Present Passive Voice

Grammar essential #116

Active/ Passive Voice definition

A verb is said to be active voice when it
expresses an action performed by its
subject.
A verb is said to be passive voice when
the action it expresses is performed
upon its subject.

Active / Passive examples

active voice
The coach instructed the players.
The subject performs the action.
Passive voice
The players were instructed by the coach.
The subject receives the action.

Passive or active?
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The album was received unfavorably by the fans.

The student body elects its council reps.
Angelos courageous act averted a tragedy.
A bit part was played by the well-known actor.
Someone at the airport recognized the popular actor.
A volunteer usually leads the discussions.
That counting game is played by more than one person.
A prophets warnings are usually ignored at first.
WC Handy composed many famous jazz pieces.
Handys contributions to music are appreciated by many
listeners.

Passive or active?
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The album was received unfavorably by the fans. p

The student body elects its council reps. a
Angelos courageous act averted a tragedy. a
A bit part was played by the well-known actor. p
Someone at the airport recognized the popular actor.a
A volunteer usually leads the discussions. a
That counting game is played by more than one
person.p
A prophets warnings are usually ignored at first.p
WC Handy composed many famous jazz pieces.a
Handys contributions to music are appreciated by many
listeners. p

Passive voice in Spanish

Passive voice is always made with the
same pattern.
Ser + past participle
If you look at the examples, ser is the first
part of the passive voice structure
followed by a past participle in English.

Look at the passive examples.

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

The album was received unfavorably by the fans.

A bit part was played by the well-known actor.
That counting game is played by more than one person.
A prophets warnings are usually ignored at first.
Handys contributions to music are appreciated by many
listeners.

Do you see the ser and past participles

going to happen?

REMEMBER
Remember regular past participles are
made by adding ado or ido to the
stem.
There are the irregulars.
Abierto / visto / puesto / dicho / cubierto /
escrito / vuelto / hecho / muerto / roto

Passive voice
Passive voice is made using ser (present
tense) + past participle.
The book is written
El libro es escrito
The map is read
El mapa es ledo.

Passive voice

Unlike the perfect tenses, the past

participle will agree with the subject of
the sentence.

La mesa es puesta
The table is set

Passive voice -- try

1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

The paper is finished

The books are studied
The tables are broken
The dresses are bought
The house is painted

Answers
El papel es terminado
Los libros son estudiados
Las mesas son rotas
Los vestidos son comprados
La casa es pintada

Passive voice with agent

A reason for using por was for agent.
In passive voice, the actor doing the
action is the agent.
The players were instructed by the coach.
Coach is the agent.

Passive voice - examples

The movies are shown by the theater.
The books are read by the teacher.
The office is built by the people.
The class is taught by the student.
The computer is given by the school.
The students are watched by the principal.