Passive VoicePassive Voice

Active vs. Passive VoiceActive vs. Passive Voice

To tell if a construction is active or To tell if a construction is active or passive simply look at the subject:passive simply look at the subject:

If the subject is the "doer of the action," If the subject is the "doer of the action," the sentence is active.the sentence is active.

If the subject is the "receiver of the If the subject is the "receiver of the action," the sentence is passive.action," the sentence is passive.

If you do something, you're active; if If you do something, you're active; if you have something done to you, you have something done to you, you're passive. you're passive.

Passive VoicePassive Voice

Form of “to be” verb + past participle = Form of “to be” verb + past participle = Passive Voice.Passive Voice. am, are, is, was, were, be, become, am, are, is, was, were, be, become,

becamebecame

Example: Example: The bone was eaten by Peggy.The bone was eaten by Peggy.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswas

main verb = main verb = eateneaten Find the main verb and re-word the Find the main verb and re-word the

sentence using only the main verb.sentence using only the main verb.

Example: Example: Peggy ate the bonePeggy ate the bone..

Passive VoicePassive Voice

The police car was chased by the dog.The police car was chased by the dog.

Passive VoicePassive VoiceThe police car was chased by Big Dog.The police car was chased by Big Dog.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswas

main verb = main verb = chasedchased

Passive VoicePassive VoiceThe police car was chased by Big Dog.The police car was chased by Big Dog.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswasmain verb = main verb = chasedchased

The dog chased the police car.The dog chased the police car.

Passive VoicePassive Voice

Every bite of food was eaten by us.Every bite of food was eaten by us.

Passive VoicePassive VoiceEvery bite of food was eaten by us.Every bite of food was eaten by us.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswas

main verb = main verb = eateneaten

Passive VoicePassive VoiceEvery bite of food was eaten by us.Every bite of food was eaten by us.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswas

main verb = main verb = eateneaten

We ate every bite of food.We ate every bite of food.

Passive VoicePassive Voice

The letter was mailed by Marilyn.The letter was mailed by Marilyn.

Passive VoicePassive VoiceThe letter was mailed by Marilyn.The letter was mailed by Marilyn.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswas

main verb = main verb = mailedmailed

Passive VoicePassive VoiceThe letter was mailed by Marilyn.The letter was mailed by Marilyn.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswas

main verb = main verb = mailedmailed

Marilyn mailed the letter.Marilyn mailed the letter.

Passive VoicePassive Voice

At each concert, at least one tune from a well-known opera was sung At each concert, at least one tune from a well-known opera was sung by the soprano.by the soprano.

Passive VoicePassive VoiceAt each concert, at least one tune from a well-known opera was sung by the soprano.At each concert, at least one tune from a well-known opera was sung by the soprano.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswas

main verb = main verb = sungsung

Passive VoicePassive VoiceAt each concert, at least one tune from a well-known opera was sung by the soprano.At each concert, at least one tune from a well-known opera was sung by the soprano.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswas

main verb = main verb = sungsung

At each concert, the soprano sang at least one tune from a well-known opera.At each concert, the soprano sang at least one tune from a well-known opera.

Passive VoicePassive Voice

Large chunks of asbestos-laden material will be removed from the Large chunks of asbestos-laden material will be removed from the hallways on the second and third floors by asbestos abatement teams.hallways on the second and third floors by asbestos abatement teams.

Passive VoicePassive VoiceLarge chunks of asbestos-laden material will be removed from the hallways on the second and third floors by asbestos abatement teams.Large chunks of asbestos-laden material will be removed from the hallways on the second and third floors by asbestos abatement teams.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = bebe

main verb = main verb = willwill ++ removedremoved

Passive VoicePassive VoiceLarge chunks of asbestos-laden material will be removed from the hallways on the second and third floors by asbestos abatement teams.Large chunks of asbestos-laden material will be removed from the hallways on the second and third floors by asbestos abatement teams.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = bebe

main verb = main verb = willwill ++ removedremoved

Asbestos abatement teams will remove large chunks of asbestos-laden material from the hallways on the second and third floors.Asbestos abatement teams will remove large chunks of asbestos-laden material from the hallways on the second and third floors.

