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What is the Passive Voice?

The passive voice is a grammatical structure where the subject of the sentence receives the action, instead of performing it.

It shifts the focus from “who did it” to “what happened.”

• Compare these two sentences:
• Active: “The students completed the project.” (The students did the action.)
• Passive: “The project was completed by the students.” (The project received the action.)

How Do We Form the Passive Voice?

The basic structure for the passive voice is always the verb 'to be' + the past participle of the main verb.

The form of 'to be' changes depending on the tense:

• Present Simple: is/are + past participle (English is spoken here.)
• Past Simple: was/were + past participle (The car was repaired yesterday.)
• Present Continuous: is/are being + past participle (The house is being painted.)
• Past Continuous: was/were being + past participle (Dinner was being prepared.)
• Present Perfect: has/have been + past participle (The letter has been sent.)
• Past Perfect: had been + past participle (The work had been finished.)
• Future Simple: will be + past participle (The report will be submitted.)
• Modals: modal + be + past participle (The problem should be solved.)

When Do We Use the Passive Voice?

We use the passive voice in several situations:

• When the doer of the action is unknown:
  • My wallet was stolen. (We don't know who stole it.)
• When the doer of the action is unimportant:
  • The new road will be opened next month. (It doesn't matter who opens it, only that it will be opened.)
• When the doer of the action is obvious:
  • The criminal was arrested. (It's obvious the police arrested them.)
• To focus on the action or the object, not the doer:
  • Thousands of trees are planted every year. (The focus is on the trees and the planting, not who plants them.)
• In formal or scientific writing:
  • The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions.

Using 'by' and 'with' in Passive Sentences

Sometimes, we want to mention the person or thing that performed the action in a passive sentence.

• Uso 'by' to introduce the agent (the person or thing that did the action):
  • The book was written by a famous author.
  • The window was broken by the strong wind.
• Uso 'with' to introduce the tool or instrument used to perform the action:
  • The cake was decorated with fresh fruit.
  • The door was opened with a special key.

Passive Voice Formation Across Different Tenses

Active Voice	Passive Voice
They make cars.	Cars are made.
She wrote a letter.	A letter was written.
He is painting the house.	The house is being painted.
They have built a new school.	A new school has been built.
Someone will clean the room.	The room will be cleaned.
You must finish the work.	The work must be finished.

Exemplos

• Coffee is grown in many countries.
• The concert tickets were sold out quickly.
• A new bridge is being built across the river.
• The report has been finished and sent.
• The ancient city was discovered by archaeologists.
• These shoes were made in Italy.
• Your order will be delivered tomorrow.
• The decision must be made soon.

Prática

Erros comuns entre falantes de espanhol

Spanish speakers sometimes try to use a structure similar to 'se' in Spanish, which can lead to incorrect English. For example, instead of "Se habla español aquí" becoming "It speaks Spanish here," the correct passive form is "Spanish is spoken here."

Another common error is forgetting the verb 'to be' or using the wrong form of the main verb. Remember, it's always be + past participle.

• Incorrect: "The letter sent yesterday."
• Correct: "The letter was sent yesterday."

Perguntas frequentes

What is the main difference between active and passive voice?

In the active voice, the subject *performs* the action (The boy kicked the ball.). In the passive voice, the subject *receives* the action (The ball was kicked by the boy.). The focus changes.

Can I always use the passive voice?

While useful, the passive voice should not be overused. The active voice is generally more direct and clear. Use passive when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the action or object.

Is the passive voice more formal?

Yes, the passive voice often sounds more formal and objective, which is why it's common in academic, scientific, and news reporting.

How do I make negative passive sentences?

To make a passive sentence negative, simply add 'not' after the auxiliary verb 'to be'. Por exemplo, "The report was not finished" ou "The emails are not being sent."

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