{"id":13733,"date":"2024-09-03T13:15:58","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T12:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/?p=13733"},"modified":"2024-09-03T16:01:13","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T15:01:13","slug":"passive-voice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/passive-voice\/","title":{"rendered":"The “Passive Voice” made Easy by Rosie!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nDid you know that in the English language we have 12 tenses? Did you know that, in addition, all of these can be made \u201cpassive\u201d? In knowing this, you (now) know that you have essentially 24 tenses to master on your English language journey to \u201cProficiency,” even if we, as native speakers, don\u2019t use all of these on a daily basis in reality! However, my colleague, Rosie, originally from Serbia, has shared a wonderful academic tip with me to help you master the \u201cpassive voice\u201d from A1 to C2 level. She learned this tip at Elementary school in Serbia herself, so, it is not only super smart but super suitable for all levels \u2014 from beginners to advanced students. Isn\u2019t that wonderful!? Indeed it is, . . . So, come along and read on!\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"The"
The” Passive voice” made easy by my colleague Rosie…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Normal English \u201cWord Order,\u201d as you\u2019ll know from my previous post<\/a>, is:<\/p>\n

SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT; + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

I <\/strong>(SUBJECT) <\/strong>teach <\/strong>(VERB)<\/strong> English <\/strong>(OBJECT) <\/strong>at ISI <\/strong>(PLACE) <\/strong>on Tuesdays <\/strong>(TIME)<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

English is almost always comprised of this Word Order, which we call the \u201cActive Voice,\u201d where there is an Active Agent, i.e., a SUBJECT, causing (and this is the VERB part) the OBJECT or Action):<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>I <\/strong>(SUBJECT) <\/strong>DO <\/strong>(VERB) <\/strong>MY HOMEWORK <\/strong>(OBJECT)<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, even at Elementary level, we need the \u201cPassive Voice\u201d because the SUBJECT (or Agent, if you like) doing \/ causing <\/u>(VERB) <\/u>the action (OBJECT) is often not known or not important. We come across this a lot in newspapers or news reports for instance. Let\u2019s take the following example \u2014 a normal, or \u201cActive,\u201d Subject + Verb + Object; Place + Time, sentence in an English-language newspaper would read:<\/p>\n

A MAN <\/strong>(SUBJECT)<\/strong> BROKE <\/strong>(VERB) <\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT) <\/strong>IN DUBLIN<\/strong> (PLACE) <\/strong>LAST<\/strong> NIGHT <\/strong>(TIME)<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But perhaps it wasn\u2019t a man, perhaps it was a woman? If the newspaper does not know for certain, well, they don\u2019t want to be sued for misinformation, so, they will use the \u201cPassive Voice\u201d!<\/p>\n

In this case, they will remove the SUBJECT and the OBJECT will take the place of the SUBJECT in the sentence, and become a PASSIVE SUBJECT, meaning that everything in the sentence that follows happens to it \u2014 it did not actively choose to do, or, if you like, choose what follows in the sentence to happen to it.<\/p>\n

In the case of the example above, we will get rid of \u201cA MAN <\/strong>(SUBJECT),<\/strong>\u201d <\/strong>replace it with the \u201c<\/strong>(OBJECT) <\/strong>A WINDOW,\u201d<\/strong> which then becomes our PASSIVE SUBJECT<\/strong>. <\/strong><\/p>\n

We now have English Word Order that looks like this \u2014<\/p>\n

OBJECT + VERB; + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014 as opposed to this:<\/p>\n

SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT; + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the tricky bit, which I personally think Rosie makes easy with her academic tip: having moved the OBJECT into the place of the SUBJECT, what do we do with the verb?<\/p>\n

Well, the first thing you need to know is that the \u201cPassive Voice\u201d is formed by using some form of the auxiliary verb \u201cBE\u201d + the \u201cPAST PARTICIPLE<\/strong><\/span>\u201d of a MAIN VERB: such as SEE, SAW, SEEN<\/strong><\/span>, SEEING, or EAT, ATE, EATEN<\/strong><\/span>, EATING, or, as in the example above, BREAK, BROKE, BROKEN<\/span><\/strong>, BREAKING.<\/p>\n

Then, according to Rosie\u2019s super-simple formula, we just have to precede this MAIN VERB with the auxiliary verb \u201cBE\u201d in the exact same tense that the MAIN VERB in the Active sentence reads:<\/p>\n

A MAN <\/strong>(SUBJECT)<\/strong> BROKE <\/strong>(VERB) <\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT); + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>BROKE <\/strong>(VERB TENSE: <\/strong>PAST SIMPLE<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

(IS, <\/strong>WAS,<\/u><\/strong> BEEN)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now we are ready to make our \u201cPassive Voice\u201d sentence, . . . almost:<\/p>\n

A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT\/PASSIVE SUBJECT ) <\/strong>WAS<\/u><\/strong> BROKEN <\/strong>(VERB); + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

