PASSIVE VOICE

PASSIVE VOICE

Objectives

• Identifying passive voice found in the texts
• Converting active sentences into passive
• Writing passive sentences

Learn about it!

Passive voice is used in the sentence when the focus is on the action, not the subject. The action is the essence of the sentence. In this lesson, you will practice to recognize sentences in the reading texts. During the reading, you have to identify passive voice. It contains actions that are stated.

Form of passive sentence

S + BE + PAST PARTICIPLE (V3)

There are some important concepts we have to be aware of, when writing passive sentences. Here are the notes:

• The object of an active sentence is the subject of the corresponding passive sentence. In contrast, the subject of an active sentence becomes the object of a passive sentence. Learn the following illustration:

• The tense of passive sentences are noticed by the use of ‘be’ form.

Do you understand?

Look at in the first paragraph, which sentence is using passive voice?

a.        I woke up late

2. I ran into the bathroom
3. I found a bottle of mineral water
4. It was used to wash my face
5. I took my uniform

Hint: What happened to the mineral water?
Explanation: Passive voice uses be form which is followed by past participle. Answer D is the only sentence that has be form (was) and past participle (used #V3). Moreover, the word it in answer D refers to a bottle of mineral water.

What is the first passive sentence that you could find in the second paragraph?

a.        When I arrived at the school

2. The gate was closed
3. The flag ceremony was on progress
4. I forgot it was Monday
5. I entered the school through the back door

Hint: Which sentence has both ‘be’ form and past participle?
Explanation: Answers B, C, and D has be form (was) but only answer D which is followed by past participle (closed #V3)

What is the next passive sentence you could find in the second paragraph?

a.        One of my teachers saw me

2. I was caught by Mr. Herman in the parking lot
3. He gave me a punishment
4. I had to sing our national anthem “Indonesia Raya”
5. I promised to myself

Hint: What is the V3 of catch?
Explanation: Answer B is the only one which has be form. The word catch (V1) is an irregular verb; its past participle (V3) is caught.

Keypoints

• Remember that the focus of active and passive sentences differs.
• Active sentences focuses on the do-er, or the person taking the actions.
• Passive sentences focuses on the objects experienced by the do-er.