THE PASSIVE VOICE BE PAST PARTICIPLE of the

THE PASSIVE VOICE BE + PAST PARTICIPLE of the main verb Conjugates in all tenses

ACTIVE-PASSIVE VOICE • ACTIVE: – a cat ate a fish • Un gato comió un pescado • PASSIVE: – a fish was eaten by a cat • Un pescado fue comido por un gato. • Possible translations of the passive voice: – ser/estar + participio (ella está siendo observada) • She is being watched – ‘se’ impersonal (se dicen muchas cosas sobre él) • Many things are said about him

LET’S CONJUGATE & translate

• Who hid the book? – Unknown (somebody hid it and we don’t know who it is or, perhaps, we don’t want to say who it is) – Not important or obvious (it’s a hide-and-seek game) • Where is the FOCUS? On the real subject or on the object? – The focus is on the object (it was the book that was hidden and not another object)

by my ten-year old sister • Who hid the book? – My ten-year old sister (the subject is known) • Where is the FOCUS? On the subject or on the object? – The focus is on the subject (it was my sister that hid the book and not another person; however, the active voice in this context would be more natural). • What is the difference between the active and the passive version? – The passive generally makes the writing more FORMAL. • My ten-year old sister hid the book (less formal than the passive)

If you had stolen the cookie and didn’t want others find out, what voice would you use? This one! We want to hide the subject and not reveal who did it.

Which announcement is more appropriate if you are at a hotel? Less direct (more polite)

HOMEWORK: TRANSFORM TEXT INTO THE PASSIVE VOICE The robbery • Last night some thieves broke into the school. They broke a window. They took some supplies. They stole a television and two computers. Finally, they photocopied all the final exam papers. • Which type of voice do you think would be the most appropriate if it was a piece of news in the school magazine and why?

• Last night some people robbed the school. – Last night the school was robbed. • They took some supplies. – Some supplies were taken. • They broke a window. – A window was broken. • They stole a television and two computers. – A television and two computers were stolen. • Finally, they photocopied all the final exam papers. – Finally, all the final exam papers were photocopied.