How to Change Five Sentence Types to Passive Sentences
We have learned the five sentence types in Lesson 6. Now, let’s
see how we can change five sentence types to passive
sentences.
▶️ The First Sentence Type: S + V (Subject + Verb)
In the first sentence type, the verb is an intransitive verb.
Intransitive verbs are verbs that can exist alone without adding
anything behind them. Example sentences:
I laughed.
It rained heavily.
I am flying to London next month.
Since there is no object after the verb, we cannot change these
sentences to passive sentences.
▶️ The Second Sentence Type: S + V + S.C (Subject + Verb +
Subject Complement)
The second sentence type, known as S + V + S.C (Subject + Verb +
Subject Complement), typically involves the use of an adjective or
noun as a subject complement to describe the subject. Verbs in the
second sentence type include "be" verbs and other verbs such as
“taste”, “feel”, “smell”, “sound”, “appear”, “look”, “seem”,
“become”, “turn”, “remain”, and “stay”. Example sentences:
That man is a receptionist.
He looks tall and seems friendly.
The soup smells good but tastes bad.
Again, since there is no object after the verb, we cannot change
these sentences to passive sentences.
▶️ The Third Sentence Type: S + V + O (Subject + Verb +
Object)
There is an object in the sentence of the third sentence type.
After changing it to the passive form, the object goes to the
front and becomes the subject. For example:
Apple will discontinue iMac Pro next year. = iMac Pro will be discontinued by
Apple next year.
The procurement department recruited Mr. Bentley. = Mr. Bentley was recruited by
the procurement department.
The customer services department deals with
complaints. = Complaints are dealt with by
the customer services department.
The upper management instructs employees regularly to ensure their work is of the highest
quality and conforms to the regulations. = Employees are instructed
regularly to ensure their work is of the highest quality and
conforms to the regulations.
Due to space issues, we will hold
the annual conference in the convention center this year. = Due to
space issues, the annual conference will be held
in the convention center this year.
The bank will charge service fees for withdrawing money from the account. = Service
fees will be charged
for withdrawing money from the account.
▶️ The Fourth Sentence Type: S + V + O + O (Subject + Verb +
Object + Object)
There are two objects in the sentence of the fourth sentence
type. After changing to the passive form, the first object will go
to the front and become the subject, and the second object will be
left behind. For example:
OPH Corporation offered every employee
an opportunity
for promotion and pay raise on a yearly basis. = At OPH
Corporation, every employee is offered
an opportunity
for promotion and pay raise on a yearly basis.
The consultant advised the director
that continued support of the AI project might lead to significant
financial loss and little profit.
= The director was advised that continued support of the AI project might lead to significant
financial loss and little profit.
We have notified the customers that the requested item is currently out of stock. = The customers have been notified that
the requested item is currently out of stock.
The voucher entitles you
to
10% off all overseas flights. = With this voucher, you are entitled to
10% off all overseas flights.
Mr.Smith will inform us of any new changes that he will make to the proposal. = We will be informed of
any new changes that Mr.Smith will make to the proposal.
The unions assured the new owners of the workers' loyalty to the company. = The new owners are assured of the workers' loyalty to the company by the union.
▶️ The Fifth Sentence Type: S + V + O + O.C (Subject + Verb +
Object + Object Complement)
In the fifth sentence type, there are objects and object
complements. After changing to the passive form, the object will
go to the front and become the subject, and the object complements
will remain behind.
We should keep data confidential since it contains valuable information. = Data should be kept confidential since it contains valuable information.
Many customers find our new shampoo bottles appealing.
= Our new shampoo bottles are found appealing by our customers.
The HR manager encourages employees to
actively participate in the weekly training workshop. = Employees are encouraged to
actively participate in the weekly training workshop.
Most of my friends considered the movie great. = The movie was considered great by most of my friends.
TOEIC Example: Some service fees ______ for withdrawing money from the
account.
(A) will be charging
(B) have charged
(C) charge
(D) will be charged
The correct answer is (D) will be charged.
The correct answer uses the future passive form "will be
charged". This form is appropriate because the subject is not
performing the action, but rather, the action is being performed
on the subject. The service fees are not doing the charging
themselves, but rather, they are being charged by the company.
(A) “will be charging” is incorrect because it uses the future
continuous tense, which is not appropriate in this context. This
tense suggests that the service fees will start charging at some
point in the future and continue to do so. However, this is not
logical as fees are not capable of charging themselves.
(B) “have charged” is incorrect because it uses the present
perfect tense, which suggests that the action of charging has been
completed in the past and has relevance to the present situation.
However, this is not appropriate because the sentence is talking
about a future event.
(C) “charge” is incorrect because it uses the present simple
tense, which is used to talk about habits, general truths, or
unchanging situations. However, in this context, the sentence is
not talking about a general truth or unchanging situation, but
about a specific future event.
TOEIC Example: The panel composed of five scholars ______ to review the
proposal.
(A) commissions
(B) are commissioned
(C) is commissioned
(D) will commission
The correct answer is
(C) is commissioned.
The subject of the sentence, "The panel," is a singular noun.
Therefore, the verb should also be in the singular form.
Additionally, the verb should be in the passive voice because the
panel is not doing the commissioning, but rather, it is being
commissioned by someone else. Thus, the correct verb form is "is
commissioned."
(A) commissions is incorrect because it is in the active voice,
suggesting that the panel is commissioning someone or something,
which is not the case.
(B) are commissioned is incorrect because the verb "are" is
plural, and does not agree with the singular subject "The
panel."
(D) will commission is incorrect because it is in the future
tense and active voice. The sentence requires a present tense,
passive voice verb.