Instituto Tecnológico Superior
de San Martín Texmelucan
Coordinación de Lenguas Extranjeras
Passive Voice: Simple Present
The passive voice is used to give more emphasis to an action rather than to the person or thing that
performs the action, when this person or thing is not so important, or when it is implicitly understood or is
not known.
Passive sentences usually sound more formal than active ones.
The passive voice is very common in English and is commonly used in news reports, official documents,
signs, descriptions of scientific or technical processes, etc.
Passive Voice
Examples:
Affirmative statement
This score is compared against the initial cost.
Subject + to be + past participle
Negative statement
This material is not affected by changes in temperature.
Subject + to be + not + past participle
Yes/No questions
Are comparative tests always designed the same way?
TO Be + subject + past participle
Inf. Questions
(Question Words)
How are LEADs used in domestic appliances?
Q.W. + BE + subject + past participle
Exercise 1: Rewrite each sentence using the passive voice.
1. They interview the candidates on three separate occasions.
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2. The phosphors in the diode absorb the radiation.
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3. Do they use LEDs in the alphanumeric displays on things like clocks?
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4. At what stage do they carry out a comparative test?
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5. We assemble all the components right here in this factory.
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Exercise 2: Present Continuous Passive.
Example: Active voice: The secretaries are writing all the official documents.
Passive voice: All the official documents are being written by the secretaries.
1. They are doing some exercises. ________________________________________________________________
2. We are not cleaning our house. ________________________________________________________________
3. Is Rita cooking the food? ________________________________________________________________
4. Where is Steve doing the barbecue? ___________________________________________________________
5. Tom is painting his fence. ___________________________________________________________________
