As an application of the passive voice, we will learn how to make questions and negative sentences and how to change between the active and passive voices. Such transformations frequently appear on tests.
Basic Rule
Negative passive sentences: be verb + not + past participle. “This book is not read by many people.（This book is not read by many people）.”
Interrogative passive sentences: Be verb + subject + past participle? “Is this book read by many people? — Yes, it is. / No, it isn't.”
Steps for changing between active and passive: ① Make the object of the active voice the subject of the passive voice. ② Change the verb to “be + past participle” (keep the tense). ③ Place the subject of the active voice after “by + 〜” (it may be omitted).
Note: When a question word such as who or what is the subject, use “By whom 〜?” or “Who 〜 by?”: “By whom was this book written?”
Changing active → passive:
Tom uses this computer. → This computer is used by Tom.
My mother made this cake yesterday. → This cake was made by my mother yesterday.
Negatives and questions:
This song is not loved by everyone.（This song is not loved by everyone）
Was this letter written by your sister? — Yes, it was. / No, it wasn't.
Points to Note
① Intransitive verbs that cannot be used in the passive voice: happen, occur, arrive, come, go, sleep, die, look (in its intransitive use). These verbs do not take an object, so they cannot be made passive.
② Verbs that take two objects (give, send, show, tell, teach, etc.) can have either the indirect object or the direct object as the subject:
Active He gave me a present.
→ Passive I was given a present (by him). ← the indirect object is the subject
→ Passive A present was given to me (by him). ← the direct object is the subject; to is required before the indirect object
③ Passive sentences with SVOC constructions such as make and call: He calls me Tom. → I am called Tom (by him). (I am called Tom). The noun complement remains.
④ Changing passive sentences with question words: “What does she make? → What is made by her?” “Who made the cake? → By whom was the cake made? / The cake was made by whom?”
- Negative: be + not + past participle
- Question: Be verb + subject + past participle?
- Active → passive: make the object the subject, change the verb to be + past participle, and use by 〜 for the subject
- SVOO passives can be made with either object
- SVOC passives retain the complement
Practice
- Rewrite the following sentence in the passive voice: People speak English in many countries.
- Rewrite the following sentence in the passive voice: My mother gave me this watch. (Make the indirect object the subject.)
- Write “Who was this picture painted by?” in English (use paint).