Mastering the Passive Voice: Tenses, Structure, and Agent Omission

Unit 3: Understanding the Passive Voice

Passive Voice Formation Across English Tenses

The passive voice is formed using the verb to be + the past participle of the main verb.

1. Present Simple Tense

• Active: Farmers grow food.
• Passive: Food is grown by farmers.

2. Present Continuous Tense

• Active: They are making a film.
• Passive: A film is being made.

3. Present Perfect Tense

• Active: Scientists have discovered a new planet.
• Passive: A new planet has been discovered by scientists.

4. Past Simple Tense

• Active: The police arrested him.
• Passive: He was arrested by the police.

5. Past Continuous Tense

• Active: They were planning the next party.
• Passive: The next party was being planned.

6. Past Perfect Tense

• Active: Someone had stolen my car.
• Passive: My car had been stolen.

7. Future with Will

• Active: They will finish the report next week.
• Passive: The report will be finished next week.

8. Modal Verbs

• Active: You can wash these trainers.
• Passive: These trainers can be washed.

Defining Active and Passive Structures

• Active Voice: Subject (Agent) + Verb + Object.

  Example: Scientists discover new drugs.

• Passive Voice: Subject + Verb + by + Agent.

  Example: New drugs are discovered by scientists.

Omission of the Agent in Passive Sentences

We omit the agent (the person or thing performing the action) in a passive sentence if it is unnecessary, unknown, or obvious. Compare the following examples:

• Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming. (The agent is important.)
• My wallet has been stolen. (The agent is unknown.)
• The school was built in 1982. (The agent is not important or general.)
• He was arrested last night. (The agent—the police—is obvious.)

Catalan Reference Translation

S'omet l'agent en oració passiva si no és necessari. Comparar:

• La penicil·lina va ser descoberta per Alexander Fleming (l'agent és important).
• M'han robat la cartera (l'agent no se sap).
• L'escola va ser construïda el 1982 (l'agent no és important).
• Va ser detingut ahir a la nit. (L'agent és obvi).

Essential Vocabulary: Consumerism and Marketing

Splash out

To spend a lot of money (Gastar-se molts diners).

Designer labels

Clothing or products made by famous designers (Etiquetes de dissenyadors).

Brands

Types of products manufactured by a particular company (Marques).

Junk

Things that are considered useless or worthless (Escombraries).

Window-shopping

Looking at goods displayed in shop windows without intending to buy them (Mirar aparadors).

Browsing

Looking through a collection of things casually (Mirar, donar una ullada).

Unethical

Morally wrong (No ètic).

Exploit

To use a person or situation unfairly and selfishly (Explotació).

Advertisements

Public notices promoting a product, service, or event (Anuncis).

Material possessions

Physical items owned by someone (Béns materials).

Bargains

Products bought cheaply; a very good price (Gangues, molt bé de preu).

Eco-friendly

Not harmful to the environment (Respectar el medi ambient).

Online auction sites

Websites where goods are sold to the highest bidder (Llocs de subhastes en línia).

Making a purchase

The act of buying something (Fer una compra).

Stand out

To be easily noticeable (Destacar).

Get across

To communicate successfully (Aconseguir a través de).

Do away with

To abolish or discard (Acabar amb).

Catch on

To become popular or fashionable (Posar-se de moda).

Billboards

Large outdoor advertising structures (Tanques publicitàries).

Grab

To capture attention (Copsar).

Bus shelter

A structure providing protection from the weather for people waiting for a bus (Marquesina).