M10 - Passive Sentence

Topic: Passive sentence
In most cases we use active sentences because we emphasize the doers or the subjects of the sentences.
The main difference between active and passive sentence lie on the kinds of verbs in the predicate. Take a
look at these sentences:
Active sentence: the doers is emphasized
 The government began to open the new state library for public two weeks ago.
 Students always come to class on time.
 All student need to meet their lecturer at 07.00 a.m.
Passive sentence: the doers are not emphasized
 The Public Library was completely built about two months ago.
 Lucas Vondracek is called the new Mozart.
 A new public school was opened last year. The school is now full of students from many different
cities.
 A new parking lot was made larger for the students.
To form passive sentence:
 Be + past participle (by+ object)
 Related to the kinds of tense that you are using
Active Passive
Close Is closed
Closed Was closed
Will close Will be closed
Has closed Has been closed
Needs to close Needs to be closed
Example:
 Active sentence: She closes the door

 Passive sentence: the door is closed by her.
To form negative and question: we add NOT after to be for negative and we put to be in the begining of
the sentence for the question.
Example:
 Negative sentence: The door is not closed by her
 Question: is the door closed by her?
One way that the passive can be tested in English test is simply with an incorrect form of the passive. For
example:
 The portrait was painting by a famous artist.

 The project will finished by Tim.
Can you recognize the error?
In the first sentence, the passive is formed incorrectly because the past participle painted should be used
rather than the present participle painting. In the second sentence, the verb be has not been included, and
some form of be is necessary for passive verb. It should be will be finished.
Exercise 1: Each of the following sentences has a passive meaning. Underline twice the verbs that should
be passive. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
1. The boy had never be stung by a bee.

2. The suits were hung in the closet when they were returned from the cleaners by my father. .
3. Money is lending by credit union to those who want to buy homes.
4. The record has been chose by dancers near the jukebox.
5. The topic for your research paper should have been approved by your adviser.
6. That song has been playing over and over again by Steve.
7. Their utility bills have been increased again and again.
8. The patients who are too sick to sit up are being assisted by orderlies.
9. The offices were thoroughly clean last evening by the night crew.
10. The car that was struck in the intersection yesterday is being repaired today.
Recognize active and passive meanings
When there is no object (with or without by) after a verb you must look at the meaning of the sentence to
determine if the verb should be active or passive. Sentences with an incorrect passive verb and no by+
object to tell you that the verb should be passive are the most difficult passive error to recognize on the
English test. Study these examples:
 We mailed the package at the post office.

 The letter was mailed by us today before noon.
 The letter was mailed today before noon.
 The letter mailed today before noon.
Can you recognize which sentences are incorrect?
The first three examples above are correct. The first example has active verb mailed used with the object
package. The second example has the passive verb was mailed with by us. The third sentence has the
passive verb was mailed without an object.
The forth example is incorrect sentence that appears most often in English test. This type of sentence has
the following characteristics:
 An incorrect passive verb that look like a correct active verb.

 No by + object to tell you that a passive is needed.
To correct it, the active verb needs to be changed to the passive was mailed.
The following chart outlines the difference in meaning between active and passive verb:
Active The subject does the action of the verb

Passive The subject receives the action of the verbs
Exercise 2: Each the following sentences contain at least one active verb; however some of the verbs
should be passive. Underline the verb twice. Then, indicate if the sentences are correct or incorrect.
1. The car parked in a no-parkingzone.

2. The physics exam began just a few minutes ago.
3. Everything to organize the picnic has already done.
4. The police investigated him because of his unusual actions.
5. The package containing the necessary samples has just sent.
6. The vacation to Europe will carefully plan before the scheduled departure date.
7. The coffee turned bitter when it left on the stove for so long.
8. The soccer game won in the losing minute.
9. The clothes made to rival the latest fashion of the season.
10. When the roads are icy, the buses do not drive.
Exercise A and B: Underline the verb twice. Then, indicate if the sentences are correct or incorrect.
1. After the old radiator had be replace, the travelers continued their cross country trip.
2. During the lighting storm, he struck in the head by a falling tree.
3. While I am on vacation, the pets should be feed every morning and evening.
4. A book being written now by a team of writers will be published in the fall.
5. I found out that real estate agent had already been leased the condominium.
6. The house that Mrs. Martin has always wanted to buy has just placed on the market.
7. The foundation should have been finishing by the construction workers before they left the
construction site.
8. We must leave that money in the checking accounts because the bills pay on the first of the
month.
9. The horses can’t be taken out now because they have been rode for the past few hours.
10. It is being announced by a presidential aide that a lawyer from Virginia has been named attorney
general.

M10 - Passive Sentence

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Topic: Passive sentence

Active sentence: the doers is emphasized

 Students always come to class on time.

 All student need to meet their lecturer at 07.00 a.m.

Passive sentence: the doers are not emphasized

 Lucas Vondracek is called the new Mozart.

 A new parking lot was made larger for the students.

To form passive sentence:

 Be + past participle (by+ object)

 Related to the kinds of tense that you are using

 Active sentence: She closes the door

 The portrait was painting by a famous artist.

Can you recognize the error?

1. The boy had never be stung by a bee.

Recognize active and passive meanings

 We mailed the package at the post office.

Can you recognize which sentences are incorrect?

 An incorrect passive verb that look like a correct active verb.

Active The subject does the action of the verb

1. The car parked in a no-parkingzone.

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