Passive VoicePassive Voice

When her house was invaded, Penelope had to think of ways to delay When her house was invaded, Penelope had to think of ways to delay her remarriage.her remarriage.

Passive VoicePassive VoiceWhen her house was invaded, Penelope had to think of ways to delay her remarriage.When her house was invaded, Penelope had to think of ways to delay her remarriage.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswas

main verb = main verb = invadedinvaded

Passive VoicePassive VoiceWhen her house was invaded, Penelope had to think of ways to delay her remarriage.When her house was invaded, Penelope had to think of ways to delay her remarriage.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = waswas

main verb = main verb = invadedinvaded

After suitors invaded her house, Penelope had to think of ways to delay her remarriage.After suitors invaded her house, Penelope had to think of ways to delay her remarriage.

Passive VoicePassive Voice

Heart disease is considered the leading cause of death in the United Heart disease is considered the leading cause of death in the United States.States.

Passive VoicePassive VoiceHeart disease is considered the leading cause of death in the United States.Heart disease is considered the leading cause of death in the United States.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = isis

main verb = main verb = consideredconsidered

Other possible verbs?Other possible verbs?

Passive VoicePassive VoiceHeart disease is considered the leading cause of death in the United States.Heart disease is considered the leading cause of death in the United States.

““to be” verb = to be” verb = isis

main verb = main verb = consideredconsidered

Research points to heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States.Research points to heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States.

Researchers have concluded that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.Researchers have concluded that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Passive VoicePassive Voice“Do not be a lazy thinker”“Do not be a lazy thinker”

The working class was marginalized.The working class was marginalized. African Americans were discriminated against.African Americans were discriminated against. Women were not treated as equals.Women were not treated as equals. A number of things are indicated by these results.A number of things are indicated by these results.

These results indicate a number of things.These results indicate a number of things. Further analysis showed/suggested/yielded…Further analysis showed/suggested/yielded…

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

Weak Verb: He Weak Verb: He is is the leader of the people.the leader of the people. Strong Verb: He Strong Verb: He leadsleads the people. the people.

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

Weak Verb: He Weak Verb: He is is the leader of the people.the leader of the people. Strong Verb: He Strong Verb: He leadsleads the people. the people.

Weak Verb: She Weak Verb: She waswas the first to finish. the first to finish. Strong Verb: She Strong Verb: She finishedfinished first. first.

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

Weak Verb: He Weak Verb: He is is the leader of the people.the leader of the people. Strong Verb: He Strong Verb: He leadsleads the people. the people.

Weak Verb: She Weak Verb: She waswas the first to finish. the first to finish. Strong Verb: She Strong Verb: She finishedfinished first. first.

Weak Verb: Like most people, Bob Weak Verb: Like most people, Bob isis afraid of public speaking. afraid of public speaking. Strong Verb: Like most people, Bob Strong Verb: Like most people, Bob fears fears public speaking.public speaking.

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

Public speaking is the one thing that most people fear Public speaking is the one thing that most people fear more than death.more than death.

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

Public speaking Public speaking isis the one thing that most people fear the one thing that most people fear more than death.more than death.

Most people Most people fearfear public speaking more than death. public speaking more than death.

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

Bob is full of worry about looking foolish.Bob is full of worry about looking foolish.

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

Bob Bob isis full of worry about looking foolish. full of worry about looking foolish.

Bob Bob worriesworries about looking foolish. about looking foolish.

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

He is a student who has enrolled in a speech class.He is a student who has enrolled in a speech class.

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

He He isis a student who has enrolled in a speech class. a student who has enrolled in a speech class.

He He has enrolledhas enrolled in a speech class. in a speech class.

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

Preparation of a speech is something that Bob learns howPreparation of a speech is something that Bob learns howto do.to do.

Weak VerbsWeak Verbs

Preparation of a speech Preparation of a speech is is something that Bob learns howsomething that Bob learns howto do.to do.

Bob Bob learnslearns how to prepare a speech. how to prepare a speech.