PASSIVE SENTENCE
·
Definiton of Passive Sentence
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:
Why was the road crossed by the chicken?
Who is doing the action in this sentence? The
chicken is the one doing the action in this sentence, but the chicken is not in
the spot where you would expect the grammatical subject to be. Instead, the
road is the grammatical subject. The more familiar phrasing (why did the
chicken cross the road?) puts the actor in the subject position, the position
of doing something—the chicken (the actor/doer) crosses the road (the object).
We use active verbs to represent that “doing,” whether it be crossing roads,
proposing ideas, making arguments, or invading houses (more on that shortly).
Once you know what to look for, passive
constructions are easy to spot. Look for a form of “to be” (is, are, am , was,
were, has been, have been, had been, will be, will have been, being) followed
by a past participle. (The past participle is a form of the verb that
typically, but not always, ends in “-ed.” Some exceptions to the “-ed” rule are
words like “paid” (not “payed”) and “driven.” (not “drived”). Here’s a
sure-fire formula for identifying the passive voice:
form of “to be” + past participle = passive voice
For example:
The metropolis has been scorched by the dragon’s
fiery breath.
When her house was invaded, Penelope had to think
of ways to delay her remarriage.
·
Illustration
For example :
The cat killed the rat. (Active Voice)
The cat = subject of the sentence
killed
= verb of the sentence
the rat =
the object of the verb
Now, who killed whom? =
‘the cat’ – the subject of the sentence killed
“the rat” – the object of the verb.
We say that this sentence or the verb of this
sentence is in Active Voice because
the subject ‘the cat’ does the killing.
Let’s see what this sentence is about…
The rat was killed by the cat. (Passive Voice)
The rat = subject of the sentence
was killed = verb of the sentence
the cat = the object of the preposition “by”
Now, who killed whom? ‘The rat killed the cat’? Noooooo….
Even in his sentence ‘the cat’ killed ‘the rat’,
but not ‘the rat’ killed ‘the cat’!
Though ‘the rat’ is actually the subject of the
sentence, it is not doing anything
but passively allowing ‘the cat’ which is the
object of the preposition ‘by’ to kill it.
As the subject of the sentence does not do
anything but allows passively something
to be done to it, we say that this sentence or
the verb of this sentence is in PASSIVE VOICE.
How do we know who does what? Well, the answer is in the VERB – ‘was
killed’!
the verb – was killed – one verb, two parts —
simple past tense – Passive Voice.
Suppose the second sentence was like this: ‘The
rat killed the cat.’ (which might be correct according to the grammar rules but
would not be sensible) we would say that this sentence or the verb of this
sentence was in Active Voice.
The Formula/ Tense Passive Voice
PAST
1. Simple Past : was/were + the past participle
V3 form of the Main Verb
2. Past Continuous : was/were + being + the past
participle V3 form of the Main Verb
3. Past Perfect :
had + been + the Past Participle V3 form of the Main Verb
4. Past Perfect Continuous —— no passive voice
for this tense ——
PRESENT
1. Simple Present : is/am/are + the Past Participle V3 form of
the Main Verb
2. Present Continuous : is/am/are + being + the Past Participle V3
form of the Main Verb
3. Present Perfect : has/have + been + the past participle V3 form
of the Main Verb
4. Present Perfect Continuous ——— no passive
voice for this tense ———
FUTURE
1. Simple Future : will/shall + be + the Past Participle V3 form
of the Main Verb
2. Future Continuous ——— no passive voice for
this tense ———
3. Future Perfect : will/shall + have + been +
the Past Participle V3 form of the Main Verb
4. Future Perfect Continuous ——— no passive form
for this tense ———
There are only EIGHT TENSES in Passive Voice. The
‘Past Perfect Continuous’, ‘Present Perfect Continuous’, ‘Future Continuous’
and the ‘Future Perfect Continuous’ Tenses are not used in Passive Voice in
modern English. The Active Voice sentences having these four Tenses are not
changed into Passive Voice. The Main Verb in any Tense in Passive Voice takes
only the Past Participle — V3 – form!
Active to Passive Sentence
|
|
Active
|
Passive
|
|
1
|
Once a week, Bruce cleans the bed room.
|
Once a week, the bed room is cleaned by Bruce.
|
|
2
|
At 8:00 PM tonight, Phill will be washing the dishes.
|
At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by Phill.
|
|
3
|
At 8:00 PM tonight, Rose is going to be washing the
dishes.
|
At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being washed by
Rose.
|
|
4
|
He will have completed the project before the deadline.
|
The project will have been completed before
the deadline.
|
|
5
|
We are going to have completed the project before the
deadline.
|
The project is going to have been completed before
the deadline.
|
|
6
|
The famous artist will have been painting the
mural for over six months by the time it is finished.
|
The mural will have been being painted by
the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.
|
|
7
|
The famous artist is going to have been painting the
mural for over six months by the time it is finished.
|
The mural is going to have been being painted by
the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.
|
|
8
|
Lucy used to pay the bills.
|
The bills used to be paid by Lucy.
|
|
9
|
My grand mother would always make the pies.
|
The pies would always be made by my
grand mother.
|
|
10
|
I knew Max would finish the work by 5:00
PM.
|
I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM.
|
Passive to Active Sentence
|
|
Passive
|
Active
|
|
1
|
At dinner, five shrimp were eaten by Louis.
|
Louis ate five shrimp at dinner.
|
|
2
|
A movie is going to be watched by
them tonight.
|
They are going to watch a movie
tonight.
|
|
3
|
The comic was read by Mark in one
day.
|
Mark read the comic in one day.
|
|
4
|
The video was posted on Youtube by
Kevin.
|
Kevin posted the video on Youtube.
|
|
5
|
Instructions will be given to you
by the teacher.
|
The teacher will give you
instructions.
|
|
6
|
The baby was carried by the
kangaroo in her pouch.
|
The kangaroo carried her baby in her pouch.
|
|
7
|
The house has been painted green
by them.
|
They have painted their house
green.
|
|
8
|
A cap will be bought by you.
|
You will buy a cap.
|
|
9
|
A letter for Catys’s brother is
written by her every month.
|
Caty writes a letter for her
brother every month.
|
|
10
|
The book has been being read for 5
house.
|
She has been reading a book for 5
house
|
Sumber :
