Language toolbox: the passive

1 The passive is... The concert is organised every year. The clothes were made for the dance competition.

the verb to be past participle (am, is, are, (done/made/seen/ was/were, etc.) worn/written etc.)

Exercises

1 Complete the sentences with the correct present and past simple passive forms of the verbs in brackets.

1. How many languages _________________ (speak) in Switzerland?

2. The email ______________ (not send) late.

2 Compare the active and the passive.

Subject

Somebody Our video uploaded our was uploaded video by somebody

* We use an active verb to say what the subject does: Lionel Messi scored 73 goals in one season. * We use a passive verb to say what happens to the 10 subject: 5 billion YouTube videos are watched every day.

3. Ann’s books ____________________ (read) by millions of children every year.

4. When __________ the car __________ (invent)?

5. Las Meninas _________________ (paint) by Velázquez.

6. Vintage clothes ____________ (not sold) at the market during the week.

7. How many songs ______________ (stream) every day?

Subject

* Present simple Audi cars are made in Germany. The library isn’t used by many people. How is plastic recycled?

Somebody The rubbish collects the is collected rubbish by somebody

8. These phones ________________ (design) twenty years ago.

2 Rewrite the sentences in the passive. Decide if it is important to say who or what does/ did the action.

1. They made these tablets in South Korea.

Subject

* Past simple My computer was made in China. Our songs weren’t streamed by anyone! Where was this device invented?

Somebody A message posted a was posted message by somebody

2. Human drivers don’t drive the trains.

3. When did Shakespeare write ‘Macbeth’?

4. Somebody speaks English here.

3 By

* When we use the passive, who or what causes the 25 action is often...

...unknown (Our tickets for the concert were stolen),

...unimportant (Are the T-shirts sold online?),

...or obvious (A lot of tea is drunk in Great Britain).

* If it is important to say who or what causes the action, we use by to introduce them: The website is visited by 1 million teenagers a day.

The cup final was won by Athletic de Bilbao

5. Someone built the house 200 years ago.

6. Lady Gaga didn’t sing ‘Don’t Start Now’.

7. Where did they make the Harry Potter films?

8. My mum doesn’t make my jerseys.