Introduzione
La forma passiva si usa quando l'attenzione è sull'azione o sul risultato (focus is on the action or result) piuttosto che su chi compie l'azione. Il soggetto di una frase passiva riceve l'azione invece di compierla.
Forma attivaSubject (soggetto)+verbo+complemento oggetto
PassivaSubject (il complemento oggetto della frase attiva)+be+participio passato+(by+agente)
- Active: The chef cooked the meal.
- Passive: The meal was cooked (by the chef).
- Active: Someone stole my wallet.
- Passive: My wallet was stolen.
Il passivo nei diversi tempi
Il passivo si può formare in quasi tutti i tempi cambiando la forma di be e mantenendo il participio passato.
| Tempo verbale | Forma passiva | Esempio |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | is/are + participio passato | The report is written every week. |
| Passato semplice | was/were + participio passato | The letter was sent yesterday. |
| Present Perfect | has/have been + past participle | The work has been completed. |
| Past Perfect | had been + participio passato | The film had been released earlier. |
| Futuro semplice | will be + participio passato | The results will be announced soon. |
| Present Continuous | is/are being + participio passato | The road is being repaired. |
Quando usare il passivo
Il passivo si preferisce in situazioni specifiche in cui l'agente (chi compie l'azione) è sconosciuto, ovvio o poco importante.
| Situazione | Esempio |
|---|---|
| Agente sconosciuto | My car was broken into last night. |
| Agente ovvio | The criminal was arrested. (ovviamente dalla polizia) |
| Agente non importante | The building was completed in 2010. |
| Scrittura formale/accademica | The experiment was conducted three times. |
| Notizie / annunci | Three people have been injured. |
- My phone got stolen on the train.
- Lena got promoted last month.
- Be careful, or you will get caught.
Il passivo con l'agente introdotto da by
Se in una frase passiva vuoi indicare chi ha compiuto l'azione, usa by + l'agente. È facoltativo e si inserisce solo quando l'agente è importante o sorprendente.
...+was/were+participio passato+by+agente
- The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
- The new law was proposed by the prime minister.
- I was surprised by his reaction.
Esercizi
Active: The chef cooked the meal. Passive:
The report ___ every week. (passivo del present simple)
Which situation is a good reason to use the passive voice?
The Mona Lisa ___ by Leonardo da Vinci.
The letter ___ yesterday.
The work ___ completed. (passivo del present perfect)
The road ___ repaired at the moment, so use the other route.
Active: Someone stole my wallet. Passive:
The criminal ___ arrested yesterday.
'The window was broken.' Why is 'by' + agent omitted?
The new law ___ by the prime minister.
The results ___ announced soon. (passivo del future simple)
Which situation is better suited to ACTIVE voice rather than passive?
Three people ___ injured in the crash and remain in hospital tonight.
Active: The chef cooked the meal. What is 'the meal' in the passive version?
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