Passive Voice

 The passive voice is used to emphasize the action rather than the doer (subject). Instead of focusing on who performs the action, the passive voice highlights what happens to the object. It is commonly used in formal writing, scientific reports, and when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

Uses of the Passive Voice

1. When the doer (agent) is unknown or unimportant

   • "A valuable painting was stolen last night." (We don’t know who stole it.)
   • "The bridge was repaired last week." (It doesn’t matter who repaired it.)

2. When the focus is on the action or result rather than the person doing it

   • "A new law has been passed." (The focus is on the law, not who passed it.)
   • "The homework must be submitted by Friday." (The deadline is more important than the person submitting it.)

3. In scientific, academic, or technical writing

   • "The experiment was conducted in a controlled environment."
   • "The results were analyzed carefully."

4. To sound more objective and formal

   • "Mistakes were made." (Avoids blaming someone directly.)
   • "A decision has been taken." (Sounds more formal than "We have taken a decision.")

5. In news reports and announcements

• "A new hospital will be built in the city."
• "The suspect has been arrested."

Test how much you know about the passive voice with this quiz:

https://forms.gle/1HhgfGkvAvHA7ZzK8

📌 INFOGRAFÍA: Guía Visual de la Voz Pasiva (Passive Voice)

Aprende cómo cambiar de activa a pasiva y cuándo usarla para tus exámenes de la ESO y Bachillerato.

📢 ¿Cuál es el enfoque? En la voz pasiva, la importancia recae sobre la acción o el objeto, y no sobre la persona que la realiza (el sujeto). Se utiliza muchísimo en contextos formales, noticias, informes científicos y cuando el causante es desconocido.

🔄 Mecánica de Cambio (Activa → Pasiva)

Sigue este cruce de elementos idéntico al de una "X" matemática:

🗣️ ACTIVA: Shakespeare (Sujeto) + wrote (Verbo en pasado) + Hamlet (Objeto).
🛡️ PASIVA: Hamlet (Nuevo Sujeto) + was written (To be + Participio) + by Shakespeare (Agente).

⚡ REGLA DE ORO DE LOS TIEMPOS: El verbo "TO BE" debe ponerse exactamente en el mismo tiempo verbal que tenía el verbo principal en la oración activa.

💼 ¿CUÁNDO DEBES UTILIZARLA?

• Sujeto desconocido/sin importancia:
  "A painting was stolen last night."
• Foco absoluto en el resultado:
  "A new law has been passed."
• Ámbito científico o académico:
  "The results were analyzed."

⏱️ CAMBIOS VERBALES EXPRÉS

Present Simple:	is / are + eaten
Past Simple:	was / were + eaten
Present Perfect:	has/have been + eaten
Modales (must/will):	must be / will be + eaten

⚠️ TRUCO DE EXAMEN: El "by" (Complemento Agente) solo se pone si aporta información relevante. Si el sujeto de la activa es "Someone", "They", "People" o pronombres genéricos, ¡NUNCA lo pongas en la pasiva!

Creado para el Blog de Let's Talk | Guías Visuales

The causative

 

What is the Causative Form Used For?

The causative form is used to describe situations where one person causes another person to do something or arranges for something to be done. It emphasizes that someone is not performing the action themselves but is instead making it happen through someone else.

Causative structures are commonly used in formal speech, business contexts, and everyday situations when discussing services, responsibilities, or authority.

Types of Causative Forms & Examples

1. "Have"  – Requesting a Service

✅ Used when someone arranges for someone else to do something (neutral tone).

• Structure (Active): Subject + have + object + base verb (bare infinitive)
• Structure (Passive): Subject + have + object + past participle

🔹 Active: I had the plumber fix the leak.
🔹 Passive: I had the leak fixed.

🔹 Active: She had the doctor check her eyesight.
🔹 Passive: She had her eyesight checked.

2. "Get"  – More Informal, Sometimes Persuasive

✅ Used like "have," but slightly less formal and often implies persuasion or effort.

• Structure (Active): Subject + get + object + to + base verb
• Structure (Passive): Subject + get + object + past participle

🔹 Active: I got my brother to help me with my homework.
🔹 Passive: I got my homework done.

🔹 Active: She got the technician to repair her phone.
🔹 Passive: She got her phone repaired.

3. "Make" – Forcing Someone to Do Something

✅ Used when forcing or strongly encouraging someone to do something.

• Structure (Active): Subject + make + object + base verb (bare infinitive)
• Structure (Passive): Subject + be made + to + base verb

🔹 Active: The teacher made the students rewrite the essay.
🔹 Passive: The students were made to rewrite the essay.

🔹 Active: His boss made him stay late.
🔹 Passive: He was made to stay late.

4. "Let" – Giving Permission

✅ Used when allowing someone to do something.

• Structure (Active): Subject + let + object + base verb (bare infinitive)

🔹 Active: Her parents let her go to the party.
🔹 Rephrased Passive (Using "Allow" instead of "Let"): She was allowed to go to the party.

🔹 Active: They let us leave early.
🔹 Rephrased Passive: We were allowed to leave early.

5. Other Causative Verbs 

Test how much you know about the causative form with this quiz:
https://forms.gle/Vhd87UnwpxoWMfvU6

📌 INFOGRAFÍA: Guía Rápida de las Estructuras Causativas

Aprende cuándo usar Have, Get, Make y Let para tus exámenes de inglés de la ESO y Bachillerato.

💡 ¿Para qué sirve? La forma causativa se utiliza cuando no realizas la acción tú mismo, sino que convences, obligas, permites o contratas a otra persona para que la haga por ti.

🛠️ HAVE (Encargar un servicio)

Se usa para indicar que contratas u organizas a alguien para hacer algo.

Have + Person + Base Verb Ej: I had the plumber fix the leak.

🗣️ GET (Persuadir o convencer)

Es más informal. Implica que has convencido a alguien tras un esfuerzo.

Get + Person + TO + Base Verb Ej: I got my brother to help me.

 MAKE (Obligar a alguien)

Se utiliza cuando fuerzas o exiges firmemente a otra persona que actúe.

Make + Person + Base Verb Ej: The teacher made them rewrite it.

🔑 LET (Dar permiso / Permitir)

Se emplea para conceder permiso o dejar que alguien haga algo de forma libre.

Let + Person + Base Verb Ej: Her parents let her go to the party.

🏛️ LA ESTRUCTURA PASIVA CAUSATIVA

Se usa con HAVE o GET si no nos importa quién realiza la acción, sino el objeto final:

Subject + HAVE / GET + Object + Past Participle

Ej: I had my hair cut. / She got her phone repaired.

⚠️ TRUCO DE EXAMEN (¡Ojo con el "TO"!): Recuerda que con "HAVE", "MAKE" y "LET" el verbo de la persona va en infinitivo pelado (sin TO). El único verbo causativo activo que te obliga a colocar el "TO" es "GET".

Creado para el Blog de Let's Talk | Guías Visuales