Grammar
Lets's look at ...Passives.
Read these examples:
In 2009 a documentary film was even made about her.
When she was shot in the head in October 2012 by a Taliban gunman.
When the sentence has an active verb, the person or the thing is the subject responsible for the action.
The Taliban gunman shot her in the head in October 2012.
If the sentence has a passive verb, the subject of the verb becomes the object.
She was shot in the head in October 2012 by a Taliban gunman.
How do you know if you should use the passive or the active? It depends on what you want to focus on.
In the first sentence the subject is the Taliban gunman – and so that is the most important piece of information.
In the second sentence, the fact that she was shot is more important.
You can use the passive for most tenses with the verb to be.
Present continuous |
We’re giving a bravery award to the young girl. |
A bravery award is being given to the young girl. |
Present perfect |
We’ve given a bravery award to the young girl. |
A bravery award has been given to the young girl. |
Past continuous |
The judges were giving many awards. |
Many awards were being given. |
Past perfect |
The judges had given an award to the fire officer two years ago. |
Two years ago the fire officer had been given an award. |
Going to |
The judges are going to give the boy an award. |
The boy is going to be given an award. |
Will |
The judges will give four awards this year. |
Four awards will be given this year. |
Can/must/may/might |
The judges can/may/might/must give awards to different age groups. |
Different age groups can/may/must/might be given awards. |
You can check out some theory about Passives in the Grammar Desk.
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Passive voice |