Use of Passive

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it. Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:

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.).

Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following: the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle) the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

Examples of Passive
Tense Subject Verb
writes

Object
a letter.

Simple Present

Active: Passive:

Rita A letter Rita A letter Rita A letter

is written wrote was written has written has been written

by Rita. a letter. by Rita. a letter. by Rita.

Simple Past

Active: Passive:

Present Perfect

Active: Passive:

Future I

Active: Passive:

Rita A letter Rita A letter

will write will be written can write can be written

a letter. by Rita. a letter. by Rita.

Hilfsverben

Active: Passive:

Examples of Passive
Tense Subject Verb
is writing

Object
a letter.

Present Progressive

Active: Passive:

Rita A letter Rita A letter Rita A letter Rita A letter Rita A letter Rita A letter

is being written was writing was being written had written had been written will have written will have been written would write would be written would have written would have been written

by Rita. a letter. by Rita. a letter. by Rita. a letter. by Rita. a letter. by Rita. a letter. by Rita.

Past Progressive

Active: Passive:

Past Perfect

Active: Passive:

Future II

Active: Passive:

Conditional I

Active: Passive:

Conditional II

Active: Passive:

Passive Sentences with Two Objects

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.

Subject

Verb

Object 1

Object 2

Active: Passive: Passive:

Rita A letter I

wrote

a letter

to me.

was written was written

to me a letter

by Rita. by Rita.

.
As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. Thats why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.

Example: They build houses. Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction therefore this passive is calledImpersonal Passive.

Example: he says it is said

Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).

Example: They say that women live longer than men. It is said that women live longer than men.
Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

Example: They say that women live longer than men. Women are said to live longer than men.
The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped). Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.

Verbos modales ~ English Modal Verbs

Los verbos modals son una categora de verbos auxiliares. Verbos modales tambin se llaman modales auxiliares o simplemente modales. Hay diez verbos modales ingleses: can may shall will must could might should would ought to

Los modales expresan el modo de un verbo: la capacidad, la posibilidad, la necesidad u una otra condicin del verbo principal. Estes verbos se usan con verbos principales para formar afirmaciones o preguntas. Los modales no tienen conjugaciones ni tiempo y no se pueden usar sin verbo principal. En ingls, el verbo principal siempre queda en forma infinitiva sin to, excepto el modal ought. En una afirmacin, el orden de las palabras es sujeto + modal + verbo principal. sujeto modal They Ellos verbo principal

can come. pueden venir.

Mike Mike

should debe

walk. caminar.

En las preguntas, el orden de palabras es modal + sujeto + verbo principal. preguntas de s o no (yes-no questions) modal Can Pueden sujeto they verbo principal come? venir?

Should Debera

Mike Mike

drive? manejar?

preguntas informativas (wh- questions) wh- word modal sujeto verbo principal

When Cundo

can pueden

they

come? venir?

How Cmo

could podra

he

know? saber?

Can El modal can, como el verbo espaol poder, indica una posibilidad o una capacidad. Tom can help you. Tom puede ayudarte. Wild animals can be dangerous. Los animales salvajes pueden ser peligrosos. Eating out can be costly. Comer fuera puede ser costoso. En preguntas, se utiliza can para solicitar permiso de hacer algo o sea para preguntar sobre una posibilidad. Can I help you? Puedo ayudarle? Can Mike have dinner with us? Mike puede cenar con nosotros? Who can answer the next question? Quin puede contestar a la prxima pregunta? When can we get back the results? Cundo podemos tener los resultados?

Could El modal could indica una posibilidad o una capacidad en el pasado. I could have told you that. Podra haberte dicho eso. It could have been a disaster. Podra haber sido un desastre. When I was young, I could run very fast. Cuando era jven, poda correr muy rpidamente. Could se utiliza para especular sobre unas posibilidades futuras. En estes ejemplos, could y might son sinnimos.

It could / might rain tonight. Puede llover esta noche. This could / might be dangerous. Eso puede / podra ser peligroso. En las preguntas de s o no, could especula sobre unas posibilidades en el presente o el futuro. Could she be the murderer? Puede / Podra ser ella el asesina? Could this be a mistake? Podra ser esto un error? Could indica una opcin. We could go see a movie. Podemos / Podramos ver una pelcula. I could become a doctor. Puedo / Podra hacerme mdico. En las preguntas de s o no, could hace una solicitud corts. En estes ejemplos, could y can son sinnimos. Could / Can you open your window? Puede usted abrir su ventana? Could / Can you help me move this sofa? Puedes ayudarme a mover este sof? Se usa could para formar el condicional el cual contiene dos oraciones: una con "if" ( si) y la otra con el resultado. Could est puesto en la oracin del resultado. En estos afirmaciones, could expresa una situacin hipottica: If I had time, I could play tennis with you. Si tuviera tiempo, podra jugar tennis contigo. We could study together, if you want to. Podemos estudiar juntos, si quieres. If it weren't raining, we could go on a picnic. Si no estuviera lloviendo, podramos ir de picnic. Se usa could para especular sobre una posibilidad que no llega hacer realizado porque una condicin no llega hacer cumplido. If we had left sooner, we could have taken the train. Si hubiramos salido ms pronto, podramos haber tomado el tren. I could have passed the exam, if I had studied more. Podra haber pasado el examen si hubiera estudiado ms.

