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GRAMMAR REFERENCE

The Passive Voice
Review of simple forms.

1. When the Passive is used:
We use the passive Voice when we don't know, don't care, or want to hide who
did something. It is used to add formality. Any Passive Voice construction is
more formal than its Active Voice equivalent.

2. How the Passive Voice is formed:

The object in the Active Voice is the subject in the Passive, at the front of the
verb
phrase.
Example: I want the text to be translated.
Passive meaning is shown by to be, in any tense, infinitive, or gerund.
Example: Having been born in the U.S., he is entitled to US citizenship.
The main verb is in the Past Participle form.
Example: I would prefer to have been informed in advance. The
agent is introduced by «by» when it is important information.
Example: Radio was invented by Marconi.

3. What constructions replace the Passive:

I am going to have my car serviced next week.
Used when an action is done to something of ours, usually a service (not always,
however) we can also say: He had his car serviced. This product needs improving.
This is more colloquial than the Passive need to be improved.

Advanced variations:

1. For each sentence, there are two Passive Voice variations, using the words given.

Write the alternative sentences.
a) People think he is living in New York. It…………..He………..

b) Many think that Steven Spielberg is an underrated director. It ………. Steven
Spielberg
c) Nowadays many economists agree that the Leontief paradox was an
important factor in the economy. Nowadays it Nowadays, the Leontief paradox

....
d) In his life time, people thought that Galileo was insane. In his life time, it.... In

his life time, he …….
e) People suspected that he sold his soul to the devil. It ………………He ... .

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