The Passive Voice — B2 Grammar with Real-Life Examples
function checkA(el,c,exp,q){
document.querySelectorAll(‘input[name=”q’+q+'”]’).forEach(function(r){r.disabled=true;});
var fb=document.getElementById(‘fb’+q);fb.style.display=’block’;
if(parseInt(el.value)===c){fb.style.background=’#c6f6d5′;fb.style.color=’#276749′;fb.innerHTML=’✓ Correct! ‘+exp;}
else{fb.style.background=’#fed7d7′;fb.style.color=’#9b2c2c’;fb.innerHTML=’✗ ‘+exp;}
}
function checkF(id,ans){
var v=document.getElementById(‘fi’+id).value.trim().toLowerCase();
var fb=document.getElementById(‘ff’+id);fb.style.display=’block’;
if(v===ans.toLowerCase()||v.replace(/s+/g,’ ‘)===ans.toLowerCase()){
fb.style.background=’#c6f6d5′;fb.style.color=’#276749’;fb.innerHTML=’✓ Correct: ‘+ans+’‘;}
else{fb.style.background=’#fed7d7′;fb.style.color=’#9b2c2c’;fb.innerHTML=’✗ Answer: ‘+ans+’‘;}
}
B2 ⏱ 5 min
🔁 The Passive Voice — When the Action Matters More
In four years of French bureaucracy, I learned one truth: passive voice is the language of people who don’t want to be blamed.
📖 Active vs Passive
Active: subject + verb + object — focus on WHO did it
The manager signed the contract.
Passive: object + be + past participle — focus on WHAT was done
The contract was signed (by the manager).
Use passive when the action/result matters more, or when you don’t know/won’t say who did it.
📋 From Real Life
The documents were lost. (who? The system.)
Passive voice removes personal responsibility. Knowing it lets you read between official lines.
‘The window was broken.’ This is:
Make active: ‘Mistakes were made by the team.’
When should you prefer the passive?
The report ____________ (write) by three experts last year.
English ____________ (speak) in over 100 countries.
📝 Rewrite Task
1. They built the bridge in 1923.
2. Someone stole my wallet.
3. The chef prepared the meal fresh each morning.
Independent project; not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.
Leave a Reply