PASSIVE VOICE

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PASSIVE VOICE

• 4th ESO col.legi Sant Pere

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When do we use it?

• When the agent is unknown
• - Spanish se se venden pisos / flats are sold
• - Spanish subject omitted Le dieron un beso a
  Maria / Maria was given a kiss.
• To make the object of the active verb more
  important
• America was discovered in 1492 by Cristopher
  Columbus

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Structure

• Subject Person or object that suffered/enjoyed
  the results of an action
• The verb to be in the tense the action occurred
  
• The past participle of the verb that represents
  the action itself
• Complements
• By Agent.

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Lets practice

• ActiveHe buys an ice-cream (Present)
• Passive An ice-cream is bought
• Active He sent a letter (Past)
• - Passive A letter was sent
• Active I am writing some letters (Pr.
  continuous)
• -Passive Some letters are being written
• They have cut the grass (Present perfect)
• -Passive The grass has been cut
• We will buy a car next week (Future)
• -Passive A car will be bought next week

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Passive sentences with two objects

• I gave a coin to Tom
• ? Tom was given a coin
• ? A coin was given to Tom

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Exercises

• This book will change your life
• - Your life will be changed by this book
• Susan wrote him an e-mail
• - He was written an e-mail / An e-mail was
  written to him
• They cant answer your question
• - Your question cant be answered

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• They shouldnt allow the children to do these
  things
• - The children shouldnt be allowed to do these
  things
• My mother is cooking biscuits
• - Biscuits are being cooked
• They didnt sell the house
• - The house wasnt sold

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Have/Get Something DoneHave/Get Object
Past participle

• Have/get something done arranging for or paying
  for somebody to do something for you
• He has his hair cut
• She got her carpet cleaned
• We have had our car repaired
• They will get their book translated

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More Passive

• Verbs like Believe, Think, consider, say,
  report, know, expect, feel, understand, find
• Introductory IT is used.
• Structure It passive verb complete
  subordinate sentence without changes
• Eg People say that he started the fire
• It is said that he started the fire
• Other examples
• - It is thought that she doesnt live in
  London
• - It is known that King Henry VIII was
  married 6 times

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END

• Doubts???