Grammaire anglaise : Passive Voice et Reported Speech

The passive voice shifts focus to the receiver using $be + V_{pp}$ . It is useful when the agent is unknown or irrelevant. Reported speech communicates what was said, requiring a tense backshift. For example, $'I am happy'$ becomes $'He said he was happy'$ when reported. Always remember to adjust pronouns and time expressions like 'tomorrow' to 'the next day'. Mastering these rules enhances precision in formal writing and storytelling.

Mastery of basic English verb tenses (Present Simple, Past Simple, Present Perfect)

Understanding of sentence structure (Subject-Verb-Object)

Focus on the action rather than the doer

Formation: $be + past participle$

Agent introduced by 'by'

Moving tense one step into the past

Changes in pronouns and temporal indicators

Reporting verbs: say, tell, ask

A sentence structure where the object becomes the subject.

Active: 'John ate the cake.' Passive: 'The cake was eaten by John.' ( $Subject + be + V_{pp}$ )

The shift of tenses when reporting what someone said in the past.

Direct: 'I am tired.' Reported: 'He said he was tired.' ( $Present ightarrow Past$ )

Verbs used to introduce indirect speech, like 'say', 'tell', 'ask', 'order'.

She told me that she was studying.

Converting a direct statement into reported speech and transforming an active sentence into passive.

Step 1 (Passive): Take 'Scientists discovered the virus'. The object 'the virus' becomes the subject: 'The virus was discovered by scientists'.

Step 2 (Reported): Take 'I will visit Paris'. Add a reporting verb: 'She said'.

Step 3 (Adjustment): Change the tense and pronoun: 'She said (that) she would visit Paris'.

Think of a 'Receiver' focus. If the subject is 'being acted upon', it's a passive patient lying in a bed ( $Subject + be + V_{pp}$ ).

The 'Time Travel' rule: Every step back in time in the original sentence moves one step back in the timeline (e.g., $Present ightarrow Past$ , $Past ightarrow Past Perfect$ ).

Forgetting the verb 'to be' in passive voice.

The passive must always include a form of 'to be' ( $am, is, are, was, were, been$ ) followed by the past participle.

Keeping the same tense in reported speech.

If the reporting verb is in the past, the reported clause must shift back in time. E.g., $'I work' ightarrow 'He said he worked'$ .

What is the formula for the Passive Voice?

What happens to the Present Simple in Reported Speech?

What happens to 'will' in Reported Speech?

What is the passive form of 'They build houses'?

True or False: In passive voice, the 'doer' of the action is always required.

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Comprendre le cours

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Urbanisme et géographie : Village, neighbourhood, city

Prérequis

Structure du cours

The Passive Voice

Reported Speech

Notions clés

Passive Voice Construction

Reported Speech Backshift

Reporting Verbs

Exemple résolu

Astuces & analogies

Passive Voice

Reported Speech Tense Shift

Erreurs fréquentes

Flashcards

Citoyenneté et enjeux des mondes virtuels

Les verbes be et have au présent