LC-1090 - - V01, 03.08.2021-10.09.2021
Kurssiasetusten perusteella kurssi on päättynyt 10.09.2021 Etsi kursseja: LC-1090
6. Passive verbs
The passive form of a verb is used when we want to:
a. focus on the results of an action, rather than its cause
b. make our writing sound more impersonal/objective in tone.
EXAMPLE: (i) John Logie Baird [cause] gave the first public broadcast of moving images [result] in 1925.
This is an active sentence, i.e. we are interested in the subject (who/what) caused the action and not its result.
(ii) The first public broadcast of a moving image was given in 1925 by John Logie Baird.
This is a passive sentence, i.e. we are interested in the action/result and not what caused it.
Notice how the passive needs the auxiliary verb to be + past participle form of the verb (e.g. was given/has been given etc).
If you are unsure on passives, check out this helpful link:
http://ngl.cengage.com/assets/downloads/grcontext_pro0000000013/in_context_3_su.pdf
TASK: See if you can change the following 5 active sentences (focusing on the
subject that is the cause of the action) into a passive one and then
submit your answers.
1. We collected the samples and then analysed both groups.
2. They interviewed 50 participants before conducting the study.
3. The researchers examined the results and found three crucial errors.
4. You have to write up your results before you can publish your article.
5. The professors used modern eye-tracking and electrodermal technology in the tests.