A. Definition
A
passive construction occurs when you make the object of an action into
the subject of a sentence. That is, whoever or whatever is performing
the action is not the grammatical subject of the sentence. Take a look
at this passive rephrasing of a familiar joke
B. Example Passive Voice
Simple Present We take a cake A cake is taken by us
Simple Past We took a cake A cake was taken by us
Simple Future We will take a cake A cake will be taken by us
Present Perfect We has taken a cake A cake has been taken by us
Past Perfect We had taken a cake A cake had been taken by us
Going to-future We are going to take a cake in the table A cake is going to taken by us in the table
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
- the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
- the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
- the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
C. Agent
In a
passive clause, we usually use a phrase beginning with by if we want to
mention the agent - the person or thing that does the action, or that
causes what happens.
Examples:
- My mother makes sandwich every morning.
- Subject + verb1 + s/es + O + C (adv. of time)
- Sandwich is made by my mother every morning.
- Subject + to be + V3 + Agent + C (adv. of time)
If you want to change an active sentence which has two objects into its passive forms, there are two ways:
1. Make its indirect object into the subject of the passive sentence.
2. Make its direct object into the subject of the passive sentence.
Example:
Active:
John is giving his girl-friend a bunch of flower.
indirect object direct object.
Passive:
The indirect object as the subject.
John’s girl-friend is being given a bunch of flower.
Passive:
The direct object as the subject.
A bunch of flower is being given to John’s girl-friend.
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