lesson on the passive

 Lesson on the passive:

 

Here are some examples from several of the readings in our textbook:

In any case, the students themselves certainly don’t need to be tormented by their parents. 

It may be a good time to ask just how common such incidents are and whether “helicopter parenting” is as damaging as we’ve been led to believe. 

A group of senior citizens and youngsters are packing sack lunches that will be deliveredto the homeless. 

The contraption will need to be wrenched back from them.  

Interactive screens and Ipads are used more than printed material for reading, research and learning. 

Younger musicians, my contemporaries who have been called prodigies, feel slighted. 

 

Form of the passive:

Be + the past participle + optional “by agent” 

Usually, we use the passive without the "by agent". Notice the examples from above.

 

Uses for the passive:

1. when it is not necessary to mention the agent because the agent is obvious, not known, or not important.

Rice is grown in California. 

Our house was built in 1960.

A man was robbed last night.