Primary Longman Elect

6A Chapter 7The passive voice

The passive voice

We use the passive voice when we want to focus on the action, not the person who does it. Sometimes the person who does the action is unknown.

People perform the lion dance at Chinese New Year.

The lion dance is performed

= ‘be’ + past participle

at Chinese New Year.

The passive voice

People watch firework displays at Chinese New Year.

Firework displays are watched at Chinese New Year.

We use the passive voice when we want to focus on the action, not the person who does it. Sometimes the person who does the action is unknown.

Present Past Participle

decorate decorated

perform performed

tie tied

watch watched

The passive voice — Regular verbs

clean cleaned

visit visited

place placedplay played

display displayed

Present Past Participle

buy boughteat eatengive givenlight lit / lightedmake madesell soldsweep swepttake takenthrow thrown

The passive voice — Irregular verbs

wear worn

People watch firework displays at Chinese New Year.

Key structure

Firework displays are watched at Chinese New Year.

People perform the lion dance at Chinese New Year.

The lion dance is performed at Chinese New Year.

Active

Active

Passive

Passive

passive = be + past participle

PracticeChange the holiday tradition into the passive

voice.

People decorate Christmas trees at Christmas.

Christmas trees are decorated at Christmas.

Practice

People sweep graves at Ching Ming Festival.

Graves are swept at Ching Ming Festival.

Change the holiday tradition into the passive

voice.

Practice

People give red packets to children at Chinese New Year.

Red packets are given to children at Chinese New Year.

Change the holiday tradition into the passive

voice.

Practice

People eat moon cakes at Mid-Autumn Festival.

Moon cakes are eaten at Mid-Autumn Festival.

Change the holiday tradition into the passive

voice.

Practice

People buy good luck flowers at Chinese New Year.

Good luck flowers are bought at Chinese New Year.

Change the holiday tradition into the passive

voice.

Practice

People watch dragon boat races at Dragon Boat Festival.

Dragon boat races are watched at Dragon Boat Festival.

Change the holiday tradition into the passive

voice.

Practice

People eat chocolate eggs at Easter.

Chocolate eggs are eaten at Easter.

Change the holiday tradition into the passive

voice.

The End