Lesson
Grammar: The passive voice
When the action matters more than who did it, use the passive. Essential for Task 1 processes and maps, and useful for a more academic style in Task 2.
Form: be + past participle
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | They collect the bottles. | The bottles are collected. |
| Past simple | They built a bridge. | A bridge was built. |
| Present perfect | They have closed the factory. | The factory has been closed. |
| With modals | We should reduce waste. | Waste should be reduced. |
When to use it
- The doer is unknown or unimportant: My bike was stolen.
- Processes and maps: The leaves are dried… A school was built.
- Formal writing, to sound objective: It is often argued that…
Add by only if the doer matters: The bridge was designed by a famous engineer.
Watch out
Some verbs can't be passive because they have no object: The accident was happened. → The accident happened.
Questions 1–6
Rewrite in the passive. Write only the missing verb form.
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They grow rice in the north. → Rice in the north.
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Someone stole my phone yesterday. → My phone yesterday.
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The council has opened a new library. → A new library by the council.
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We should ban plastic bags. → Plastic bags .
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Workers pick the tea leaves by hand. → The tea leaves by hand.
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They built the bridge in 1990. → The bridge in 1990.
Questions 7–10
Is each sentence correct or incorrect?
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The accident was happened at midnight.
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English is spoken in many countries.
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The new hospital was opened by the minister last month.
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The results will announced next week.
