Iztacala English students: PASSIVE AND ACTIVE VOICE (present and past)

PASSIVE VOICE

The passive voice is used when we want to emphasize the object or person affected by an action. The object or the person receives/ received the action that is why we say they are "passive".

The Passive is formed:

Simple present: always, generally --> Object + am/is/ are + past participle + complement

Example: Umbrellas are used to cover from the rain.

Simple past: event in the past--> Object + was/ were + past participle + complement
Example: Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.

If the agent (the DOER of the action) is important, use "by" to introduce him.
For Example:

Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci

WHEN TO USE PASSIVE VOICE?

It is often used in business and in other areas (definitions in dictionaries and encyclopedias, school reports, scientific topics) where the object of the action is more important than those who perform the action.

For Example:

We produced over 20 different models in the past two years. (Who produced the models? We DON'T CARE!! :P)

So, it changes to:
Over 20 different models were produced in the past two years.

If your readers don't need to know who is responsible for the action.

It used used when we want to sound formal and /or polite.

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).

Passive simple present:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive/exercises

Passive simple past:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive/exercises?02

PASSIVE VOICE vs ACTIVE VOICE

Generally, we express our ideas in active voice because for us it is more important the DOER (the person that does the action)
Tim Wilson wrote "The Flight to Brunnswick" in 1987. (Active voice emphasizing Wilson)

However, when we want to emphasize the OBJECT, we have to use passive voice.

"The Flight to Brunnswick" was written in 1987 by Tim Wilson. (Passive voice emphasizing "The flight to Brunnswick")

When we don't know who the doer is/ was, it is preferable to use passive voice instead of active.

For example:

Someone stole my wallet! ...It's OK but sounds better: My wallet was stolen!

Exercises. Active or passive?

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive/exercises?simple-present-2
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive/exercises?simple-past-2

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/active_passive/active_or_passive.htm

TEXT TO COMPLETE WITH ACTIVE OR PASSIVE VOICE

http://faculty.mdc.edu/kbiache/cellphones.htm ABOUT CELLPHONES

http://faculty.mdc.edu/kbiache/canopener.htm ABOUT CANS AND CAN OPENERS

Exercises of transformation active to passive voice:

Remember! When changing to passive, check: 1) Is it in present? or past? 2) Is it singular or plural?