TO BE (tense) + PAST PARTICIPLE (meaning)
We've seen in class that this form is much more frequent in English than in Spanish because it's used instead of impersonal sentences in Spanish. Take into account it's not possible to have a verb without its subject in English so when this subject is not important, not known or not said we should use passive voice. Have a look at these examples:- Most people say... = It is said ... (Se dice que....)
- We can speak English here = English is spoken here (Aquí se habla inglés)
- They opened a new exhibition yesterday = A new exhibition was opened yesterday (Ayer se abrió una nueva exposición)
- Someone sent an email yesterday = An email was sent yesterday (Se envió un email ayer)
- Someone has sent a letter to Susan = Susan has been sent a letter (A Susan le han enviado una carta)
- This book was published in the UK
- The conversations are being held in secret (Las conversaciones se están llevando en secreto)
- America was discovered in 1492 (América fue descubierta/se descubrió en 1492)
- The film is directed and starred by G. Clooney
- I've been told you're getting married next Monday (Me han dicho que te casas el lunes que viene)
- John was given the job after the interview (A John le dieron el trabajo después de la entrevista)
If you want to see a page on the internet explaining the passive voice here you have this link:
- http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/passiv.htm : this is the exercise we did in class
- http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive : here you have a really good explanation of passive and then you can find exercises at the bottom. The level is higher than the one you need but it is very useful.
- http://www.e-grammar.org/passive-voice/ : again exercises and explanation
- http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/esl-passive-voice-exercise2.html
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