BUSINESS ENGLISH
GRAMMAR
THE PASSIVE
Active voice: Passive voice
The subject is preforming the action. The subject is receiving the action.
THE LION ATTACKED THE ZEBRA THE ZEBRA WAS ATTACKED BY THE
LION
The preposition by indices
The performer of the action
The lion The zebra The zebra is now The lion is still
(subject) is (subject) is the subject, but performing the
performing the receiving the still receiving the action, but it is now
action of action of action the object
attacking attacking
The passive: in the passive construction the subject of the sentence UNDERGOES the action of
the verb
Rebecca sent the financial results last night. The financial results were sent by Rebecca
= ACTIVE last night.
= PASSIVE
Subject of the active sentence agent of the passive sentence
So:
The subject (onderwerp) of the active sentence becomes the agent (handelend
voorwerp/persoon) of the passive sentence.
Active: Rebecca sent the financial results last night.
Note: The agent is always
preceded by the preposition
‘by’
Passive: The financial results were sent by Rebecca last night.
Rebecca sent the financial results last night. The financial results were sent by Rebecca
= ACTIVE last night.
= PASSIVE
Object of the active sentence the subject of the passive sentence
So:
1
Fien Wailly Business English
, The object (lijdend voorwerp) of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
sentence.
Active: Rebecca sent the financial results last night.
Je draait de volgorde om:
subject – verb – object
Passive: The financial results were sent by Rebecca last night.
Wordt: object – verb -
subject
And… what about the tenses?
In Dutch: ‘Worden’ of ‘Zijn’
In English: ‘To be’
Active: Rebecca sent the financial results last night.
Passive: The financial results were sent by Rebecca last night.
Exercise 1: put these sentences in the passive voice
1. The government will raise the wages for nurses.
The wages for nurses will be raised by the government.
2. Shell sold the branch in 2012.
The branch was sold by Shell in 2012.
3. They have sent her the bill.
The bill has been sent to her by them.
4. Peter always writes down the notes of the meeting.
The notes of the meeting are always written down by peter.
5. They are selling their house.
Their house is being sold by them.
Exercise 2: fill in correctly, using the passive voice:
2
Fien Wailly Business English
GRAMMAR
THE PASSIVE
Active voice: Passive voice
The subject is preforming the action. The subject is receiving the action.
THE LION ATTACKED THE ZEBRA THE ZEBRA WAS ATTACKED BY THE
LION
The preposition by indices
The performer of the action
The lion The zebra The zebra is now The lion is still
(subject) is (subject) is the subject, but performing the
performing the receiving the still receiving the action, but it is now
action of action of action the object
attacking attacking
The passive: in the passive construction the subject of the sentence UNDERGOES the action of
the verb
Rebecca sent the financial results last night. The financial results were sent by Rebecca
= ACTIVE last night.
= PASSIVE
Subject of the active sentence agent of the passive sentence
So:
The subject (onderwerp) of the active sentence becomes the agent (handelend
voorwerp/persoon) of the passive sentence.
Active: Rebecca sent the financial results last night.
Note: The agent is always
preceded by the preposition
‘by’
Passive: The financial results were sent by Rebecca last night.
Rebecca sent the financial results last night. The financial results were sent by Rebecca
= ACTIVE last night.
= PASSIVE
Object of the active sentence the subject of the passive sentence
So:
1
Fien Wailly Business English
, The object (lijdend voorwerp) of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
sentence.
Active: Rebecca sent the financial results last night.
Je draait de volgorde om:
subject – verb – object
Passive: The financial results were sent by Rebecca last night.
Wordt: object – verb -
subject
And… what about the tenses?
In Dutch: ‘Worden’ of ‘Zijn’
In English: ‘To be’
Active: Rebecca sent the financial results last night.
Passive: The financial results were sent by Rebecca last night.
Exercise 1: put these sentences in the passive voice
1. The government will raise the wages for nurses.
The wages for nurses will be raised by the government.
2. Shell sold the branch in 2012.
The branch was sold by Shell in 2012.
3. They have sent her the bill.
The bill has been sent to her by them.
4. Peter always writes down the notes of the meeting.
The notes of the meeting are always written down by peter.
5. They are selling their house.
Their house is being sold by them.
Exercise 2: fill in correctly, using the passive voice:
2
Fien Wailly Business English
