THE PASSIVE VOICE in English | with LOTS of examples!

Summary

This lesson provides a thorough explanation of the passive voice in English, comparing it with the active voice. It covers when and why the passive voice is used, such as when the doer is unknown, obvious, or not important. The video also dives into its grammatical structure, tenses, and the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs. Further, it discusses how passive voice is used with modal verbs, infinitives, and gerunds. The lesson also addresses common pitfalls, including distinguishing between adjectives and passive forms and how the passive voice can be used to sound more polite. The video ends with a test to check understanding.

Takeaways

• 😀 The passive voice is used when the doer of the action is not important, unknown, or obvious, shifting focus to the action or result.
• 😀 Passive voice is formed using 'be' + past participle (e.g., 'The painting was bought').
• 😀 In the passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject (e.g., 'A rich person bought the painting' becomes 'The painting was bought').
• 😀 Tenses in the passive voice vary, with some tenses, like present perfect continuous and future continuous, not typically used in the passive voice.
• 😀 Only transitive verbs (verbs requiring an object) can be used in the passive voice (e.g., 'She ate the cake' vs. 'The cake was eaten').
• 😀 Modal verbs in the passive voice follow the structure 'modal verb + be + past participle' (e.g., 'The task must be completed').
• 😀 The passive voice can be used with infinitives (e.g., 'The table needs to be cleaned') and gerunds (e.g., 'I am tired of being pushed around').
• 😀 Passive voice can make sentences sound more polite by shifting focus away from the doer (e.g., 'The report needs to be finished' vs. 'You need to finish the report').
• 😀 The passive voice is common when the agent (doer) is either obvious, unknown, or not relevant to the main message of the sentence.
• 😀 Recognizing the passive voice involves identifying the structure 'be' + past participle, and understanding when the agent can or should be omitted.

Q & A

What is the passive voice in English?

The passive voice is a grammatical structure where the focus is on the action or the result, rather than the subject performing the action. It is formed using the verb 'be' plus the past participle of the main verb.

Why do we need the passive voice in English?

We use the passive voice when the doer of the action is obvious, unknown, or not important. It allows us to shift the focus to the action or result, which is often more relevant in communication.

How can you identify whether a sentence is in the active or passive voice?

In an active voice sentence, the subject performs the action (e.g., 'The rich person bought the painting'). In a passive voice sentence, the object of the action becomes the subject, and the doer of the action may or may not be mentioned (e.g., 'The painting was bought by a rich person').

What are some common examples of passive voice sentences in English?

Examples of passive voice sentences include 'The painting was bought for $1 million,' 'My phone was stolen,' and 'A red sock was washed with the white laundry.'

What is the grammatical structure used to form the passive voice?

The structure for the passive voice is 'be' plus the past participle of the verb. For example, 'is written,' 'was done,' 'are cleaned.'

What is an 'agent' in the passive voice, and do we always need to include it?

The 'agent' in the passive voice is the person or thing that performs the action. It is not always necessary to include the agent. If it is important to mention who performed the action, you can add 'by' plus the agent (e.g., 'The painting was bought by the artist').

Why do we sometimes use the passive voice to be more polite?

The passive voice can be used to avoid placing direct responsibility on the subject, which can make statements sound less accusatory or harsh. For example, 'The report needs to be finished by Friday' sounds more polite than 'You need to finish the report by Friday.'

What are intransitive verbs, and why can't they be used in the passive voice?

Intransitive verbs do not require an object to complete their meaning (e.g., 'The plant died'). Since the passive voice needs an object to become the subject, intransitive verbs cannot be used in this structure.

What is the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs in relation to the passive voice?

Transitive verbs require an object (e.g., 'She read the book'), and can be used in the passive voice (e.g., 'The book was read by her'). In contrast, intransitive verbs do not need an object (e.g., 'She sleeps'), so they cannot be used in the passive voice.

Can the passive voice be used with modal verbs, and if so, how?

Yes, the passive voice can be used with modal verbs. The structure is 'modal verb + be + past participle' (e.g., 'The sweater must be washed by hand,' 'The task can be completed tomorrow').