I'm glad we took umbrellas. We could have gotten soaked. Estoy feliz que hayamos llevado paraguas. Podramos habernos empapado. Shall y Will Los modales will / shall + verbo principal forma el tiempo futuro y indican una intencin o una accin que pasar en el futuro. No hay diferencia entre estos dos modales al usarlos en afirmaciones. Sin embargo, shall se usa muy raramente en ingls americano. I will / shall close the door for you. Cerrar la puerta para ti. Tom will / shall meet us at the train station. Tom nos encuentrar en la estacin de tren. They will / shall leave tomorrow at 8:00. Irn maana a las ocho. En preguntas informativas, se usan shall y will para saber de opciones o de datos. Who will / shall drive the car? Quin conducir el coche? When will / shall I see you again? Cundo ver a ti otra vez? How will / shall you get here? Cmo llegars aqu? What time will / shall we meet? A qu hora vamos a encontrarnos? En preguntas de s o no, shall y will no son sinnimos. Se usa will para solicitar un favor. Will / Shall you turn off the TV? Apagars la televisin? = Apaga la televisin. Will / Shall you stop whining? Parars de lloriquear? = Para con las quejicas. Will / Shall you go with me? Irs conmigo? = Ven conmigo. Se usa will para solicitar informacin sobre una cosa o una persona. Will / Shall Tom ever pay you back? Tom nunca te devuelver lo que te debe? Will / Shall Mars be visited by humans within twenty years? Marte ser visitado por humanos dentro de veinte aos?

Will / Shall you be finished soon? Vas a terminar pronto? Shall pregunta sobre preferencias o recomendaciones. En estos casos, shall y should son sinnomos. En ingls americano el uso de shall es muy raro, y se encuentra slamente en la primera persona. Should / Shall I close the door? Cierro la puerta? Should / Shall he close the door? Debe cerrar la puerta? Sera bien si l cierra la puerta? Should / Shall they come back later? Regresarn ms tarde? Deben regresar ms tarde? Should / Shall Tom bring food to the party? Lleva algo Tom para comer a la fiesta? Should / Shall we stay here? Quedamos aqu? May y Might Los modales may y might son sinnomos y indican una accin que puede pasar en el futuro. I may / might go to the park, or I may / might stay home. Puede que vaya al parque, o quiz me queda en casa. This may / might be a bad idea. Tal vez es una mala idea. It may / might rain tonight. Quizs llueva esta noche. Es posible sustituir may con can al dar instrucciones o permiso. You may / can now board the airplane. Ahora, pueden embarcarse en el avin. You may / can begin the exam in ten minutes. Pueden empezar el examen en diez minutos. Es posible sustituir may con can en las preguntas de s o no. La palabra may es mas corts. May / Can I see your driver's license? Puedo ver su permiso de conducir? May / Can we have some more water, please? Podemos tener ms agua por favor?

Es posible utilizar might en lugar de may o can. Sin embargo, en el ingls americano el uso de might en este contexto es muy raro. May / Can / Might I be of some assistance? Puedo asistirle? May / Can / Might we offer you a suggestion? Podemos ofrecerle una sugerencia?

Must El modal must indica obligacin. You must see this movie. Tienen que ver esta pelcula. Tom must see a doctor immediately. Tom debe ver un mdico inmediatamente. Must puede indicar probabilidades o suposiciones. You must be angry. Estar enojado. My watch must be broken. Mi reloj debe estar quebrado. Supongo que mi reloj no sirve. Quizs mi reloj est roto. He must have done that before moving to Spain. Debera haberlo hecho antes de mudarse a Espaa. Tal vez lo hiso antes de mover a Espaa. A la mejor lo hiso antes de mudarse a Espaa. En las preguntas informativas, la palabra must indica una obligacin y puede ser sinnomo con should. En el ingls americano should es mucho ms corriente en este contexto. When should / must we be there? Cundo debemos estar all? Who should / must I talk to? Con quin debo hablar? Se puede usar must para preguntas retricas. Must you make so much noise? Debes hacer tanto ruido? = Please be quiet. Por favor, silencio.

Must he ask so many questions? = I hope he stops asking questions. Debe hacer tantas preguntas? Espero que termina con sus preguntas.

Should y Ought (to) Los modales should y ought indican una obligacin por la cual la resulta no es cierta. Should y ought son sinnomos. You should / ought to call your mother. Debes llamar a tu mam. I should / ought to go home now. Ya debo irme a casa. En preguntas, se usa should para saber si existe una obligacin. En el ingls americano nunca se usa ought en preguntas. Should he call her? Debe llamarle a ella? Should we pay now? Pagamos ahora? When should we leave? Cundo debemos salir? What should I wear? En qu debo vestirme?

Would El modal would seguido de la palabra like es una manera corts de indicar una preferencia. I would like white wine with my fish. Me gustara el vino blanco con mi pescado. We would like a room with a view. Nos gustara un cuarto con una vista. En preguntas, would like es una forma de corts para solicitar una decisin. Would you like soup or salad with your meal? Prefiere la sopa o una ensalada con su comida? Where would you like to eat dinner? Dnde le gustara cenar? When would Tom like this delivered? Cundo quiere Tom que eso est entregado? Would puede hacer que una solicitud sea ms corts. Come here! Would you come here?

Ven aqu! Stop making that noise!

Favor de venir aqu. Would you stop making that noise?

Deja de hacer este ruido! Favor de dejar de hacer este ruido. Would se utiliza para explicar una accin que resulta de una condicin verdadera o supuesta. I would go with you if I didn't have to work. Ira contigo si no tuviera que trabajar. If I had not had to work, I would have gone with you. Si no hubiera tenido que trabajar, hubiera ido contigo. She would be surprised if you came to the party. Estara sorprendida si viniera a la fiesta. Tom would drive, but he doesn't have a license. Tom manejara pero no tiene permiso de conducir. Would introduzca unas acciones habituales del pasado. When I was a student, I would go swimming every day. Cuando era estudiante, iba a nadar todos los das. When Tom lived in France, he would write me long letters. Cuando Tom viva en Francia, me escriba cartas detalladas.