9/20/2010

The Passive Voice

We use the passive voice when
1) we are more interested in who/what RECIEVES the action instead of who  does the action (the agent),
a)  "The film was directed by Almodovar." (passive)
b)  "Almodovar directed the film.” (active)

2)  if we don't care who the agent is. For example:
"The bank was robbed by thieves." 
Or more simply:
“The bank was robbed.” (the thieves isn't necessary because it's obvious)

To form the passive voice, we use the verb be plus the past participle. The verb be reflectsd the tense. In the examples below, we use the past participle of the feed (dar de comer):

"The dog IS fed." (present simple)
"The dog IS BEING fed." (present continuous)
"The dog WAS fed." (past simple)
"The dog WAS BEING fed." (past continuous)
"The dog HAS BEEN fed." (present perfect)
"The dog WILL BE fed." (future simple)
"The dog MUST BE fed." (modal plus infinitive)

To ask questions in the passive is very simple. Just like other questions, the auxiliary verb goes before the subject. In this case, verb be is the auxiliary verb.

WAS the dog fed?”
“When WAS the dog fed?”



So are you prepared to use the passive?

1 comment:

Arantxa said...

Thank your for this explanation. It is easier now.