A very easy explanation of the passive

1. THE PASSIVE
4º ESO

2. USE OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
The passive voice is used when
it is not so important who or what
did the action.
The important thing is the
action itself.

3. See an example
Ex. Someone built this house in 1912
This house was built in 1912

4. The agent
• When you want to say who or what caused
the action in a passive sentence, you use
BY
Ex. This portrait was painted by Van Gogh

5. Present Simple
Somebody cleans this room every day.
This room is cleaned every day.

6. Past Simple
Somebody cleaned this room yesterday.
This room was cleaned yesterday.

7. Future
Somebody will clean this room.
This room will be cleaned.

8. VERBS WITH TWO OBJECTS.
They didn’t offer Ann the job (ANN/ THE JOB)
I.O. D.O.
1.Ann wasn’t offered the job.
2.The job wasn’t offered to Ann.
It is more usual for the passive sentence to
begin with the person
Other verbs: ASK, TELL, GIVE, SEND, SHOW,
TEACH, PAY…

9. Some practice
Mary cooks chicken very well.
Chicken is very well cooked by Mary.

10. Edison invented the light bulb.
The light bulb was invented by Edison.

11. Astra Zeneca will produce many vaccines.
Many vaccines will be produced by Astra Zeneca

12. Passive with two objects practice
Peter gave me an apple
Direct objet as subject
An apple was given to me by Peter
Indirect object as subject
I was given an apple by Peter.