Formal and informal style

they stole it / it has been stolen

1. Revision.

Below are sentences about an unlucky couple, Mary and Graham Hann. The sentences describe things that happened while they were on holiday.

Are the sentences active or passive?

Passive forms and formal style

Passive sentences have the form auxiliary be + past participle.

Present perfect passive sentences have the form have/has + been + past participle.

  • Mr Hann has been sacked.
  • Things have been stolen from their house.

Past simple passive sentences have the form was/were + past participle.

  • Their house was burgled while they were on holiday.
  • Many objects of worth were stolen from their house.

Passive sentences are often used in more formal contexts, such as in newspaper reports. In conversation, you often use someone or they as a subject to avoid the passive.

  • "Someone stole our video when we were on holiday!" (Mr Hann's words)
  • Mr Hann's video was stolen when he was on holiday. (from a newspaper report)
  • "They told me I'd lost my job." (Mr Hann's words)
  • Mr Hann was told he had lost his job. (from a newspaper report)

 

2. Informal to formal style.

Write these sentences in more formal style for a newspaper report.
First, check the meaning of greenhouse.

3. Formal to informal style.

Now look at what the newspaper said and write the person's original words. Use contractions whenever you can.

For more information about passive forms see the Grammar Reference.