Guida pratica all'uso del passivo in inglese con esempi e regole

Uso del passivo

Si usa:

-quando non è importante far sapere chi compie l'azione o quando non si sa chi la compie;

-quando si desidera mettere in evidenza l'azione e non la persona che la compie.

Present Simple:

Am/are/is + verbo al participio passato

We grow rice in the pianura padana.

Rice is grown in the pianura padana.

Simple past:

Was/were + verbo al participio passato

Manzoni wrote the Promessi Sposi.

The Promessi Sposi was written by Manzoni

Future:

Will be + verbo al participio passato

Molly will give you the answer.

You will be given the answer by Molly.

Future (going to):

Am/are/is + going to be + verbo al participio passato

I'm going to buy a new car

A new car is going to be bought by me.

Present continuos:

Am/are/is + being + verbo al participio passato

Molly is watching TV.

TV is being watched by Molly

Present perfect:

Has/Have + been + verbo al participio passato

I have sent a packet to Paul.

A packet has been sent to Paul by me.

Modals

Must be + verbo al participio passato

Should be + verbo al participio passato

They must tell you the truth!

The truth must be told to you by them.

Costruzione delle frasi passive

Costruzione frase:

Active= He gave me a new book

Passive 1 = A new book was given to me

Passive 2 = I was given a new book

Interrogative

(Wh-)+ ausiliare + soggetto + verbo

Esempio- Who painted Monnalisa? (attiva)

Who was Monnalisa painted by? (passiva)

N.B. BY nelle domande viene usato solo con WHO.