Passive Voice

• Foreign language
• Vocational Education

Passive Voice

Who is doing the action in this sentence?

"Hollywood produces around 500 films every year."

1. Hollywood
2. 500 films

Active sentences

"Hollywood produces around 500 films every year."

This sentence is active, because the subject is doing the action.

Who is doing the action in this sentence?

"Many films are produced in India as well."

1. Many films
2. Not mentioned

Look at the sentences. Are they active or passive?

1. This chocolate is made in Switzerland.

2. They make this chocolate in Switzerland.

Active

Passive

Look at the sentences. Are they active or passive?

1. Some popular movies aren't always expensive to make.

2. It helps if famous actors were featured in it.

3. Millions of dollars have been spent every year by film producers.

Active

Passive

Active

Passive

Active

Passive

Passive sentences

"Many films are produced in India as well"

This sentence is passive, because the subject is having the action done to it.

What form of the verb do they all use?

"This movie was made in Switzerland."

"Angelina Jolie is known around the world."

"The Avengers has been shown in 160 countries."

"The new James Bond movie is being made in London right now."

"Avatar will be released next year."

Verb 1

Verb 2

Verb 3

Remember passive sentences always use Verb 3.

Look at the passive sentences below. Are they in the same tense or different tenses?

"This movie was made in Switzerland."

"Angelina Jolie is known around the world."

"The Avengers has been shown in 160 countries."

"The new James Bond movie is being made in London right now."

"Avatar will be released next year."

Same tenses

Different tenses

However the structure is slightly different with different tenses.

Look at the passive structures in the different tenses below.

"This movie was made in Switzerland."

"Angelina Jolie is known around the world."

"The Avengers has been shown in 160 countries."

"The new James Bond movie is being made in London right now."

"Avatar will be released next year."

(Present simple passive)

(Past simple passive)

(Present perfect passive)

(Present continuous passive)

(will passive)

Check the passive structures on p.150 (green)

Now let's practice. 

Write the full sentences. Some are active, some are passive.

Every year, 1,200 people ______ (injure) in road accidents.

The search for the missing man continues. Up until now, no clues _____ (find).

At the moment, a new shopping centre ______ (build) in the town centre.

Nearly $1 million ______ (steal) during the robbery.

The council say the work ______ (complete) next year.

Well done. Now go back to Google Classroom and click 'Hand in'