‘by’ for the sentences with: interested, consisted, absorbed,
contained...
This topic interests the students => The students are interested in this topic.
Verbs of opinion
Active Passive
They considered me a tourist => It was considered (that) I was a tourist
=> I was considered to be a tourist
They think (that) I am a spy => I am thought (that) I am a spy
=> I am thought to be a spy
People believe it is true => It is believed (that) it is true
=> It is believed to be true

They say (that) he is ill => It is said (that) he is ill

=> He is said to be ill
Cases in which the passive voice cannot be used:
The passive cannot be formed with: have and get:
❑ They have a lot of people in prison => NO PASSIVE
❑ The prisoners never get our letters => NO PASSIVE
The passive cannot be formed with intransitive verbs
❑ We arrived home late at night => NO PASSIVE
❑ Did you sleep well? => NO PASSIVE
❑ He was running too fast => NO PASSIVE
The passive cannot be formed with certain state verbs: (have, belong, lack, resemble...)
❑ John has two brothers. => NO PASSIVE
❑ This bag belongs to you. => NO PASSIVE
❑ Monday does not suit me. => NO PASSIVE
When state verbs have active meanings (e.g. measure, fit weigh…), they can be passive:
❑ They weighed the truck. (active meaning) => The truck was weighed.
❑ The truck weighed 2.5 tons. (stative meaning) => NO PASSIVE./.
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Practice exercise
Exercise 1: Write these sentences in the passive voice.
1 – Somebody cleans the room ..................................................................................................
2- People don’t use this road much. ...........................................................................................
3- John would like someone to promote him……………………………………………..……
4- Jane gave me this present……………………………………………………..…………….
5- They have built a new hospital...............................................................................................
6- We avoided people seeing us……………………………………………………….……….
7- How much will they pay you for the work? ………………..................
8 - Manufacturers choose plastic containers for many different reasons. ..................................
9- Has anybody shown you what to do? …………………………............................................
10- Somebody was recording our conversation…………………………..……………………

Exercise 2: Rewrite these sentences using the passive sentence:

1 – Amy’s colleagues gave her a present when she retired. Amy..............................................
2 – They cancelled all flights because of fog. All........................................................................
3 – I think they should have offered Tom the job. I think Tom................................................
4 – They asked me some difficult questions at the interview. I...............................................
5- Nobody told me about the meeting. I..................................................................................
6- Somebody accused me of stealing money. I...........................................................................
7- They did not give me the information I needed. I..............................................................
8 – How do people learn languages? How..................................................................................
9 – People wanted us not to go out alone....................................................................................
10- Somebody is using the computer right now. The computer.................................................

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