Topic 5.3 Grammar: The Passive Voice

Grammar Explanation: Passive Voice

Passive voice is used to shift the focus of a sentence from the subject (the doer of the action) to the object (the receiver of the action).

In passive voice constructions, the subject is often less important or unknown, and the emphasis is placed on the action or the object itself.

Review of Passive Voice Structures:

1. Basic Structure:
   • Passive voice is formed using a form of the verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were) followed by the past participle of the main verb.
   • Example: “The report was submitted by the team.”

2. Agentless Passive:
   • Sometimes, the subject (the doer of the action) is not mentioned in passive voice constructions.
   • Example: “The project was completed ahead of schedule.”

3. By-phrase (Optional):
   • If the subject is mentioned in passive voice, it is often introduced with the preposition “by” to indicate the doer of the action.
   • Example: “The proposal was approved by the committee.”

4. Using Modal Verbs:
   • Passive voice can also be formed using modal verbs (e.g., can, could, may, might, must, should) followed by “be” and the past participle.
   • Example: “The event can be attended by all employees.”

5. More Formal Structures:

This formal structure is used especially in news reports with the verbs know, tell, understand, report, expect, say, believe, and think. It makes the information sound more impersonal.

1. We use It is said, believed + that + clause.
2. We use He, The man (i.e. the subject of the clause) + is said, believed, etc. + to + infinitive (e.g. to be) or perfect infinitive (e.g. to have been) when talking about the past.