ECI – ENGLISH 4

Welcome!

Teacher: Sergio Enciso

sergio.enciso@escuelaing.edu.co
 Active and passive voice
Active voice:
subject + verb + object
I love you

In the Passive voice we make the object of the

verb the subject of the sentence:
Subject+ verb to be + past participle +by +
the agent (when we know it)
You are loved by me.
 Active and passive voice
Simple present Simple past Present perfect

I love you I loved you I’ve loved you

You’re loved by me You were loved by You’ve been loved

me by me

Police arrests The police arrested The police has

thieves the thieves arrested the thieves

Thieves are The thieves were The thieves have

arrested arrested been arrested
 I bring the
presents every
year

I’ve just
made a mess
 I baked this
cookies for
you!

Woof!!!!
I didn’t eat
the shoe
I’m Leonardo, I
painted Mona
lisa
1503
I’m Luigi, I
didn’t play the
violin
I’ve painted
many portraits
of beautiful
I’m Flavio and I women
envy Leonardo,
he’s talented

I’m Lisa,
I’m Amedeo Leonardo
and I secretly painted my
loved Lisa portrait
 When should we use the Passive?
• When we want to change the focus of the sentence:
– The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. (We are more
interested in the painting than the artist in this sentence)
• When who or what causes the action is unknown or
unimportant or obvious or 'people in general':
– He was arrested (obvious agent, the police).
– My bike has been stolen (unknown agent).
– The road is being repaired (unimportant agent).
– The form can be obtained from the post office (people in
general).
• In factual or scientific writing:
– The chemical is placed in a test tube and the data entered into
the computer.
• In formal writing instead of using someone/ people/ they
(these can be used in speaking or informal writing):
– The brochure will be finished next month.