We can apply this simple logic to all 12 tenses, just remember that no matter how long the verb phrase gets (2,3,4, or even 5 parts) the form of the auxiliary “be” will always be inserted directly before the past participle in each case, i.e. it will always be the second last part of the passive verb phrase!<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s try Present Perfect:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A MAN <\/strong>(SUBJECT)<\/strong> HAS BROKEN <\/strong>(VERB) <\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>BROKEN <\/strong>(VERB TENSE: <\/strong>PRESENT PERFECT<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

(IS, WAS, <\/strong>BEEN,<\/u><\/strong> BEING)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT\/PASSIVE SUBJECT ) <\/strong>HAS BEEN<\/u> <\/strong>BROKEN <\/strong>(VERB); + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s try Past Perfect:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A MAN <\/strong>(SUBJECT)<\/strong> HAD BROKEN <\/strong>(VERB) <\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>BROKEN <\/strong>(VERB TENSE: <\/strong>PAST PERFECT<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

(IS, WAS, <\/strong>BEEN,<\/u><\/strong> BEING)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT\/PASSIVE SUBJECT ) <\/strong>HAD BEEN<\/u> <\/strong>BROKEN<\/strong> (VERB); + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s try Future Perfect:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A MAN <\/strong>(SUBJECT)<\/strong> WILL HAVE BROKEN <\/strong>(VERB) <\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>BROKEN <\/strong>(VERB TENSE: <\/strong>FUTURE PERFECT<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

(IS, WAS, <\/strong>BEEN,<\/u><\/strong> BEING)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT\/PASSIVE SUBJECT ) <\/strong>WILL HAVE BEEN<\/u> <\/strong>BROKEN<\/strong> (VERB); + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s try Present Continuous:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A MAN <\/strong>(SUBJECT)<\/strong> IS BREAKING <\/strong>(VERB) <\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>IS BREAKING <\/strong>(VERB TENSE: <\/strong>PRESENT CONTINUOUS<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

(IS, WAS, BEEN, <\/strong>BEING<\/u><\/strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT\/PASSIVE SUBJECT ) <\/strong>IS BEING<\/u><\/strong> BROKEN<\/strong> (VERB); + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s try Past Continuous:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A MAN <\/strong>(SUBJECT)<\/strong> WAS BREAKING <\/strong>(VERB) <\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>WAS BREAKING <\/strong>(VERB TENSE: <\/strong>PAST CONTINUOUS<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

(IS, WAS, BEEN, <\/strong>BEING<\/u><\/strong>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT\/PASSIVE SUBJECT ) <\/strong>WAS BEING <\/u><\/strong>BROKEN<\/strong> (VERB); + PLACE + TIME <\/strong><\/p>\n

See, English really is easy! One thing you need to remember is that if you want to reintroduce the SUBJECT or Active Agent of a sentence, you need to do it with the little word \u201cby,\u201d which will precede the SUBJECT and come after OBJECT\/PASSIVE SUBJECT + VERB, like so:<\/p>\n

OBJECT + VERB <\/strong>\u201cby\u201d<\/strong> + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT\/PASSIVE SUBJECT) <\/strong>WAS<\/strong> BROKEN<\/strong> (VERB) <\/strong>by<\/strong> + PLACE + TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

A WINDOW <\/strong>(OBJECT\/PASSIVE SUBJECT) <\/strong>WAS<\/strong> BROKEN <\/strong>(VERB) <\/strong>by<\/strong> A MAN <\/strong>(ACTIVE SUBJECT) <\/strong>IN DUBLIN <\/strong>(PLACE) <\/strong>LAST NIGHT <\/strong>(TIME)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nWell, that\u2019s it: the \u201cPassive Voice.\u201d As mentioned, English is easy! A big thanks to my colleague Rosie for making it even easier for me to teach and for you to master! Good luck on your language learning journey towards Proficiency!\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Did you know that in the English language we have 12 tenses? Did you know that, in addition, all of these can be made \u201cpassive\u201d? In knowing this, you (now) ...","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":13749,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"72","_seopress_titles_title":"%%sitetitle%% %%sep%% %%post_title%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"Did you know that in the English language we have 12 tenses? Did you know that, in addition, all of these can be made \u201cpassive\u201d? In knowing this, you (now) know that you have essentially 24 tenses to master on your English language journey to \u201cProficiency,\" even if we, as native speakers, don\u2019t use all of these on a daily basis in reality!","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"passive voice,passive past particeple","footnotes":""},"categories":[72,194,71,2779],"tags":[142,195,2789],"class_list":["post-13733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic","category-english-tips","category-isi-dublin-blog","category-test-preparation-tips","tag-dublin","tag-english-tips","tag-exam-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/106"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13733"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13744,"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13733\/revisions\/13744"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinireland.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}