Passive Voice
BasicPassive Voice.
- Passive structure: be + V-en (+ by + doer)
- Only the be form changes: is / was / has been / will be / can be — V-en stays
- From the passage: The Tsing Ma Bridge was built in 1997.
文體小知識：Focus on the action done to the subject, not who did it.
§Text Passage
1Last week our class visited the Hong Kong Museum of History for a guided tour. We were told that many priceless objects are kept safely in glass cases. Our guide explained that in the old days, many ferries were built by local shipyards in Kowloon. She also said that the Tsing Ma Bridge was built in 1997 to connect the airport with the city.
2In one room, we saw models of machines that were invented in the last hundred years. A short video showed how rice was produced and transported across the region. In the gift shop, most of the souvenirs are produced by local designers, so every purchase supports a small business. Suddenly, a warning was reported on the radio: a famous painting had been stolen from a gallery in Central.
3The thief was caught by the police within two hours, and the painting was returned to the museum that evening. Visitors are welcome to join the free tours every Saturday, and bookings can be made online. Our teacher joked that crimes in Hong Kong are usually solved before we finish our homework. On the way home, we agreed that history is best learned when stories are told well. Back at school, a photo of our class was taken in front of the museum, and it has been put up on the notice board.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Last week our class visited the Hong Kong Museum of History for a guided tour.
上星期我們班去了香港歷史博物館參觀，由導賞員帶隊。
We were told that many priceless objects are kept safely in glass cases.
我們獲告知，很多無價的文物都被妥善保存在玻璃展櫃裡面。
Our guide explained that in the old days, many ferries were built by local shipyards in Kowloon.
導賞員解釋，從前很多渡輪都是由九龍的本地船廠建造。
She also said that the Tsing Ma Bridge was built in 1997 to connect the airport with the city.
她還說，青馬大橋在一九九七年建成，連接機場同市區。
In one room, we saw models of machines that were invented in the last hundred years.
在其中一個展廳，我們看到過去一百年發明的機器模型。
A short video showed how rice was produced and transported across the region.
一段短片展示了稻米是怎樣生產同運送到各地。
In the gift shop, most of the souvenirs are produced by local designers, so every purchase supports a small business.
在禮品店，大部分紀念品都由本地設計師製作，所以每次購物都支持緊小生意。
Suddenly, a warning was reported on the radio: a famous painting had been stolen from a gallery in Central.
突然，收音機報道了一則警告：一幅名畫在中環一間畫廊被偷走。
The thief was caught by the police within two hours, and the painting was returned to the museum that evening.
賊人兩個小時之內就被警方捉到，那幅畫當晚就送回博物館。
Visitors are welcome to join the free tours every Saturday, and bookings can be made online.
歡迎遊客逢星期六參加免費導賞團，報名可以在網上進行。
Our teacher joked that crimes in Hong Kong are usually solved before we finish our homework.
老師開玩笑說，香港的罪案通常在我們做完功課之前就破了。
On the way home, we agreed that history is best learned when stories are told well.
回家途中，大家都同意，當故事講得好，歷史就是最好學的。
Back at school, a photo of our class was taken in front of the museum, and it has been put up on the notice board.
回到學校，我們班在博物館前面拍了張合照，現在還貼在告示板上。
1Summary 重點摘要
Passive Voice.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Subject receives the action.
Agent (optional).
Structure over water.
Construct.
Create.
Make.
Give account.
Take unlawfully.
3Step by step Steps
- ActiveActive structure: subject (the doer) + verb + object (the receiver). Example: Local designers produce most of the souvenirs — the designers act, the souvenirs receive.
- PassivePassive structure: the receiver becomes the new subject + be + V-en (+ by + doer). Example: Most of the souvenirs are produced by local designers — the object is promoted, the old subject drops into the by phrase.
- TenseOnly the be form changes; the V-en never does. Example: is built (present) · was built (past: The Tsing Ma Bridge was built in 1997) · has been put up (present perfect) · can be made (with a modal).
- UseUse the passive for two reasons: to focus on the receiver (The thief was caught within two hours — the thief matters, not the police) or when the doer is unknown or unimportant (Bookings can be made online).
- Passage practiceThe museum passage is full of passives: we were told · many ferries were built by local shipyards · a warning was reported · the thief was caught by the police · bookings can be made online. Turn each one back into the active.
- Choosing byThe by phrase is optional. Example: English is spoken in Hong Kong — who speaks it does not matter. But keep the agent when it is new information, as in was built by local shipyards.
- Common errorsFour frequent mistakes: The book wrote by Lu Xun (should be was written), English speaks in Hong Kong (is spoken), The car repaired yesterday (was repaired), English learn by students (is learnt). No be, no passive.
5Worked example Example
From the museum passage, change the active sentence into the passive: Local designers produce most of the souvenirs.
- Step 1: Make the object the new subject — most of the souvenirs.
- Step 2: Match the tense with be (present → are) + past participle — are produced.
- Step 3: Add by + the doer — by local designers.
- Step 4: Check — the V-en never changes; only the be form changes.
- Step 5: Read it aloud to test the flow.
- Answer: Active: Local designers produce most of the souvenirs. → Passive: Most of the souvenirs are produced by local designers. More from the passage: The Tsing Ma Bridge was built in 1997 (past passive); The thief was caught by the police within two hours (past passive with by); Bookings can be made online (passive with a modal). Use the passive to focus on the receiver, or when the doer does not matter.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Passive structure?
Q2Passive?
Q3When to use?
Q4Correct?
Q5Present continuous passive?
Q6Modal passive?
8Recap Recap
- Passive structure: be + V-en (+ by + doer)
- Only the be form changes: is / was / has been / will be / can be — V-en stays
- From the passage: The Tsing Ma Bridge was built in 1997.
- Drop the by phrase when the agent does not matter
- Use it to focus on the receiver — The thief was caught within two hours.