Passive Voice Usage and Examples for ESL/EFL

The passive voice in English is used to express what is done to someone or something. Here are a few examples: The company was sold for $5 million.That novel was written by Jack Smith in 1912.My house was built in 1988. In each of these sentences, the subject of the sentences does nothing. Rather, something is done to the subject of the sentence. In each case, the focus is on the object of an action. These sentences could also be written in the active voice. The owners sold the company for $5 million.Jack Smith wrote the novel in 1912.A construction company built my house in 1988. Choosing Passive Voice The passive voice is used to place focus on the object rather than the subject. In other words, who does something is less important than what was done to something (focusing on the person or thing affected by an action). Generally speaking, the passive voice is used less frequently  than the active voice. That said, the passive voice is  useful  to switch the focus from  who  is doing something to  what  is being done, which makes it especially useful in business settings when the focus is placed on a product. By using the passive, the product becomes the focus of the sentence. As you can see from these examples, this makes a stronger statement than using the active voice. Computer chips are manufactured in our plant in Hillsboro.Your car will be polished with the finest wax.Our pasta is made using only the finest ingredients.   Here are some other example  sentences that a business might change to the passive form in order to change focus: We have produced over 20 different models in the past two years.  (active voice)Over 20 different models have been produced in the past two years.  (passive voice)My colleagues and I develop software for financial institutions.  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹(active voice)Our software is developed for financial institutions.  (passive voice) Study the passive voice below and then practice your writing skills by changing passive sentences to active sentences, or vice versa. Passive Voice Sentence Structure Passive subject to be past  participle Note that the verb be is conjugated followed by the participle form of the main verb.   The house was built in 1989.My friend is being interviewed today.The project has been completed recently.   The passive voice follows the same usage rules as all the  tenses in English. However, some tenses tend not to be used in the passive voice. Generally speaking, perfect continuous tenses are not used in the passive voice. Using the Agent   The person or people taking an action are referred to as the agent. If the agent (the person or people performing an action) is not important for understanding, the agent can be left out. Here are some examples: The dogs have already been fed. (Its not important who fed the dogs)The children will be taught basic math. (Its clear that a teacher will teach the children)The report will have been finished by the end of next week. (Its not important who completes the report) In some cases, its important to know the agent. In this case, use the preposition by to express the agent following the passive structure. This structure is especially common when speaking about artistic works such as paintings, books, or music. The Flight to Brunnswick was written in 1987 by Tim Wilson.This model was developed by Stan Ishly for our production team.   Passive Used With Transitive Verbs Transitive verbs are verbs that can take an object. Here are some examples: We assembled the car in less than two hours.I wrote the report last week.   Intransitive verbs do not take an object: She arrived early.The accident happened last week.   Only verbs that take an object can be used in the passive voice. In other words, the passive voice is used only with transitive verbs.   We assembled the car in less than two hours.  (active voice)The car was assembled in less than two hours.  (passive voice)I wrote the report last week.  (active voice)The report was written last week.  (passive voice) Passive Voice Structure Examples Here are examples of some of the most common tenses used in the passive voice: Active Voice Passive Voice Verb Tense They make Fords in Cologne. Fords are made in Cologne. Present Simple Susan is cooking dinner. Dinner is being cooked by Susan Present Continuous James Joyce wrote "Dubliners". "Dubliners" was written by James Joyce. Past Simple They were painting the house when I arrived. The house was being painted when I arrived. Past Continuous They have produced over 20 models in the past two years. Over 20 models have been produced in the past two years. Present Perfect They are going to build a new factory in Portland. A new factory is going to be built in Portland. Future Intention with Going to I will finish it tomorrow. It will be finished tomorrow. Future Simple Passive Voice Quiz   Test your knowledge by Conjugating the verbs in parentheses in the passive voice. Pay close attention to the time expressions for  clues on tense usage: Our house ______________ (paint) brown and black last week.The project ______________ (complete) next week by our outstanding marketing department.  The plans for the new contract  __________________ (draw up) right now.  More than 30,000 new computers _________________ (manufacture) every day at our plant in China.  The children ________________ (teach) by Ms Anderson since last year.The piece ________________ (write) by Mozart when he was only six years old.My hair ______________ (cut) by Julie every month.The portrait _______________ (paint) by a famous painter, but Im not sure when.  The cruise  ship ______________ (christen) by Queen Elizabeth in 1987.My paper ______________ (deliver) every morning by a teenager on his bike. Answers: was paintedwill be completed/is going to be completed  are being drawn upare manufacturedhave been taughtwas writtenis cutwill be painted  was christenedis delivered