PASSIVE SENTENCE

Ø  Theory

Passive Voice is a sentence whose subject is treated by others or by the acting-object of sentence, and the sentence structure is exactly the same as that of Adjective. See the following examples. In addition, ‘passive voice’ can only be applied in case of having an ‘acting subject’.

Ø  Analysis

in passive voice, preposition ‘by’ or ‘with’ is used prior to the object, to notify that the ‘subject’ is treated by or dealt with the ‘object’. For examples:

“The book she bought yesterday is always brought by her”,

or :

“The book she bought yesterday is always brought with her”.

Nevertheless, not in every case of passive voice, preposition ‘by’ may be altered by preposition ‘with’, for instance :

“The book is written by Rachmat Effendi”

Passive Voice is commonly used when the speaker wants to give an emphasis on ‘the relationship between subject and object’ or if the sentence has actor but unrecognized. If the emphasis is on ‘the relationship between the subject and the predicate’, you had better simply use an active sentence.

Ø  Formulation

Subject + to be + past part (verb 3)

Ø  Active-Passive sentences (10)

1.      Once a week, Tom cleans the house.

Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.

2.      Right now, Sarah is writing the letter.

Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah.

3.      Sam repaired the car.

The car was repaired by Sam.

4.      The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store.

The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store.

5.      Many tourists have visited that castle.

That castle has been visited by many tourists.

6.      Recently, John has been doing the work.

Recently, the work has been being done by John.

7.      George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license.

Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license.

8.      Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to Paris.

The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved to Paris.

9.      Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM.

The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.

10.  Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight.

A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight.

Ø  Passive-Active sentences (10)

1.      At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by John.

At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes.

2.      At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being washed by John.

At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the dishes.

3.      The project will have been completed before the deadline.

They will have completed the project before the deadline.

4.      The project is going to have been completed before the deadline.

They are going to have completed the project before the deadline.

5.      The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.

The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished.

6.      The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished.

The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished.

7.      The bills used to be paid by Jerry.

Jerry used to pay the bills.

8.      The pies would always be made by my mother.

My mother would always make the pies.

9.      I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM.

I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM.

10.  I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by Sally tonight.

I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful dinner tonight.

Sumber :

Judul	Cara mudah menulis dan menerjemahkan
Pengarang	Rachmat Effendi P.
Penerbit	Niaga Swadaya, 2004