�  This PowerPoint was used to review the difference between the active and passive voice, including a focus on participial adjectives. It was used in conjunction with the students’ grammar text.

The Passive Voice and Participial Adjectives

G: Chapter 2, pp. 16-25 ENL 207

Rebecca Smith

What is the passive voice? Form Meaning Use

What is the passive voice? Form Meaning Use

be + past participle e.g., we were taught

•  In a passive

sentence, the verb is “doing something” to the subject.

•  The agent is

obvious, unknown, or unimportant.

•  You don’t want to mention the agent.

•  Emphasize the receiver or result.

•  Describing a process.

•  You want your writing to sound objective.

•  It can help the flow if used after the active voice.

Participial Adjectives �  Adjectives formed from verbs + –ed/–en or –ing

�  Passive:

�  Active

Participial Adjectives �  Adjectives formed from verbs + –ed/–en or –ing

�  Passive: �  Describe the way the noun is.

�  E.g., “The bored child fell asleep in class.”

�  Active �  Describe something the noun is doing or causing.

�  E.g., “The boring child gave a long, uninteresting talk.”

Practice �  Look at the chart on p. 25. Choose one set of

participial adjectives to write two sentences about: one with a passive participial adjective, and one with an active participial adjective. What is the difference in meaning?