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18 . Using the Passive Voice (To Be and the Past Participle)…
18 . Using the Passive Voice (To Be and the Past Participle)
The passive voice is composed of a form of to be (am, is, are, was, were, has been, have been, or had been) + the past participle. With passive voice, a subject is acted on instead of performing the action. Read the following sentences that use the passive voice.
Passive Voice
Passive Voice with a Singular Subject
Example: This poem was written by E. E. Cummings.
Explanation: The subject, poem, is passive; it was acted upon. The poem didn’t write itself; it was written by E. E. Cummings.
Passive Voice with a Plural Subject
Example: The children are bitten by mosquitoes.
Explanation: The subject, the children, is passive. The children are acted upon. The children do not bite themselves; they are bitten by mosquitoes.
Note: Use the passive voice when you want to emphasize the receiver of the action rather than the doer. Otherwise, use the active voice.
The following chart provides a list of common irregular verbs. If you are unsure of the past participle of a verb when forming the passive voice, look up the simple form first.
Reference ChartIrregular Verbs: Present, Past, and Past Participle
Simple Form Past Tense Past Participle Simple Form Past Tense Past Participle
be was, were been lead led led
become became become leave left left
begin began begun let let let
blow blew blown lie lay lain
break broke broken lose lost lost
bring brought brought make made made
build built built mean meant meant
buy bought bought meet met met
catch caught caught pay paid paid
choose chose chosen quit quit quit
come came come read read read
cut cut cut ride rode ridden
deal dealt dealt rise rose risen
dig dug dug run ran run
dive dove dived say said said
do did done see saw seen
draw drew drawn seek sought sought
drink drank drunk sell sold sold
drive drove driven send sent sent
eat ate eaten shake shook shaken
fall fell fallen shine shone shone
feed fed fed sing sang sung
feel felt felt sit sat sat
fight fought fought sleep slept slept
find found found speak spoke spoken
fly flew flown spend spent spent
forbid forbade forbidden split split split
forget forgot forgotten spring sprang sprung
forgive forgave forgiven stand stood stood
freeze froze frozen steal stole stolen
get got gotten stink stank stunk
give gave given swim swam swum
go went gone take took taken
grow grew grown teach taught taught
have had had tear tore torn
hear heard heard tell told told
hide hid hidden think thought thought
hold held held throw threw thrown
hurt hurt hurt wake woke woken
keep kept kept wear wore worn
know knew known win won won
lay laid laid write wrote written
Getting Started: Select the blank lines and choose the correct past participle forms of the verbs in parentheses to form the passive voice in the following sentences.
1- The children are (teach) music by Miss Stevens.
2- The empanadas have been (cook) for too long.
3- Playing cards are (deal) by professional dealers in Las Vegas.
4- Luis’s surfboard was (ship) to Malibu yesterday.
Applying Concepts: In each of the following sentences, the main verb (which appears in bold) is in the passive voice. Select the sentence that uses the same verb and verb tense in the active voice.
1- Recently, research by sociologists has been concentrated on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinx people in the United States.
a- Recently, Latinx people in the United States have been concentrated on by sociologists for the relationship between diet and acculturation.
b- Recently, studies between diet and acculturation among Latinx people in the United States have been concentrated on by sociologists.
c- Recently, sociologists have concentrated their research on the relationship between diet and acculturation among Latinx people in the United States.
2- Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the extent of Latinx people’s acculturation into American culture is illustrated by their food choices.
a- Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the acculturation of Latinx people into American culture has been illustrated in their food choices.
b- Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the food choices are illustrated to be part of the acculturation of Latinx people into American culture.
c- Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; Latinx people’s food choices illustrate the extent of their acculturation into American culture.
3- Fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods are consumed by Latinx people after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.
a- Diabetes and hypertension are caused in Latinx people because their diet is changed to include fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods.
b- Latinx people consume fewer fruits and vegetables and more fried foods after they move to the United States, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.
c- After moving to the United States, fewer fruits and vegetables are eaten by Latinx people, causing an increased risk for diabetes and hypertension.
4- In conclusion, as more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, are taken up by Latinx people, their rate of obesity increases. This has contributed to almost 73% of Latinx people living in the United States being overweight or obese.
a- In conclusion, as more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, were taken up by Latinx people, their rate of obesity increased. This has contributed to almost 73% of Latinx people living in the United States being overweight or obese.
b- In conclusion, as more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, have been taken up by Latinx people, their rate of obesity has increased. This has contributed to almost 73% of Latinx people living in the United States being overweight or obese.
c- In conclusion, as Latinx people take up more of the worst American eating habits, such as consuming fast foods and snacking excessively, their rate of obesity increases. This has contributed to almost 73% of Latinx people living in the United States being overweight or obese.
